Prairie Ramblings

By Tracy Sayler
tsayler@prairieagcomm.com

This June issue of Prairie Grains is what we refer to as a “dashboard edition.” It is a size smaller than the regular issue, hence the name, because it can fit nicely on the pickup dashboard with your sunglasses, pliers, washers, bolts, melted Tic Tacs, and whatever else you keep there. It’s also meant to be more of a “keeper” with statistical content focusing on various facets of the grain industry.  You’ll have to let us know how you like it. It borrows from the similar “dashboard edition” of the annual Prairie Grains Marketing Guide, which has been very popular. Look for the 2001-02 Marketing Guide before Labor Day, then back to regular issues of Prairie Grains next fall.  If there’s a particular topic you’d like to see addressed in the upcoming Marketing Guide or in an upcoming issue, be sure to drop an e-mail.

You’re used to lighter side stuff on this last page, and we don’t want to disappoint. So here’s one that Dean Meyer used to start off his page in the recent book, “Unwanted Bread.” The western ND rancher, columnist, and former state lawmaker says the story “sorta sums up the state of mind some guys get into in this business.”  Matter of fact, it’s a good barb about forest-through-the-trees thinking in any business.

Did you hear the one about the farmer who asked the banker for an operating loan?  Banker asked him what he intended to plant. “Wheat,” the farmer said. So he got the loan and planted wheat, but it wasn’t a good year; he got hailed out.  The farmer went back to the banker for an extension on another year’s operating loan.  Now he’s two years behind.  Again, his wheat crop was bad: Too much rain at harvest, resulting in sprouted kernels and poor yields.  So he goes to the banker and requests another extension. “What do you intend to plant?’ the banker asks.” “Wheat,” the farmer says.  So he put in the crop, but the price was bad. He goes to the banker again, explains that the markets were poor—and that he needs another loan extension.  The banker tells him to try planting watermelon; he’d heard that the price might be good. So the farmer gives it a try and by golly, he has a great year.  So he goes to see the banker. “Here’s a check for that first operating loan. And here’s a check for the second and third years, too, paid in full.”  The banker is impressed.  “Wow!  That watermelon crop really went well!” “You bet,” says the farmer, “and I even saved enough money to buy my wheat seed for next year too!”