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Hustle and pick up an IC7300 MKII

 The IC7300 MKII almost as good as a Naked Centerfold (Almost)


Hustle over to the DX Engineering website, plunk down $35 and reserve one for your shack. You want one, you need one, you deserve one, you will buy one! It will be a status symbol and do it now as 2026 will be a bad time to buy ham gear. [BTW the plain vanilla older model IC7300 can be had for $900.]


I have been using my homebrew 20M SDR transceiver running several different Single Board Computers including a RPi3, RPi4, RPi5 and the ASUS Tinker Board. The RPi4 is the only one that has problems running QUISK. The ASUS Tinker Board is a fast processor but doesn't like Python3 nor WSJTX. 

Of the lot, the 64 Bit RPi5 is the best. If things get boring on 20M, there is always NETFLIX.


Aid to the US Farmers

I am trying to sort through the current situation with the US farmers. By and large the farm vote supported the current regime. Enter the tariffs and this block of voters got hit really hard. 

So, to regain the farm vote, there is a $12 Billion dollar aid package for them in the works. Just wondering if farmers the astute crowd they are, will take the aid but not further support the current administration. 

Their loyalty certainly is at a high risk. That may be the real fall out of the puerile tariff tactic. Burning question: if the tariffs were not invoked would we need to spend an initial $12B bailing out the farm vote. BTW the proposed aid is not the total resolution but merely a band-aid on a broken leg.


Here is what copilot has said about the farmers

How did the tariffs affect American Farmers and will the $12 Billion aid bill fix the problem

Quick Answer: Tariffs severely hurt American farmers by cutting off export markets (especially soybeans to China) and raising input costs. The $12 billion aid bill provides short-term relief, but experts say it won’t fully solve the deeper problems caused by lost markets and ongoing trade uncertainty.

🌾 How Tariffs Affected American Farmers

  • Lost Export Markets: China, one of the largest buyers of U.S. soybeans, drastically reduced purchases in response to tariffs. This left farmers with unsold crops and collapsing prices.

  • Higher Costs: Tariffs also increased the price of imported goods used in farming, such as equipment and fertilizers, squeezing profit margins.

  • Regional Impact: States like Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas—major producers of soybeans, corn, and sorghum—were hit hardest, with some declaring agricultural export crises.

  • Uncertainty: Constantly shifting trade policies created instability, making it difficult for farmers to plan future planting and investments.

💰 What the $12 Billion Aid Bill Does

  • Direct Payments: About $11 billion will go to crop farmers through one-time “bridge payments” from the Department of Agriculture.

  • Debt Relief & Planning: Funds are intended to help farmers pay off debts and prepare for next year’s planting season.

  • Targeted Support: Aid covers crops like soybeans, corn, cotton, rice, and sorghum, with smaller allocations for other affected sectors.

  • Funding Source: The administration says the money comes from tariff revenues, essentially recycling funds collected from import duties.

⚖️ Will It Fix the Problem?

  • Short-Term Relief Only: The aid helps farmers stay afloat financially, preventing bankruptcies and stabilizing food supply chains.

  • Doesn’t Restore Markets: The bill doesn’t reopen lost export markets like China, meaning farmers still face reduced demand.

  • Temporary Measure: Analysts describe the package as a “bridge” rather than a solution. Long-term recovery depends on resolving trade disputes and rebuilding international relationships.

  • Food Prices: The aid is designed to prevent grocery prices from rising, but it won’t lower them or fully offset inflation.

📌 Bottom Line

The tariffs disrupted global trade flows, leaving American farmers with unsold crops and higher costs. The $12 billion aid bill cushions the blow but cannot replace lost markets or undo the structural damage. Farmers may need lasting trade agreements and diversified markets to truly recover.


There is about 3 weeks left in 2025 and then the jockeying for power with the 2026 mid-terms begins. In the final analysis we all have been impacted by the plight of the farmers. Just check your grocery bill! Maybe those astute farmers already know who upended their business.

Them that know can make things go.

73's

Pete N6QW

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