BISMARCK, N.D. — 2018 is now upon us. And happy new year to everyone. But let’s back look at what 2017 brought us, and let’s look at it from the national perspective, from a federal level perspective.
We saw a reduction in some over-reaching regulations, which we hope we’ll see more of in 2018. We saw trade negotiations and renegotiations which are still in process, and we saw a tax bill that we feel will be good for all Americans.
So, what’s there to come in the new year, the 2018 year? Well, we’re going to see elections. So how will the fact that there’s big elections to happen in 2018 alter the course of getting more regulatory relief, getting more things accomplished to make things better for the American citizens?
Well, that’s yet to be seen, but one thing that will be debated it the farm bill. As the farm bill is set to expire, we have been promised by Chairman Conaway in the House and Chairman Roberts in the Senate that it is a priority for them to get the farm bill written as soon as possible.
The debate is, how much support, how much subsidy is needed, or wanted, by the agriculture community. Food is important to national security. But there are things, such as the national debt, that is going to be taken into consideration when anything spending is being considered.
But having said that, I think there is support out there for agriculture, and I think agriculture in general understands that we don’t need a dime at every corner. We need policies that reflect the ability for farmers and ranchers to be able to do just that: farm and ranch. And do it efficiently and effectively, and THEN we can have less dependency on the federal government. And we can promote freedom, opportunity and self-reliance, which are three things that NDFB champions every day.
Happy New Year! And it’ll be exciting to watch the progression and the debate that will happen in this new year of 2018.
For questions or comments, please contact Dawn Smith-Pfeifer.
— Daryl Lies, president of North Dakota Farm Bureau
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