| FEBRUARY 1, 2026 -- As I write this article, we have started the second year of the Trump presidency. Boy am I exhausted, I bet you are too.
It’s a stressful time with arguments with other nations and various states along with taking on Europe, China, and Russia. In Washington there’s the push for a new ballroom, a second floor on the West Wing and an arch over the Potomac.
There’s disturbing news of ICE rounding up people as illegals. A young mother was shot and killed by an officer and was called a domestic terrorist following the incident. Videos taken at different angles show Miss Good was trying to leave the area but was shot three times. We have been told that what we see with our eyes and hear with our ears is wrong.
On January 10 an alert went out about Connecticut Farmer PA 490 tax table increasing this year which will have higher property taxes on farmland. A group of Republicans and farmers met at the Capitol calling attention to the event, most blaming the Governor for his stand on solar energy or affordable housing. Yet the next day the UConn Extension Service released the following statement:
“In October 2025, the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), in consultation with the Department of Agriculture (DoAg), released recommended land use values for farmland, forest, and open space under Connecticut’s PA 490 program.
These recommended values were compiled using data from rental rate surveys with an analysis by an independent contractor and review by a certified appraiser. Over the past few weeks, CT DoAg has heard from a number of agricultural producers who expressed concern over some of the increases, in particular pasture and swamp land. Upon further review and taking additional factors into consideration, the appraisal methodology was revised resulting in updated recommended land use values. The corrected publication can be viewed on OPM’s website under Land Classification.”
This issue was highly politicized without the full facts.
An Executive Order was signed requiring schools to serve whole and 2% milk.
In this new year, we all need to watch out for each other, giving rides, getting groceries, fellowship and friendship because this is what Grangers do.
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