Farming still a way of life

Hang around the feed store, the sale barn or the local cafe long enough, and you're almost sure to hear complaints from the cattle and crop-growing crowd.

They have a long list of concerns.

One day they may tell you that there hasn't been nearly enough rain ... the crops are on the verge of a total wipeout. Then -- closer to harvest time -- you might hear farmers complaining that there's too much rain. "Can't get into the fields. When will the rain ever stop?"

While moisture is the topic most cussed and discussed by farmers, an even greater concern for the people in agriculture is finances. With expenses going up and prices for commodities going down, farmers are walking an eternal tight rope, trying to survive the financial fluctuations of the marketplace.

That's the stereotype ... and few will dispute that there's an element of truth to the doom and gloom description.

But times, they are a changin'.

As an indication of this, turn to page 4 of the 16-page Spring Farming Edition included as a part of today's Gazette. In a story entitled "Young farmers, ranchers more optimistic," the American Farm Bureau Federation tells us that, "For the second straight year, a growing number of young farmers (59.27 percent) said they were more optimistic about farming than they were five years ago."

The article goes on to tell us that number is up from 2001's 57.8 percent, and considerably higher than the survey's historic low point of just 52.9 percent in 2000.

Perhaps of even more significance, 83.1 percent of the young farmers said they are better off financially today than they were five years ago -- also a sharp increase from the survey's low point of 69.7 percent in 2000.

The upshot of all this is that a whopping 91.8 percent of those surveyed see themselves as lifetime farmers.

That's great news, especially for those of us who live in the rural areas of America, where the livelihood of both town and country residents is so closely tied to agriculture. The survey of young farmers is just one of the highlights of the Spring Farming Edition, which was produced by the Gazette's special sections coordinator, Gloria Masoner, with writing contributions from Regional Editor Connie Jo Discoe. Connie's lead feature is about Pam Potthoff of rural Stratton, the president of the Nebraska WIFE organization. Pam was a charter member of WIFE which stands for Women Involved in Farm Economics.

There are also articles about wind energy, a pork plant, tomatoes grown without soil, land use concerns, bison meat, fuels from crops, bioterrorism and the nation's food supply, beef nutrition information, elk farming, agriculture industry leadership, a wheatgrowers trip to Washington and the closing of the Sioux City stockyards.

Also packed with news about farming and business are the 32 advertisements from firms throughout the area that are included in the edition.

Enjoy some interesting reading. And, as you do, get ready for a new day and a new way ... when farmers may surprise you with their positive attitudes.