The old expression, "The more things change, the more they stay the same," is fitting as we ring in the new year.

As we begin 2014, farmers are facing down many of the same legislative issues we were a year ago: farm bill, immigration, waterways infrastructure, taxes and the list goes on.

But while on the surface it looks like not a heck of a lot was accomplished in the past year, in spite of what was a contentious political year, solid progress was made on several of Farm Bureau’s priority issues.

Moving the needle

As the popular Christmas/New Year song goes: "What have you done?...