Not a Cinderella year this year...

"Our farmers, who never get the kudos and thanks they should, will manage to get enough crop to feed the country. Not only our country, but also many in a hungry world. For that, we are very thankful."

Many of us have heard the term "Goldilocks Planet". We live on one. Maybe the best one. Those who have not heard this term, here is a brief refresher. If a planet is too close to the sun like Mercury is, it would be too hot for life as we know it. If a planet is too far away from the sun like Uranus is, it would be too cold for life as we know it. Earth however, is in the "Goldilocks Zone". Not too hot, not too cold - just right. Plus, there are many other reasons why Earth is so well suited for folks like us - as we as our flora and fauna.

The same is true for our weather. Some years are way too wet, some years are way too dry. We are in a dry year. Not for everyone, but much of the Midwest is dryer than normal. What does all that mean? Being a farmer, puts him or her in control of many things. But not the weather. A late frost, a hail storm, a high wind event (like a derecho or tornado), or drought could damage part or all of the crop. Truthfully, with as many things as Mother Nature can throw at farmers, it is amazing we get the type of crop production we get.

But hope springs eternal. Every year, each farmer hopes for something very close to a "Goldilocks year". Early planting with no chance of a frost, just enough moisture to keep the crops growing and healthy, and just dry enough in the fall to allow for a normal harvest. When that happens over much of the country, there are many "bin busters", and everything is good. Well, except for one thing. Too much of a good thing leads to depressed prices for a farmer.

The climate change panic merchants are already out spewing fear about the hot and dry weather we are having this year. "See! See! This is our fault! We have got to quit driving and using air conditioning!" Really? What about 1988? The year we had 40 some days 90 or above? Was that climate change also? And the 1930's Dust Bowl years. If we had those right now, the climate change folks would be speechless with fear.

My wife just returned from central Wisconsin, where she had a gal pal gathering. She said the crops where the gathering was, looked very good, and very healthy. So this country will have a harvest this year. Will it be as good as last year's harvest? Maybe not. But through the science of GMO (gasp!), we have hybrid crops which can still grow and produce, even in dryer than normal weather. Some of those hybrids were developed right here, at the University of Minnesota Agriculture Campus.

It has been a hot, dry, and smoky year. Not a "Goldilocks year" for sure. Our farmers, who never get the kudos and thanks they should, will manage to get enough crop to feed the country. Not only our country, but also many in a hungry world. For that, we are very thankful.