The Rural Voice, 1980-06, Page 23The Voice of a Farmer
Always
preparing
BY ADRIAN VOS
As I sit here the sun is coming through the clouds and traffic is
whizzing by on the highway in front of the house.
But the engines of our tractors are stilled because the fields
are still muddy from last night's rain. We are chafing at the bit,
for the optimum time for corn planting is already past and we
have been told that every day delay costs us one bushel an acre.
On our 110 acres of workable land that amounts to a loss of 110
bushels or some $300 a day.
Our land has enough low spots to make it impossible in one out
of every five years to get the corn in the ground by May 10. Still
we are usually not the last farmers to get our corn in.
At this time we are more interested in the weather reports
than in news about the American hostages in Iran. This may
sound callous, but it is at least honest.
Mind you, I would gladly let my land lie fallow if it could bring
about the release of these unfortunate, innocent people who are
caught in a revolution, or if it could resolve the problem of
keeping our country together.
But since there is nothing I can do to bring either of these
things about, I just consider what is closest to me, how to provide
for my family.
So, if a bit of wind would come to help dry out the land a little
quicker, I would chafe at that bit a little less. As it is, I share
some of these concerns, concerns that are part of every farmer,
with you.
I hope that my worry of next month will be whether or not the
corn came up evenly and if weeds are developing, requiring
cultivating or more spraying with herbicides.
After that I will be looking at the color of the leaves, to see if
there is a lack of a particular nutrient. And so it goes all year
round.
When the corn goes into the silo next October I will most likely
say: "Oh well, next year we may be better off. Rain may come
when needed and stay away longer at planting time. Next year
we will probably have more heat units.—Or many of the other
ideal circumstances we are always hoping for.
And all these musings are based on experience. After a bad
year there is always a good year to balance it out. When markets
are low, as at present, we can be assured that the next few years
will compensate for it by providing us with a few good years to
make up for the anguish of this one.
Most long-time farmers know the cycles. They either put aside
funds in the good years to tide them over the bad ones, or they
improve on their efficiency when money is available, so the lean
years won't hurt so much.
Paying off old loans in the good years and thus building up
credit is another way of preparing for the inevitable bad years.
The hog man today should be looking at next year when the
hog prices will be up. He should think how long it takes him to
breed a gilt and for its piggies to go to market. A farmer should
always be preparing.
HY TEST
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THE RURAL VOICE/JUNE 1980 PCG. 21