I was so thankful for the chance to make it home this past weekend. However, the dreary gray skies were only a reminder that it is May 15th and my Dad has yet to put one corn or soybean seed in the ground. I like to think of farming as a game of risk. A farmer buys land, takes out loans to purchase machinery, chemicals, nitrogen, and seeds with the hope that the harvest will pay enough to cover costs as well as provide enough money to survive for the next year.
People who don't have that direct connection to farming don't realize the risk farmers take everyday. One day could be the difference of a successful crop. Spraying too close to rain could end up costing the farmer twice as much, therefore cutting into profits.
And beginning to plant almost 500 acres during the middle of May... that's risky business. Not only does that signal numerous late nights (or nights with NO sleep) but it could also signal ruts in the ground causing erosion as well as many other detrimental facts. On a video I recently saw on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joUggaD6Mr0 highlights that farmers have to be "Part agronomist, conservationist, meteorologist, economist and ALL optimist." It also highlights, "To succeed at farming, a thousand things have to go right. Failure usually requires only one thing to go wrong."
Pretty interesting thought, eh?
I'm thankful that I have been privileged enough to grow up and have a deep appreciation and passion for farming and the agricultural industry.
No comments:
Post a Comment