Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 1/31/18

President Donald Trump made no mention of agriculture, farmers or ranchers during his first State of the Union address to Congress Tuesday night, which was primarily filled with broad strokes on issues that appeal to his base. His main themes focused on national security and his immigration agenda, along with the recognition of military heroes, first responders to hurricanes and wildfires, and family members of those killed by MS-13 gang members.

The president recognized David Dahlberg, a firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service who helped rescue 62 children and staff from a Santa Barbara camp threatened by the Whittier fire in Southern California. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who oversees the Forest Service, also gave Dahlberg a shoutout earlier in the day.

Infrastructure talk: Trump called on Congress to propose legislation that would generate at least $1.5 trillion in new infrastructure investment - drawing rare bipartisan applause. But the president offered few policy details, such as how to pay for the package or how the money will be spent. Within the next few weeks, the White House is expected to roll out its infrastructure plan, which will include about $200 billion in federal dollars, while relying on state, local and private investment for the rest.

Ag industry responds: American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall praised Trump's speech, saying in a statement on Tuesday night that tax cuts and the administration's pursuit of "fair and reciprocal" trade agreements - two issues Trump touched on fairly briefly - will benefit producers. Regarding immigration, Duvall said that while more must be done to secure U.S. borders, expanded access to farm labor must be part of any compromise bill. 

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson said Trump needed to deliver on his promise to update America's "crumbling" rural infrastructure. Johnson also said that although past trade agreements have put the working class at a disadvantage, the Trump administration's negotiating tactics weren't conducive to positive relationships with trade partners like Canada and Mexico.