As the fields turn golden and the air cools, farmers across the Mohawk Valley begin to shift gears. Fall marks both an ending and a beginning — a time to gather the rewards of a long season and prepare the land for rest. For local farmer and advocate Ben Simons, it’s also a moment to pause, take stock, and appreciate the rhythm of life on the farm.
—————————————————————————————————————–
By Ben Simons
For me and most farmers, fall is a time to reap the rewards of the hard work and dedication that come with the spring months. Additionally, summer inputs, costs, and maintenance are necessary to keep the crops productive. We often ask ourselves if we’re making the most of our opportunities. What practices should we continue using, and what could we improve for next year? Fall is also a time for being outside, enjoying the mild days that bridge summer and winter. It’s one of my favorite times of year.
Soybeans have been harvested and stored/sold to mills for most of the year. But corn is in full swing for most, depending on the environment and if the area has received a ‘killing frost,’ now, this doesn’t mean it’s killing the crops, instead killing the plants to make it so our equipment can better manage the crops for harvesting abilities. However, we are constantly at the mercy of Mother Nature, no matter the time of year. However, in the fall, it becomes a bigger issue because combining corn or soybeans with three feet of snow on & in between the rows is a real hassle. Although it’s possible, it’s definitely a challenging task. The same goes for the amount of rain we receive. Having too much rain means the crops have to be dried more, which in part uses a lot more propane and electricity, and we all know those inputs aren’t cheap! The corn in this area is used mainly for cattle, swine, and poultry consumption due to its high starch content and tough kernel, which makes it unpalatable for humans.
To put it bluntly, the crops are running a bit behind schedule. We had a good start at the beginning of spring, but then it started raining nonstop. I know many farmers in the area struggled to sow their seeds. And by the time they were able to get back into the fields to plant, it became apparent that it may not have happened at all, but some farmers did get it in the ground by ‘mudding it in’; it isn’t the best practice, but it was a necessity. After the crops were planted, the weather became ridiculously dry, stunting their growth and affecting some of the yields. The crops have matured, and the weather is in our favor, so I have faith and high hopes that it will be a good harvest season. But we will see it when it happens.
Preparing for winter is no different from any other timeframe; relying on Mother Nature to determine when to do things and when to hold off on certain tasks is just as unpredictable as the rest of the year. For most, once their equipment has been cleaned of crop debris, it’s been put away snugly in their pole barns and winterized if needed. So, that way, the cold weather of winter doesn’t destroy the necessary components of our equipment. Preparing our fuel needs by cutting the diesel fuel in our tractors and small diesel engines is also a necessity. We usually cut the diesel with kerosene at a 50/50 rate, because if we don’t do this before the cold weather, it can affect how the motors operate and cause the diesel to gel, preventing it from flowing. We are also taking inventory on crops like hay, corn, and soybeans to assess their marketability and making necessary deals where it is appropriate. Checking on livestock, rounding them up, and housing them in the barns ensures they’re all vaccinated against any sickness throughout the winter.
During the winter months, farmers can use any free time to work on equipment repairs and plan their crop rotations for the coming year. They also evaluate the crops and yields to determine which variety of seed performs best on different types of ground. The land has various kinds of consistencies, so not one seed works for everyone; that’s why multiple brands sell a multitude of different traits on their seed. They also calculate inputs & costs to determine if they have reached the ‘break-even’ point. Paying off debts and making the crops pay for themselves, covering seeds, fertilizers, and other input costs ahead of the coming spring, helps the salesmen secure better deals for the farmers.
I thank God for all that He has provided to us, making my advocacy a genuinely worthwhile experience. I do this for the community I farm and love, because many people in it are so far removed from agriculture that they’ll never have these experiences in their lives. By talking to a farmer, one can gain insight into why farmers do what they do.
