Politics has taken over the news for a month now. Although many may think that we have little or no say in what happens, we have definitely noticed the effect that millions of people can have when we all stand up to a bully. We must stand together for our neighbours and our families who will have to put up with the consequences, and save democracy for our country.
Although most of us have lost a parent or family member who fought for our freedom in wars gone by, we too often take our democratic ways for granted. Elections have come and gone, and sometimes we win our vote and sometimes not. However, we have the right to vote again next time and ask questions to our wanna-be politicians and demand answers, if they have guts enough to attend an all-candidates’ debate. We have noticed in the past that some don’t. Don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions. Too many politicians use the same old line, “We can do better,” while they may have no answers as to how they will do better or address the tough problems and pay for expenses like covid and climate change that have come along no matter who was in power.
While we have been watching the news about murders, fires, and those snow squalls that caused multiple vehicle accidents and deaths, we forget that spring is only five weeks away. It’s the time when farmers start to mark on the calendar when and where the 2025 farm shows will be held, you know the ones where all that new, super-expensive farm equipment will be, where the farmers will drool over those big machines, but then remember that tractor or neighbour’s combine that was out of service for a long time because some little computer part wasn’t available. When you are still fighting with your snow blower to get it started and it’s -10° C outside, it’s easy to forget that your lawn mower should be tuned up for spring before the big rush starts at the small engine shop. Maybe you are trying to decide whether to buy a new zero-turn mower or get a quote on someone cutting your lawn for you. Have you looked over those seed catalogues to choose the varieties you really want to plant this year? What date should you start those varieties inside in the window or in the porch? Did your lawn have any white grubs the skunks and racoons like to dig up? Will you spread a little very inexpensive calcitic lime on the lawn to discourage the grass that white grubs love, or just keep buying that expensive chemical fertilizer with insecticide in it to kill the white grubs? Sprinkling a little white clover seed on the lawn will also discourage white grubs.
Planting a small garden or even putting some vegetable seed in pots on the deck or back porch can save you buying thousands of dollars’ worth of groceries. It’s impossible to replace that fresh lettuce or green onion that you grew yourself. Valentine’s Day is very close and just maybe your wife would like one of those raised beds for her flowers or a few vegetables? Teaching your children how to plant and look after a small garden will not only teach them how to choose and grow their own food, but it also gets them out in the fresh air and away from the squawk box for a few minutes. It also teaches the value of food and how much it costs to bring it from Mexico or California.
Farmers are ordering parts to get their equipment ready for spring, summer or fall. Nothing is as frustrating for a farmer as waiting through a long weekend for parts while losing valuable growing days and not being able to plant or later cut hay while it gets lower in nutrition every day. For that farmer, it means buying more expensive concentrate to offset the poorer quality hay, or having smaller crop harvests or fewer animals to sell in the fall.
Some parts are much slower to arrive because more equipment is now built off-shore. Some newer computerized equipment cannot be repaired in the field and must be transported to the dealer who may already have his shop full. Some equipment is only used in one season (haybine, combine, forage harvester, corn planter), and it’s a good idea to make a list of parts that should be changed before the next time it’s needed. Write that list on a sticky note and stick it on the windshield or somewhere it will remind you to order the parts and get them in your shop or porch before you need to install them. Often, dealers have off-season deals on parts, tires, or filters that could save money.
Today, some vehicles use odd sizes of tires, and some drivers use studded tires in winter. Make sure that your summer tires are available when you need them. Many truck drivers use winter tires year-round because the new winter tires wear much better than the winter tires that dad used. It may seem odd to buy extra blue ice salt when the season is near over, but often at this time of the season that blue ice-salt is on sale at a greatly-reduced price, and it keeps just fine until next fall. Remember the Boy Scouts motto: “Be prepared!”
Chris Judd is a farmer in Clarendon on land that has been in his family for generations
