https://substack.com/@heartlandagnetwork/note/p-181354725?r=591dcg

The Heartland Report with Robert Wolfe

Heartland Ag Network -

The information you need.

The truth you deserve.

China has already passed the $1 trillion surplus for trade. The first time and they have one month to go. In 2024 they were slightly under $1 trillion 

It would appear that even with the trade war tariffs placed by the Trump administration China has increased trade.

Remember they needed us because we purchased the items they produce more than we needed them. It appears they can get along without us. 

Maybe part of the issue was attacking even our allies in a trade war. It is sad when China feels like the more reliable trading partner.

The Heartland Report with Robert Wolfe

Heartland Ag Network -

The information you need.

The truth you deserve.

China get access to high quality AI chips so they can pirate them. The produce to compete with the United States using stolen technology. America can farmers get more broken promises!

The Heartland Report with Robert Wolfe

Heartland Ag Network -

The information you need.

The truth you deserve.

Bridge Payment for Farmers Expected “Next Week,” But Questions Loom

By Robert Wolfe
 The Heartland Report

Reuters is reporting that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signaled today that the Trump administration plans to unveil a new “bridge payment” for farmers—short-term relief intended to hold producers over as the administration continues negotiating long-term trade agreements and finalizing broader aid packages.

According to Reuters, Rollins told President Trump during a cabinet meeting:
 “We do have a bridge payment. We’ll be announcing with you next week.”

For many in agriculture, that promise comes with a familiar ring—and a growing sense of frustration.

Farm groups and Republican lawmakers have been pressing the administration for months, warning that producers across the country are reaching a breaking point. Low commodity prices, overflowing grain bins, high operating costs, and ongoing trade disruptions have battered balance sheets from the Corn Belt to the Mississippi Delta.

Soybean growers, in particular, remain squeezed by billions of dollars in lost exports to China, fallout from the turbulent trade back-and-forth that has defined much of this past year.

A Relief Check… or Another Delay?

Producers were told that after the government shutdown ended, an announcement on new farm payments would arrive by the first week of December. Yet here we are—with another promise of an announcement “next week,” and no clear details on how much help is coming, who will qualify, or when checks will actually arrive.

For many farmers, this feels like yet another case of kicking the can down the road at a time when cash flow is tight and bills are due.

A Historic Level of Spending

Even without the specifics of this new bridge payment, the numbers are staggering.
 By year’s end, the federal government is expected to have spent more than $40 billion on direct payments to farmers—the second-highest annual level since 1933, according to USDA data.

Those payments have helped soften the blow, but they haven’t solved the underlying problem: uncertainty. Markets remain volatile, trade routes remain disrupted, and many producers are still operating on razor-thin margins.

Looking Ahead

A bridge payment may provide temporary relief—but farmers across the Heartland aren’t just looking for a bridge. They’re looking for solid ground.

We’ll continue tracking this story closely, and we’ll bring you updates as soon as the administration provides concrete details.

Heartland Ag Network — The Information You Need. The Truth You Deserve.

The Heartland Report with Robert Wolfe

Heartland Ag Network -

The information you need.

The truth you deserve.

“Trump, Loyalty, and the Danger of ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’”

By Robert Wolfe — The Heartland Report

In this episode, Robert Wolfe breaks down Donald Trump’s latest Truth Social post—a rant released early this morning that goes far beyond political spin and straight into authoritarian expectation.

Robert walks viewers through Trump’s claims about Rep. Henry Cuellar, the charges Cuellar faced, and Trump’s assertion that his pardon should have earned personal loyalty and political conversion. From the exaggerated victimhood to the divine self-praise (“God was very happy with me that day”), Robert explores how Trump’s messaging reveals a deeper pattern: a demand for fealty over principle, party, or democracy itself.

With humor, frustration, and candor, Robert highlights the troubling implications of Trump’s language—especially his fixation on “loyalty,” his attacks on the “radical left,” and his casual threats like “no more Mr. Nice Guy.” He contrasts that mindset with the foundational principles of a secular, democratic America where accountability is a feature, not a flaw.

This episode is a straightforward, no-nonsense reminder of what’s at stake: whether political power serves the public—or the ego of one man. Robert closes with a challenge for viewers to think critically, stay aware, and remember that we can do better.

*I said a grand jury but meant for a trial court jury.

The Heartland Report with Robert Wolfe

Heartland Ag Network -

The information you need.

The truth you deserve.

We have become numb to politicians being less than honest but normally you could know even before they said it. The LIE would be a manipulation that was shaded in favor of them, sometimes heavily shaded. 

But we have reached the breaking point with an administration that will piss on your leg and tell you it is raining with a smile on their face.

The Heartland Report with Robert Wolfe

Heartland Ag Network -

The information you need.

The truth you deserve.

American agriculture is shifting faster than many folks realize. In this episode, Robert Wolfe breaks down the major forces reshaping the farm economy—from consolidation in livestock and grain production to the rising power of global markets, technology, and environmental pressures. He explains how small, diversified family farms have steadily disappeared over the past 50 years while large, specialized operations dominate more of the nation’s food supply. And with new challenges around labor, land costs, input volatility, and climate stress, today’s farmers face decisions that feel more complex than ever.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Robert also highlights the emerging opportunities for local food systems, regenerative agriculture, direct-to-consumer markets, and the renewed interest in sustainable, community-rooted farming. It’s a candid look at where American agriculture is heading—and what it will take for producers, rural towns, and consumers to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape.

You can find the full article at - 

https://substack.com/@heartlandagnetwork/note/p-179776524?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=591dcg

The Heartland Report with Robert Wolfe

Heartland Ag Network -

The information you need.

The truth you deserve.

You will find a link to the Commonwealth funds report on primary care in rural America. We are facing a crisis and telling us we are going to spend $50 Billion on rural healthcare sounds great until you realize we were already spending $150 Billion per year.  The hollowing out of rural America was no accident. It was a policy choice. Limited opportunities, increased poverety and poor quality of life happened because of poor choices made by us! and WE can change it but we need to understand what is wrong and what will improve it.

Tune in to the heartland report where I give honest information to think about on politics, economics and rural life.

https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2025/nov/state-rural-primary-care-united-states

The Heartland Report with Robert Wolfe

Heartland Ag Network -

The information you need.

The truth you deserve.

 Allies are taking payments in Chinese currency for partial payment. This will push more business to China from our traditional allies. We are showing a lack of leadership in the world and China will gladly eat our lunch! #dollar #chinatrade #internationaltrade #ruralamerica #poorleadership #leadership 

The Heartland Report with Robert Wolfe

Heartland Ag Network -

The information you need.

The truth you deserve.

n this episode of The Heartland Report, Robert Wolfe breaks down one of the biggest threats facing American agriculture: the domination of the beef industry by just four companies controlling roughly 85% of all U.S. processing.

Robert walks viewers through ten powerful reasons this consolidation is hurting ranchers, raising grocery prices, hollowing out rural communities, weakening competition, and putting both food security and national security at risk. From collapsing cash markets to misleading “Product of USA” labels to foreign corporations buying up America’s beef supply, this episode exposes what’s really happening behind the meat counter.

Clear, direct, and deeply rooted in rural reality, this report shines a light on how consolidation is reshaping the beef industry—and why every American, not just ranchers, should care.

Heartland Ag Network — The Information You Need. The Truth You Deserve.

The Heartland Report with Robert Wolfe

Heartland Ag Network -

The information you need.

The truth you deserve.