Uncertain moisture cuts winter wheat crop

In the north central states of the U.S., it is quite popular to plant winter wheat in the fall, which goes dormant in the winter if there is a snow cover to protect the tender young plants, and then begins really growing in the spring.

This year, due to drilling the wheat in dry soil, and a lack of winter snow to protect what plants did come up, many farmers have found no crop in existence and are forced to replant some faster growing crop like milo or spring wheat, so that they can harvest some sort of cash crop. Even though they've stood the expense and trouble of planting once already, they have to to do it again, to have any chance at 2008 income.

Such are the vagaries of farming. the risks you take every year because of the weather. Winter wheat is a great crop when it germinates, the snow cover protects it and spring rains bring it on for a successful crop. A strong wheat market, like the one this year, also helps. But if the weather was wrong, as it was in many northern climes, you're out of luck.

Farmers like the freedom of being self-employed, the wind at their back and the outdoor work in the fresh air, the rural lifestyle. You sacrifice for that, however, missing out on the security of a weekly paycheck, insurance and benefits. You don't get to let someone else worry about the market, high fuel costs, etc. You get to do that yourself.

Farming's a hard, challenging life, and 2008 is proving that all over again.