The Independent always produces excellent coverage of Field Days, and this year is no exception. The stories and photos help those not directly involved in agriculture understand its importance to our culture and our economy.

Reporting by John Flowers and Bee Eckels and the editorial by Bill Schubart highlighted some challenges we continue to face despite living in an agricultural county and state. The heartless cuts by Trump to nutritional support and health care is exacerbating an already steady increase in demands on local food shelves. Donations and volunteerism are just some of the ways our communities try to cope.

We can and must do more. We can grow more food. We can process more food locally. There are reasons we don’t or can’t. To address this challenge, we must make food production a public policy priority. It just doesn’t make sense that our agricultural state has so much food insecurity.

Paul Ralston

New Haven