Just Down the Road

 Grandma is no longer with us, but her saying "It's great weather for ducks!" would appropriately describe the past few months' weather conditions. Our son's Puff Junior, his duck ladies and their combined twenty-two ducklings have been living it up, but they are the only beings around here enjoying this persistent "fowl" weather. The chickens, cats, and goats strictly avoid raindrops and the dog must be forced outside when nature calls. Let's hope when you read this our weather will have greatly improved!

 A farmer friend remembers a duck that often hopped up and down under their house's bay window. This was definitely unusual duck behavior and it became more bizarre when Nibbles was seen clinging to the windowsill peering inside the house. They put a bench under the window and Nibbles would sit for hours watching television; he especially liked cartoons!

 Working at a local bank in the early 1980s, a customer unexpectedly brought me a box of ducklings. After Mr. Rudin left, my boss found out and demanded the ducks leave immediately, although I couldn't leave until lunchtime. A coworker came to the rescue by hiding them in her basement work area. I joke that my dowry included a cat and a bunch of ducks. My husband didn't mind the cat but resented the ducks because they hung around the doors, making messes and getting in the way. 

 Many involved in agriculture throughout widespread areas of the Northeast are again experiencing weather-related hardships because Mother Nature, for a fourth consecutive year, is wreaking havoc. It has often been too wet or too dry to plant, grow and harvest many types of crops. This year my husband has refrained from pulling out what little hair he has left but his frustration is mounting. He and others trying to plant crops and bale decent hay have been repeatedly thwarted by wet conditions. Time constraints were so desperate that our daughter accompanied me while I underwent two simultaneous surgeries. 

Although I wanted him with me, I calmly explained to several hospital personnel who inquire, "Isn't your husband here?", the hay had to be harvested before it rained or would be ruined. 

 Most farmers raise crops to feed their livestock or cash crop to cover some expenses (taxes, insurance, etc.). Sometimes yields and quality are below that needed to cover costs of production. Hired labor is often unavailable, unaffordable, or unreliable. When farmers are incapacitated by illness or injury, the animals and crops must be cared for regardless. Expenses for equipment, animal feed, products to nourish and protect crops, energy, insurance, and almost everything involved in production have risen steadily but business income has often not kept pace. 

 Many farmers experience market-driven hardships. For example, dairy farmers and large-scale egg producers receive for their milk and eggs what wholesalers/buyers decide to pay. Cattle, hog, and sheep producers usually face the same situation. This return for their investment might be enough to break even or make a profit, but it's not a sure thing. After a few losing years, hopes of better times evaporate and reality sets in. I mentioned in a previous article that most farmers cannot afford to keep operating at a loss for very long and often must make the unfortunate decision to "get out" before their financial situation is irreparable.

 People might assume farmers who can't stay in business must be poor managers, not that bright, lazy, and so forth. Rarely is that the case: most farmers are intelligent, ambitious, skilled do-it-yourselfers involving just about anything, and possess fortitude and common sense. Difficulties or failures usually result from circumstances the farmer has little control over. Try to support farmers by encouraging their efforts and very existence - can we as Americans be assured there will always be a reliable, safe, healthful supply of food if our nation's farms decrease at this current alarming rate?