Political observers agree that last week's election results were influenced by farmers, ranchers and rural residents. They showed that it takes more than party affiliation to earn their votes. Although the heartland is unlikely to turn blue, Republican margins in rural counties were down significantly across the country, helping Democrats gain wins in typical GOP strongholds like Iowa, Kansas and Texas. Congressional observers point out that the current lame-duck Congress has less than two months to deliver a farm bill and other agricultural priorities like additional farmer assistance.
Another factor ithat affected the election outcome was that agricultural producers were feeling an economic pinch as they were headed for the polls. Although Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that farm input costs, such as feed, fuel, and fertilizer were coming down, national retail figures and agricultural surveys found that overall input costs remained high or were elevated compared to previous years. USDA farm expense data indicates that cost increases between 2020 and 2025. included the price of fuel rising 32%, fertilizer increased 37%, labor costs climbed nearly 50% and interest jumped 73%. The average farm diesel price was $5.75 per gallon on Oct. 2, compared with $3.02 a year earlier, an increase of roughly 90%.
Election results also point out that rural residents overwhelmingly voted to restrict construction of data centers in their communities. Ballots measures included outright prohibitions on construction, temporary moratoriums for centers, limitations on energy use, and mandating voter approval before data centers could be constructed. According to an NBC exit poll of voters, 56% of them cited AI and data centers as “crucial or major factosr” in how they voted for Congress. Also, multiple exit polls found that the high cost of living and opposition to Trump administration policies, such as high tariffs and the Iran war, were also major factors for voter opposition. Missouri hog farmer and former Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell said these results don’t show that farmers have shifted left. Instead, they pushed back against a system where they get paid less while still being forced to pay more.
About this time of year, fresh US grown oranges, and grapefruit begin showing up in grocery stores, much of it grown in Florida. But the availability of Florida grown grown citrus has changed. In year 2000, more than 600,000 acres were dedicated to citrus production across Florida. But in 2025, the total acreage was down to 200,000 acres because of the Asian citrus psyllid, a small sap-sucking invasive insect carrying the citrus greening disease that has been killing citrus trees. While the disease is also affecting citrus production in California, Arizona and Texas, much of the citrus consumed in the US is now coming from foreign imports. Brazil and China supply about 40% of oranges and China sends the U.S. over 75% of the grapefruit. A lack of innovations and support for research to help US growers manage and control the spread of both citrus pests and diseases is worsening the long-term outlook for domestic producers.
With Thanksgiving coming up in a couple of weeks, Consumers should find plenty of turkeys this Thanksgiving, according to David Anderson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension economist. He points out that wholesale and retail turkey prices are slightly higher per pound than last year, but the predicts that shoppers will find lower turkey prices in grocery stores leading up to the holiday to bring in shoppers.
Abraham Lincoln wrote, No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.
