The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn the Chevron deference was a business-favoring decision to upend 40 years of legal precedent and redirect federal power from agencies like the USDA to the courts and Congress.

As a father, grandfather, farmer and man of faith, balance has become a cornerstone of my life. I have come to appreciate how crucial balance is in every aspect.

I have heard that you should not discuss politics, religion or money with friends and family. Apparently, some people are incapable of discussing these topics without fighting. I am not one of those people.

This year, like last year, is a farm bill year — and this year, like last year, probably won’t deliver a farm bill. The reason is the oldest one in Washington, D.C.: politics.

As farmers, we know that healthy soil is an important foundation for everything we grow. It is critical to productivity.

If you have ever hung out with a farmer after planting is done and they are just waiting for the plants to grow, you have been asked the infamous question, “Want to go for a ride?”

When you think about a successful farm operation, what comes to mind? Maybe the operation itself looks a certain way. Maybe it’s doing extremely financially well as a business.

Farmers and ranchers are always looking to the future, whether that’s finding ways we can be more innovative and efficient or building up our local communities.

As an end-of-the-road farm boy growing up deep in southern Illinois, the Fourth of July was more of a shade-tree holiday from the alfalfa field than a noisy celebration of national independence.