| APRIL 1, 2026 -- On March 18th, on the way to Ag Day at the State Capitol, the gas price at the Citgo station in town was $3.47 per gallon. On the way home the price at that same station was $3.69 per gallon. Six hours later. This event in Iran will have a great cost to us the taxpayers. By the time you read this article gas prices are expected to be $4-5.00 per gallon and diesel to be $5-7.00 per gallon.
Our farmers are beginning to plant for the upcoming season and fertilizer shortages are expected because much of the fertilizer is imported from countries cut-off by the stoppage in the Strait of Hormuz. The event in the Middle East seems to be a disaster from the start. No planning, no alliances formed, no reason for attack, no Congressional approval, and no exit plan. It’s a problem seeking help from our European allies after the fact and then blame them for no wanting to get involved. Our Secretary of War describes the actions as a “good will” crusade.
There is an effort to force the Save Act through the Senate and voter ID to show citizenship. We all did the Real ID to travel by plane. This requires birth certificates, marriage licenses, social security numbers, and residential information. That’s not good enough. Now a birth certificate and passport are what you need to vote. What happens to the married women who take their husband’s surname? Now the name doesn’t match on the birth certificates and now are ineligible to vote. Do not let them steal the election and take away your rights. Fight back and let your voice be heard.
A meeting was held between farmers and the Secretary of Agriculture at the beginning of March. Secretary Rollins talked about eminent domain. Farmers talked about power companies seeking to build high tension power lines across open farmland. Eminent domain would be needed to get the project completed. Secretary Rollins brought up the Kelo v. New London, CT Supreme Court case in 2005. Pfizer wanted to build a corporate headquarters in New London and the city tried to use eminent domain to take a neighborhood to give land to the project. Susette Kelo sued stating eminent domain cannot be used for economic enhancement, and won. We hear that the new projects for artificial intelligence (AI) and data storage plants will be in every state and will require large volumes of electricity and water, natural gas and land. With the overturning of Clean Air standards, water discharge rules, and asbestos regulations, we should be very concerned about who is benefiting from these actions... not likely the taxpayers.
The US Postal Service has announced they need more money to operate. Amazon just stated they are scaling back postal deliveries. Postage stamps are to rise to 95 cents. Letters will be postmarked at the first automated machine they reach. In Connecticut, mail is sent to either Hartford or New Haven (and in some cases Springfield, MA). This means there will be a two day delay on your postmarked letter. Keep this in mind when trying to meet a deadline with letters and payments that require a specific postmark date.
Happy spring get out and plant a garden. It will help your pocketbook as we are not a farm to table country, we are truck to table.
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