Current efforts to eliminate step-up basis and raise the top tax rate to 39.6 percent would be devastating. In a study done by EY (Ernst & Young) not only would an elimination of the step-up basis have an impact on agriculture, it would also damage other sectors of our economy. Read Full Article
In the world of cell phones, video meetings, and isolation the American farmer and rancher is still going to work every day and producing the food, fiber and fuel needed to keep this country moving. They are still feeding the pigs, plowing the fields, milking the cows and harvesting their produce for the American public. Like every person in this day and age, busier and busier is a common theme. The need for an in-house lobbyist, spokesperson and attorney seems to be more and more important. Fortunately, agriculture has all three wrapped up into one great organization. As our population Read Full Article
President Biden signed several executive orders soon after he took office. One of those which has generated a lot of concern and controversy is his “30 by 30” order. In a press release from the Department of Interior on January 27, it said the action would outline steps to achieve the President’s commitment to conserve at least 30% each of our lands and waters by the year 2030. The release goes on to say the Biden Administration will work to achieve this goal by supporting local, state, private, and tribally led nature conservation and restoration efforts that are underway across Read Full Article
Generally this time of year I would be reporting on what is going on at the Legislature. However, this year our Legislature has changed the schedule around so they met virtually for eight days after the one day they met to fulfill their Constitutional requirements. They are scheduled to come into session on March 1 so stay tuned. This altered schedule has also caused us to cancel our Legislative Meeting we hold to allow members to visit with their Senators and Representatives. Read Full Article
Article 1 Sec. 1 of the Wyoming Constitution says that, “All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness.” The idea that one of government’s main roles is to provide for the safety of its citizens is why we have police forces and laws against physically harming another person. While these types of laws, i.e., preventing one person from harming another, have been well accepted for centuries some of the current laws are facing more scrutiny. As people began settling in larger and larger communities Read Full Article
“Calm is contagious”–simple words from former Navy Seal Commander Rorke Denver. These are valuable words of wisdom from someone who knows a tough situation in times of high stress and particularly important for current times and the foreseeable future. Commander Denver talked about some simple but powerful strategies in his virtual address to this year’s American Farm Bureau convention. His message should resonate with farmers and ranchers. As a group of Americans that deal and even plan for natural disasters and hard times, keeping one’s head is one of the basic necessities of daily life. When the rain comes relentlessly Read Full Article
2020: The year of the “C” word that millions of people think of…COVID. I believe the more fitting word is courage. The ability of being courageous and working hard during a time of unknowing is why I think it represents 2020 in my world. For that matter, perseverance, independence, responsibility, persistence, opportunity, and long term are the words I think represent 2020 in my world. Read Full Article
The last two or three months have allowed Wyomingites the opportunity to breath smoke from forest fires throughout the west. Indeed, just west of Laramie there is a forest fire which is over 170,000 acres as of the writing of this column. South of us in Colorado, there are also some large forest fires, and everyone has heard about the conflagrations in California and Oregon. Read Full Article
Readers of my column will see a column from time to time expressing how the current Endangered Species Act (ESA) needs some work. For those of you who have read these columns and are tired of hearing about how the ESA doesn’t work you may want to stop reading now because I’m going to talk about another example of how the current ESA needs some changes. Read Full Article
Some people are good at connecting dots to get the picture, some are not, and some can connect dots on some things but not others. Just ask my wife. Read Full Article