|
|
Orion risesThis morning in Iowa it is 43 degrees. That's the coldest I can remember since spring. It is obvious to us through cultural learning and scientific observation that the season is changing. From early evening till dawn, Orion "the hunter" is clearly visible in the southern sky. It rises as the season changes and stands boldly all winter, high in the heavens, before sinking again in spring. When I see it with three bright stars in the belt and a nebula that forms a sword, I am assured that there are some things we can't change and I find comfort in that thought. This has been a remarkable year for crop production in the Midwest. It was, unfortunately, a devastating year for many to the south, with drought, freeze and untimely rains. Here, the challenge is planting early enough to mature the crop before the fall frost comes. All but the southeast reaches of the state did so, but the summer was a mild one and the corn grew slowly. Now, as the season cools, only half of the corn is fully mature and needs two more weeks to ripen and dry before it goes into the bin. It seems that we, as Americans, crowd everything to the fullest. We exploit any situation by pushing all aspects to see which one breaks first. It is a means of learning and yet it borders on self destruction. We walk closer to the edge each year, as we push for greater productivity and a more efficient pathway to achieve it. I honestly admire that, but it makes me weary by the time the harvest begins each fall. Surely others feel the same, as I see their faces, strained from the stress, sternly smiling yet internally gasping for breath. In agriculture, as in business, there is no other path. The fear of failing pushes ownership and management to increase production or decrease the cost per unit produced. The workers respond and the throughput and output increase. The competition responds and the next cycle is a little higher. A farmer who looks back at past yields can be impressed with his progress, yet cannot rest with any assurance he will be profitable next year. I keep up with a "seed corn historian" who lives in western Iowa. He revels in the accomplishments of those who began to hybridize and market corn that would produce a larger harvest. He recreates their successes with corn of the past and compares it with the technology of the present. This year, he planted three types of corn: an open-pollinated variety called Reeds Yellow Dent, the first hybrid called US 13 and a biotech triple stack with the latest breeding and insect protection. To make it fair, he used a check-row planter and put three seeds in each location, 40 inches apart. The open-pollinated corn produced 74 bushels per acre while the old hybrid produced 95. The new biotech corn came in with a predictable yield of 132 bushels per acre. The cost of the old seed was minimal and the new hybrid was quite expensive but the profit from low yield to high yield was minus $50, plus $32.50 and plus $150 per acre. It is difficult for a farmer to think of what his harvest accomplishes for people who consume his product, but it is clear that we have fed a growing population for far longer than economists projected in the last century. The first step for the farmer is to feed himself and remain in business. There may not be a humanitarian thought given while the crop is growing but there should be a moment to realize what has been accomplished and, more so, what has been averted, each time we rise to the challenge of greater productivity. So as Orion signals the coming of winter, I hope you take some comfort in knowing this year has been successful in feeding ourselves and billions worldwide. There are no guarantees of price or production for the entrepreneur who risks greatly each year as the crop is sown, grown and harvested. Only his work and God's grace can combine to make the harvest. For those who have struggled in this year, may things even out in the next. For those who fill the bins this fall, may your good fortune continue for the sake of all mankind. Editor's Note: This is Ken Root's 35th year as an agricultural reporter. He grew up on a small farm in central Oklahoma and started his career as a vocational agriculture teacher. He worked in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri as a broadcaster and was the original host of AgriTalk. He has also been the executive director of the National AgriChemical Retailers Association in Washington, D.C. and the National Association of Farm Broadcasters in Kansas City. Ken is now the lead farm broadcaster at WHO and WMT Radio based in Des Moines, Iowa. He has been a columnist for HPJ and Midwest Ag Journal for eight years.
1
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
