Son of a Farmer

Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation but the only riches she can call her own.” - Samuel Johnson

Another Circle ‘Round the Sun

Dear sweet Mother of Nature, what a year! And here we are boot-scootin’ across the floor into yet another growing season. No resolutions, here my fellow liberators – just revolutions.

Wasn’t till this morning I really paused to look back at 2007 as a whole. Where shall i start?

How about record rainfall? With two six-inch snowfalls and another 1.5″ of rain in December, that put us over 43 inches of rain on our family farm for 2007. Incredible since our average is less than 18 inches. I’m still very much a firm believer in our connection with the Skies, with the Earth, and all of Nature. We’re truely an incredible species if we’re able to focus our connection with Everything.

How about record crop yields? Cotton was literally bustin’ out the seams this season. Ginning continues. We experienced yields anywhere between 1.9 and 2.8 bales per acre. Phenomenal considering our previous record (2005) was 1.5 bales/acre. Milo crops did not meet our expectations for the most part, due in large to a dry month in July. But the organic matter that crop adds is invaluable to the Earth, increasing carbon and microbial activity.

How about almost eliminating the use of insectides? That’s right. We sprayed just 10% of our cotton acres this year one time. One time on 10% pf our acres! I can’t explain how cool that is on so many levels. It’s great for the environment – the air we breathe, the earth, the plants, the beneficial insects, birds, all living creatures. Also, it’s great on our pocketbook. In years past, Dad has always had to spray two to three times in wet years. But with double the rainfall this season, we experienced little to no insect pressure. Why? I believe it is directly related to the crystal grids I set up (Big thanks to my friend, Michael Wolfe.) along with a timely foliar feed program. Healthy plants = no destructive insects. As most farmers continue down the demented path of GMO seeds and Roundup, we’re dedicated to eliminating excessive toxins from our farm. It’s very cool.

I have one question for farmers who feel Roundup Ready crops is the wave of the future. What kind of future are you creating? Toxic seeds and excessive herbicides is your answer? I’m sure your children and grandchildren will thank you immensely.

Plans for this season?

I plan on building more paramagnetic energy towers this year and will continue to monitor the progression of rain in our area. The current towers are simply 8″ PVC pipe with concrete caps, but this year’s design will be constructed of concrete with a much larger base and cap. The new towers will be small models of The Round Towers of Ireland. This should increase the cosmic and solar energy range around the tower with greater effects.

The biodiesel project is back on track, as construction and expansion of the barn should be going with a seed extruder and cotton delinter soon to be in place. We’ll be delinting and extracting our own cotton seed for biodiesel. Many other cool things going on with our fuel, but I’ll disclose that information once the deal is done.

Farming is getting more and more expensive each year. Costs in fuel, fertilizer, steel, equipment, and machinery is literally eatin’ our lunch. We gotta stay ahead of the ‘game’ out here. It’s a matter of survival of the fittest. Remember our fellow liberator Charles Darwin’s famous words. What words, you ask? Well, it’s above in the quote of the while. Back to reflectin’. Until next time…

Calling All Sons and Daughters of Farmers

The beaming ring of light is fixed up in the night sky, my fellow liberators. It is a call for help. It is a plea to preserve life.

Yes, the farm is a long way from Gotham City. And perhaps the steel plow might be a less cool substitute for a winged creature of the night, but it is vital. This luminated halo is a signal for sons and daughters of farmers to return back to their rural roots and help American agriculture survive for another generation.

My Dad and I were talking over lunch after driving around our cotton and milo fields this past month. We soon dove into the new farm bill, which is currently on the congressional floor. Usually optimistic, ol’ Pops knew and knows things are changing rapidly and not for the best in this country.

President George Bush and his cronies in the White House want to cut farming subsidies completely, as does the Secretary of Agriculture. With subsidies on the ropes, so too is the American farmer.

Why? Because it is already difficult for farmers to make a living off commodity crops that have not risen in price in thirty years as input prices have quadrupled in that time period. Subsidies has kept most, if not all, commercial farmers afloat. With drastic reductions in the 2008 Farm Bill, many Baby Boomer farmers will exit stage left, leaving behind more land than is manageable for those remaining.

In the 1860s, 70% of the American population were farmers. Currently, less than 1% of the American population are farmers. Less than 6% of American farmers are under the age of 35. I am one of them.

Perhaps you have nothing to do with agriculture. All you know is that the food you eat is bought in a grocery store, magically appearing day in and out. Aw yes, amazing, isn’t it? With NAFTA and CAFTA, it is manageable for Central and South American countries to ship their foods directly to us. So who needs the American farmer, right?

What if for some reason, they cannot for oh, let’s say two or three weeks. Grocery stores keep enough stock in their stores to last approximately 48 hours. With greater distances between point A and point B occuring as fuel prices (and everything else with it) escalate at alarming rates, it is not far-fetched to imagine a time period, short or long, when all our necessities will not be accessible in the near future.

Who could we turn to if such a crisis arises? Oh, if only there were an occupation in this country still existed. You know, what’s it called? When a person plants a seed and harvests a crop? Oh yeah…farming! That’s it! I almost forgot.

Pardon the sacrcasm, my fellow liberators. But like I said, this is not too far-fetched at all. So, as I put on my hat and work boots tomorrow morning, I take to the fields with a hope that more will soon return and join our cause. While it isn’t as glorious as ridding the city streets of Joker, the Penguin, and the Riddler, it sure beats the hell out of giving into the Mindless Machine of modern Americana.

With the third eye squiggied and my fire still blazin’ – Son of a Farmer

Greener Pastures to Roam

As I stare across these vast plains, I often catch myself contemplating the progression of my existence along with that of the rest of my species. And particularly with the 1% of our species I share a specific vocation with in this country.

How often do we truely question our methods? And I mean, questioning to the the point of evolving them, if only altering them slightly? (Dare I say change?) I\’ve heard many farmers (relatives included) joking (in passing) of the harmful effects we\’ve had and continue to have on the environment – the air we breathe, the water we drink…you know…the little things in life enabling us to live.

As a 33-year-old farmer, I feel it is part of my obligation to the earth, to the rest of creation to make right the wrongs of my forefathers. Is this arrogant of me? Does this make me an arrogant ass because I’ve come to the realization we’re doing just as much harm as good in agriculture? “Oh, so I’m the asshole in the bar!!!!?” Because I’m getting the feeling I step on toes if ever mentioning the fact ‘we’ve been fucking up.’

I could go on and on about air pollution through excessive use of pesticides. I could go on and on about petroleum-based fertilizers. I could go on and on about toxic herbicides, but would it do any good right now to talk about it? It is doubtful.

We live in an Immediate Society. We solve long-term problems with short-term solutions and somehow believe “everything will be alright.” We sincerely believe there is a little blue pill for every ill. And by utilizing that little toxic blue pill, we are so confused when consequences evolve. Consequences like sickness, even death. I don’t know if that is our naive Christian philosophy inbred into our minds or simply a quick mindwash to forget the heinous crimes we’ve been committing against the Earth, all other living creatures,and our own bodies for more than 50 years.

This sounds, I’m sure, like pessimistic whining. If it sounds that way to you then you are most definitely part of the continuing problem of agriculture and day-to-day living. If this rambling causes you to think, then maybe there is still some hope you might change your methods and thinking. If you concur, then cheers. We can change. And we must change. This ship is going in the wrong direction. If the winds won’t change, we must paddle like hell. No more blaming the corporations. No more blaming the government. If we don’t evolve into something sustainable, into harmonious creatures working with Mother Nature instead of against Her, we have only ourselves to blame for most of the ills in agriculture. And let’s face it. Even Monsanto doesn’t have that magic little blue pill.

I’m no expert, my fellow liberators. I’m no genius. I’m merely a naturalist who has come back home to the farm, to get back to my roots, and I ‘m trying to get to the root of our problems. Thus far, I see how big the lie is in our line of work. My eyes and mind have made it through the smokescreens and the mirrors, and I’m waiting for more to join me. I’m someone who refuses to accept everything the way it is, without question, without remorse. I’m someone who refuses to say nothing. I’m someone who seeks a better path. And I’m someone who will change the ugly into something beautiful. I know now I’m on the right path, doing what needs to be done.

Does this sound cheesy to you? I could care less if it does. Because I know no matter how far away from the herd I may roam, the grass is getting greener every day.