KIM BALDWIN
McPherson County farmer and rancher
There have been noticeable signs that spring has arrived on our farm. Following a snowfall during the kids’ spring break, the sun has come out and the temperatures have warmed up. It’s a different feel of seasons.
The flowers have begun appearing in my yard and on my fruit trees. The bees have been out scouting and gathering water. The wheat in the fields has begun to turn a vibrant green. Migratory birds are moving north. The daylight is present longer.
The consistent signs of this season I watch for every year are once again, like clockwork, appearing. It’s something I find peace in knowing that while there are many unknowns in this world, there are natural elements of the season that steadily persist year after year.
One of the consistent events on our farm every spring is the preparation for planting. The winter shop work has been completed. The machines and equipment have been serviced and we prepare to plant seeds in the ground once more.
Over the years, I’ve heard time and time again that one must be an eternal optimist in order to farm as there are so many uncertainties. There are so many things one does not and cannot control in farming, which still determines the outcome of the investments we make. Weather, pests, disease, costs and the markets are just a sampling of areas that could cause sleepless nights for many if one allows those uncertainties to consume their thoughts.
Yet, just like clockwork, we still plant those seeds into the ground every spring. We believe the sun will rise and the right amount of rain will come when needed. We believe we will have enough hands available to help harvest the crop. We trust there is demand for our grain, which will allow us to continue for another year.
This year is no different. We are preparing to begin the planting our fall crops in the coming days.
We are preparing for the spring rains that will provide essential moisture to these newly planted seeds. We are preparing for the routines of the work that is done every year as we raise a new crop for another season.
We are preparing for the consistencies we experience every year during this season and are mindful that inconsistencies will appear.
Yes, there are many things we can’t control which at times can cause concern.
Yet despite those unknowns, we still prepare to plant the next crop. We prepare to plant seeds that are full of hope.
"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.