BISMARCK, N.D. — Freedom, opportunity and self-reliance. Three basic principles that we adhere to at NDFB, we promote at NDFB. And it’s a vision like President Trump’s vision when he visited North Dakota last week about a new tax plan; a tax overhaul that hasn’t happened in over 30 years.
It’s time that the American people — the hardworking people of this country get a new shake to be successful. That’s kind of what Trump’s vision for the tax plan is. And so I got to doing some thinking. And I got to looking back at NDFB’s vision. Quote: “Our vision is to create lasting economic opportunity and the framework for an unsurpassed quality of life for all North Dakotans. We will do this by being the most influential champions for practices, ideas, policies, issues and initiatives that benefit our state’s economic backbone: agriculture. Our intent is to help ensure unencumbered support for farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs and self-reliant people who have built our state and those who continue to build upon that legacy.” End quote.
I remember a lot of things from President Trump’s speech. And the one thing that rang out truth to me is that he stands strong with the American farmer and rancher, because they are the backbone of this country.
The food production that we have — be it livestock, be it crops, be it vegetables, whatever it may be that agriculture producers produce — the food, fuel and fiber that our country needs is in ready supply, every day of the year, 365 days, throughout that year.
But there are things that we need policy-wise to improve upon that. And he talked about getting rid of the death tax, or the inheritance tax, whatever you want to call it. The tax to pass on your business, to pass on your farm or ranch to the next generation. Those taxes make it difficult for the next generation to be successful.
So when we heard President Trump was coming to North Dakota, we were pretty excited. We weren’t sure how much agriculture was going to be recognized. We knew that this thing was being held at a refinery right here in Mandan, North Dakota. We’re as proud of our energy industry as we are our ag industry. But I’m still going to repeat, farmers and ranchers are the backbone of this state and of our country. And to hear our president come to an ag state, and make that very clear, brings a feeling of true hope, that we are headed down the path to ensure that those farmers and ranchers, entrepreneurs and other self-reliant people who have built our state, will be able to continue to build it into the future.
For questions or comments, please contact Dawn Smith-Pfeifer.
— North Dakota Farm Bureau
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