As much as we would like to – the Ag industry can not escape the week to week and day to day damage that our industry suffers from the ongoing trade fights. It is just back and forth. We were hopeful last week when our trade team flew to China to meet with Chinese leadership. But now the White House reports no deal, no progress.

John Block discusses the new budget deal and how it will affect future Americans

Here I am on the farm in Illinois. I will update you on what I see, but first I still have our Independence Day Celebration on my mind. All the national attention and the President’s speech can make us proud. On my radio program in 1995 – 24 years ago – here is what I had to say then. “Listen to the speeches of our leaders. Notice the respect for our military. Military at the top. Hollywood at the bottom. The call is back to basics – education, personal responsibility, family values, the church. Concern for our own people and nation and reduced willingness to pour billions of dollars into foreign countries. We see a renewed emergence of the old “can do” independence. It is not always government’s responsibility. Get the government out of the way. We can do it.” Those were my words 24 years ago. I’m hoping for the same national spirit today.