Wait a minute… wait a minute… wait a minute…
So much is in flux. It all seems so dramatic and there is a yearning for settling down to stability. Stability in the economy, public policy, market prices, and culture is yearned for as families in rural and urban environments face seemingly unprecedented challenges. Yet in these times we must make important decisions for our unique situation.
When you face an important moment calling for you to decide, you hope you have all the information and experience in front of you to make an informed decision. For example, a simple seed planting decision may not be so simple, but once you decide upon the seed to plant and roll forward with execution of your plan, you turn the page and go.
The U.S., and many other nations, appear to be in a transition economy. The debt burden of the U.S. is being addressed which has brightened the lights on many different challenges. With 87 Executive Orders issued by President Trump as of March 6, 2025, (compared to President Biden issuing 162 in total of which 62 were revoked by President Trump), we all can settle into an environment where times are rapidly changing. Front and center of changing times are tariffs. For us and our members, we are alerted to how agriculture businesses may be impacted.
Tariffs is not an easy subject with the brightest of lights upon them. Maybe our leaders will finally get to the point of resolving the age-old policy of the “Chicken Tax”. The “Chicken Tax” is a 25% tariff on imported light trucks (and originally on potato starch, dextrin, and brandy) imposed by the U.S. in 1964, in retaliation for tariffs placed by France and West Germany on U.S. chicken exports. And yes, the Chicken Tax still exists as a curious solution to trade issues. Creative circumvention of the tariff is amusing and worth a deeper look into the six-decade long policy.
Traditions, past practices, routines and habits often dictate our ways of deciding and acting. With all the current forces of change, it sometimes feels we are in a constant state of fight and fright with long term implications for our families on every decision. This is a yearning for stability, predictability and certainty, but that seems far off as the U.S. addresses the burden of debt. GreenStone members understand the challenges of managing debt at their levels. It is recognized that the need is there to be responsible on the federal and state level as well.
Together we grow, adjust, and change to be part of the progress for a better future. Certainly, most every good person believes in doing good and choosing ways best for the interests of themselves and others. By bringing intelligence and truth we can all find the best ways to serve our common cooperative interests.
Communication with strength and courage will be required to forge a solid future path. As we work together for our common cooperative interests to meet the mission of each member, we look to enforce accountability of each leader that has been chosen to serve and sort through the noises and biases that might seek to divide or undermine agriculture or rural community interests. The newly appointed Secretary of Agriculture shoulders the burden for agriculture policy in the executive branch. Her commitment is clear as she stated: “Every day, I will fight for American farmers, ranchers, and the agriculture community. Together, we have a historic opportunity to revitalize rural America and to ensure the U.S. agriculture remains the best in the world for generations to come.”
To view the spring 2025 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.
