Finally, the weather has turned warm! In Iowa, this was the 3rd coldest and snowiest winter on record. Even with all that snow, It did not take long to see all the snow and the 8 foot high snow banks melt. Now it is the time that farmers look forward to.... Playing in the dirt. Farmers are ready to get their hands in the soil after months of planning. To be completely honest, I really like to work in the fields myself!
In my prior life, I enjoyed working in the field with my husband. I would haved like to be more involved, however, to help with our living expenses, I was employed off the farm as a business analyst. Meaning, I found the fastest, cheapest, and best way to electronically route work through the office. I liked my job, but there was something missing and it nagged at me... I wanted to be more involved in farming! Funny how life changes isn't it.
At my job, co-workers asked me why I like working on the farm. My reply was that I couldn't touch and feel my work. I could see peoples' tasks lists for work to do and I could read reports indicating how successful things were going, but I couldn't touch and feel it.
Working on spring planting is another activity to work as a family. One person is in the field cultivator, another is running the planter, and another is our gopher or Girl Friday. The Gopher involves getting seed corn, fertilizer, fuel, and anything else that is needed. When someone brings lunch to the field, it is another time of the year where we get to tailgate. This is where we gather out in the field and have lunch. Lunches can be as simple as sandwiches and salads to steaks cooked on the grill.
The technology that is now on the farms is something that few of us could have imagined when we were growing up. We use GPS to steer our tractors and seeds with traits to ward off insects. These two pieces of modern farming allows us to be better stewards of the land. We use less fuel and fewer chemicals. This lowers our costs and raises production.
Please watch for large machinery on the road, it is time for farmers to be going to field. Please wave to the farmers in the tractors. Who knows, one of the tractors you meet or pass could be me up in the cab!
I hope you have a great week.
In my prior life, I enjoyed working in the field with my husband. I would haved like to be more involved, however, to help with our living expenses, I was employed off the farm as a business analyst. Meaning, I found the fastest, cheapest, and best way to electronically route work through the office. I liked my job, but there was something missing and it nagged at me... I wanted to be more involved in farming! Funny how life changes isn't it.
At my job, co-workers asked me why I like working on the farm. My reply was that I couldn't touch and feel my work. I could see peoples' tasks lists for work to do and I could read reports indicating how successful things were going, but I couldn't touch and feel it.
Working on spring planting is another activity to work as a family. One person is in the field cultivator, another is running the planter, and another is our gopher or Girl Friday. The Gopher involves getting seed corn, fertilizer, fuel, and anything else that is needed. When someone brings lunch to the field, it is another time of the year where we get to tailgate. This is where we gather out in the field and have lunch. Lunches can be as simple as sandwiches and salads to steaks cooked on the grill.
The technology that is now on the farms is something that few of us could have imagined when we were growing up. We use GPS to steer our tractors and seeds with traits to ward off insects. These two pieces of modern farming allows us to be better stewards of the land. We use less fuel and fewer chemicals. This lowers our costs and raises production.
Please watch for large machinery on the road, it is time for farmers to be going to field. Please wave to the farmers in the tractors. Who knows, one of the tractors you meet or pass could be me up in the cab!
I hope you have a great week.
Some tulips next to the barn.
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