Every now and again, after we have been plodding along for an extended period of time, doing our best to keep everything kind of normal during an extended time when a lot is unknown, we must take a few minutes, hours, or even days to take stock in how . . .
we are doing compared to our neighbours near and far.
For the past four months or more, it has sunk in, that this little virus thing that started with one case on the other side of the earth, has spread to every corner of the world except maybe Antarctica. We have watched some countries take extreme measures, isolating and bringing the spread of the virus under a controllable level.
Other more advanced and affluent countries seemed to almost defy the virus to dare come to their country. Although fighting this war on COVID-19 has been unending and crippling to the world economy, the little countries that took a very serious approach very early look a lot safer and smarter today.
While most of us have realized that just like any other war this one comes with a huge price to gradually pay down over the future some are still pointing fingers at whoever shut down our economy. A few have not yet realized that the true wealth in a country is the people who live in it and their physical and mental health. We have lived in the world of the golden rule, or those few who control the gold make the rules. Even though those who had the gold are not happy, we are quickly seeing real values change.
After old farmers go through a period of tough times (lower prices and demand for meat, dairy, grain, extended dry weather, lower crop yields and labour shortages caused by restrictions in accessing foreign labour, etc.) they take a little drive around to see what the rest of the region looks like. They also take a little time to sit and reflect with other farmers. Even though they already know that money is tight at home, they like to know how their situation compares with others.
The 12th of July used to be a day of celebration for all the Orangemen. It also signaled the beginning of hay season for many farmers a century ago. This year there was no Orange Parade or any other parade. Most farmers had finished the first hay cut and some finished the second cut.
As we progressed on our little crop tour between the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers after a night’s rain, we observed some lawns that were still brown and corn that looked like a field of knee high pineapple tops. Some fields of corn were five or six feet high and dark green and the lawns were also green. Some soybean fields were still work boot high while two miles away beans were two feet high. Most of the harvested hay fields were still brown with no sign of green re-growth. A few farms still had a few water puddles left over from the previous night’s rain but most areas were puddle free.
We noticed very few beef cattle during our 250 mile tour. If you have the choice to buy your beef directly from the farmer that raised it you are part of a very select group of consumers. From when we left Pontiac until we returned and traveled hundreds of miles, sometimes my partner shouted “where the “h*** are we?”
The greenest lawns and the best crops of hay, beans and corn were to be found in Pontiac County. A couple old farmers returned home satisfied that although we owe money, we are not alone.
So far we have been lucky enough to avoid a virus that has killed hundreds of thousands. We still eat more than we need. We are blessed with thousands of friends. According to our wives, most days we are not crazy. We are fortunate enough to have had and still have excellent employees who understand how farms work. Our next generations have work ethics and conviction to git er done in both good and tough times. We have had the opportunity to live in the best area of the world.
Take a few minutes to count all your blessings and say thanks.
Chris Judd is a farmer in Clarendon
on land that has been in his family
or generations. gladcrest@gmail.com
