An Urban's Rural View

Despite back-to-back months of 5% increases in consumer prices, the Federal Reserve isn't hurrying to raise interest rates.

More than a fifth of U.S. ag exports go to one country -- China. Over-reliance on any one country is unwise. Over-reliance on a country that is at times an adversary is especially dicey.

Many of those who've refused vaccination against COVID-19 will never change their minds. But if even a few could be persuaded, it's worth trying.

There's more and more talk of "decoupling" -- relying less on China for some high-tech and other products -- even as U.S. agriculture recouples.

Using genetic engineering, scientists are moving close to being able to eliminate a scourge to mankind. Should they?

There are three messages for carnivores in a tantalizing new commercial for a plant-based product, and maybe a fourth for cattle producers.

The CDC guidance that vaccinated people need no longer wear masks should be a step toward making masks less controversial.

Inflation jumped in April but the Federal Reserve thinks "one-time" increases will prove "transitory." If they don't, the Fed will come under pressure to raise rates despite its desire not to.

Imagining a world in which China was the dominant power.

"Cold War" is a misleading historical analogy for the U.S.-China relationship. The two countries are indeed serious rivals, but they're also economically interdependent.

Competition with China means the U.S. must rebuild its infrastructure and protect against losing its semiconductor-manufacturing base.

Even if you only skim this piece, be sure to read the final paragraph.

The financial markets' current concerns about inflation are overdone but the inflation of the 1970s teaches precautionary lessons.

Government, environmental groups and farmers are all talking about the need to work together to solve environmental problems.

As optimal temperatures move north, Siberia's permafrost will melt, potentially opening up a vast new area to farming. But will anyone want to farm it?

The public may be underestimating just how effective the vaccines against COVID-19 will be.

If you believe a paper from two prominent economists, the national debt is far from out of control.

So much has changed in the last four years, the issues are so different, that the next four can't be a carbon copy of Tom Vilsack's earlier eight.

It's easy to pooh-pooh Former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman's choice for USDA's most important function. But actually, he has a point.

Calls for an Infrastructure Week diverted criticism from President Donald Trump but otherwise led nowhere. Washington needs to focus a whole year on doing something about infrastructure.