This planting season has not been an easy one for farmers in the Eastern Corn Belt. One of the wettest months of April on record has been followed by a cool and wet May. As a result, corn planting is running weeks behind. Not only will this delay have an impact on yields, it will likely mean late pollination and a late harvest.

This situation has produced a good deal of anxiety and stress for many farm families. High input costs, high commodity prices, and high land values and rents have increased the risk in what is already a very risky business.
As I have traveled around Indiana talking with growers, I have noticed some common ideals about the way many growers are dealing with the situation. These include patience, precision, a positive attitude and a progressive outlook.

Patience is a virtue goes the old saying; and, this spring, farmers needed to be very virtuous. For many, the planting season did not begin for weeks after its typical start and, even then, the mud and the stop and start rains were very difficult to deal with. Del Unger, of Knox County, Ind., put it best when he said, “It is not about days but about getting the crop planted correctly.”
While some of his neighbors are mudding in the corn, Del plans to wait, even as late as mid-June to plant his corn. He stressed that putting the crop into the correct field conditions will pay dividends down the road. He feels the right environment is more important than what the calendar says. He intends to wait until mid-June before switching to soybeans or taking other action. In addition to patience, keeping a positive attitude is also a key feature of successful family farms. Tammi Unger said that is part of her role on the family farm: keeping everyone positive. She admitted the weather forecast can get pretty discouraging at times. She added that having instant weather data and too much weather information (thanks to the internet, weather data is just a click away) can be discouraging. She said family meals are a good time to stress the positive and keep perspective.

Precision is another factor that is helping growers overcome the challenges of this spring. It can be easy to get in a rush to get seed in the ground, but new technology is allowing growers to do that in a much more precise way.
Planter problems can lead to skips and other small problems that add up to big losses. With corn and seed prices at high levels, making your planting process as accurate and efficient as possible is vital. With today’s farm equipment, a farmer can plant his crop in a matter of days. While speed is needed this year, precision is also a requirement.

A progressive approach to farming is an attribute many successful farmers possess. They are willing to try something new, find ways to adopt new ideas into their operation, and experiment with new concepts. Some folks call them “early adopters” because they are often the first to try something and make it work. These are the folks that are driving innovation and moving agriculture forward.

All of this is not new to those in agriculture. You most likely know of someone who falls into these categories. But for those outside of farming, all of this may sound strange. I have had people tell me that farming is easy, all you do is plant stuff and watch it grow. They are clueless about the science, management, and mechanics that go into farming to say nothing of the mental toughness required to farm.

This planting season has tested the management skills and mental discipline of most farmers. While many will be rewarded with a profitable bottom line at harvest, it is shaping up to be a challenging growing season.

Non-farm people I know shake their heads in amazement on how farmers can deal with the uncertainties of the weather, the markets, and the government.
They are baffled by the calm confidence that farmers often exude. A farmer may stay up half the night searching the sky for rain; but, Sunday at church when asked if he is worried, he will smile and say, “Oh, it will come in its time.” Over the years I have observed farmers have a fear of, respect for, and confidence in Mother Nature.

So, let me salute the men and woman who are making it happen this year. Despite extreme weather challenges, you are getting the job done and producing the food supply that will feed and fuel the world in the coming year. For you non-farmers, when you see a farmer working in this land this season, honk your horn, smile and wave, or give a thumbs up to let them know you appreciate what they do.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Gary Truitt should write to him in care of this publication.