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Tough times and Happy ThanksgivingBy Richard C. Snell Barton County Extension Agent, agriculture Kansas "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot." Sounds like how I feel about the parking garage they are building in front of the K-State Union. They ruined a great view and it's the first thing you see when you get to the campus. I know my opinion isn't a minority one on this. However, that's not where I am going with this story. Just where am I going with this story? You will just have to read on, since I am thinking as I go along. Those who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s will recognize the lyrics at the beginning of this column from the song "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell. It was kind of a protest and activist song, but it also was about being grateful for what you have and not really being thankful for the good things until they are gone. The song hints at some environmental issues and though I really don't consider myself much of a protestor--activist, I am getting to be more of an environmentalist and I think a lot of us are getting more "green," whether we realize it or not. We all are recycling, trying to save energy and most are not trashing our great outdoors like we used to. Where I am really headed today, is about being truly thankful to God and others at this Thanksgiving season and to consider that what we have today, we may not have tomorrow. All politics aside, I think most Americans are concerned about the deep financial crisis that our country and even the world is in and could get worse. I'm not sure what is to come of it and I know I am not smart enough to know how to correct the problem. I am hoping the great minds we have can work it out. I am not predicting anything, but I have heard in recent months that by Christmas of 2012, the question won't be how many presents are under the tree. But rather, will there be food on the table? If you watch CNN, there are thoughts by some that by 2014, we will be under Chinese rule. I don't know if that means militarily or financially or both. But, if you look that may not be terribly far-fetched. It is ironic that just a few months ago, we talked about how good things were in agriculture because all these developing countries as well as China and India, in particular, had growing economies and had money to spend on food like never before. Grain prices were soaring, even though oil and fuel prices soared as well, which sent fertilizer costs up. So we had high inputs but high grain prices. High grain prices were a problem for beef cattle and swine producers. Cash rents were going up. Yields were good because of good rainfall. It looked like farmers were making money and they were encouraged by many to buy land, new pickup trucks and new machinery. Now that oil has dropped, farm inputs have come down some but not like you would think. Grain prices have dropped like a rock, to near the cost of production. Things are scary and uncertain. However our economy locally has been better than most places. We can be thankful for that. The rise in oil prices and rise in grain prices stimulated our economy and we had more jobs out there, especially in the "oil patch." Across the country, many people are without jobs. Many companies that provide jobs, including the government may be in jeopardy, financially. If you have a job, be thankful for it. If you are a farmer and income is good this year, be thankful for it. If you still have your farm, be thankful for it. We just had our election and isn't it great to live in a nation where we have freedom to vote for elected officials. We also have freedom to worship as we please. At the same time, I am thankful for the women and men who serve our country in the armed services to protect our freedom. As we look to possibly tougher times, don't get into an overspending pattern like some big companies or our federal or government has. We have a hiring freeze on at K-State because the state government is over budget, whether by spending or lack of expected revenue, I'm not sure which. In the late 1970s, I saw farmers have to sell out because they borrowed too much on both land and farm equipment. I suggest you buy one or the other, but not both. Keep some set aside for what could lay ahead. I don't mean for this to be gloom and doom but I don't want to give false hope either. I am grateful for the work I get to do, for the home I have and for my family and friends. One other thing that is great about our country is that most of us have plenty of food on the table. If you don't have food on the table, there are people who will feed you or get you some food. There are community wide Thanksgiving meals, community food banks and just kind hearted people. Usually it only takes making a phone call. I want to wish all of my readers a Happy Thanksgiving! 11/24/08 Date: 11/20/08 Advertisement
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