Hug a Farmer

It's hot!  It's dry!  Everywhere I look I see fields drying up, corn curling and turning brown, trees with yellowing leaves, plants wilting down, and people dripping.  We're having an awful summer.

Farming is one of the highest stress jobs in the world.  Some days I really can't figure out why anyone would put themselves through this nightmare called farming. 

Because of weird weather fluctuations in the Midwest over the past few years, corn prices have been soaring.  Although, as my grain farming son-in-law reminds me, so have the fuel, fertilizer, machinery, and land costs.  However, the strong corn market has caused literally thousands of acres of former pastureland in Kentucky to be planted with rows and rows of corn.  Driving through the state one sees field after field planted in the spring with high hopes of a bountiful yield and extra money for the farmers.

Young farmers, hoping for a quick start on the road to success, have sunk everything they could borrow into seed corn, land rent, fertilizer, planters and combines.  Banks, hoping for a boost in the failing economy, have happily lent the money.  An exceptionally early spring sent everyone hurrying to get as much ground planted as possible.  Before long the countryside was covered in little rows of green, feathering their slim foliage over the brown earth.  The farmers walked proud as they checked their fledgling crop. 

Then it quit raining and the temperature started to rise.  During May the temperatures hit the nineties.  (May is usually a cool, damp month)  In June the temperatures soared into the 100's--and stayed there.  Day after day the heat beat down.  The corn that had started out so bravely, began to curl it's leaves.  Farmers started to spend hours studying the radar maps on their computers.  Televisions were tuned to the weather channel.  Still the heat continued.  Farmers started praying for rain and watching the skies.

Then, as usually happens in the south, we started getting "pop up showers".  Those late afternoon showers that "pop up" quickly and just as quickly disappear.  We literally watched it rain a downpour on the field across the road from our farm, without getting a drop.  Louisville flooded from a massive 5 inch rainfall, we had a 20 minute shower.  Storms would gather, be tracked across the radar map, sure to hit us, only, at the last minute they would fade out and be gone.  Over the weeks some rain would fall, but it was never enough.

The acres of corn were starting to turn brown.  The waist high crop was doomed.  Even if rain came now, it would be too late.  The corn that has survived has not made ears due to the stress and high heat.  Only a small portion of the Kentucky corn crop will ever see market.  Some farmers will literally face bankruptcy.

A few states had managed to miss the worst of the drought during June and early July, but now are experiencing the same obsessively high temperatures and dry weather. Some analysts are saying this is the worst drought since the dust bowl in the 1930's.

 It is not a great time to be a farmer, however, you won't find them quiting.  They'll dig in their heels and fight to figure out a way to keep putting food on the tables of America.  We will continue to be well fed and clothed because the farmer is out there keeping on doing his job in spite of everything that the weather and economy can throw at him. 

If you happen to see a farmer today.  Shake his hand and maybe even give him a hug.  He's having a rough day and could use the support.