The pandemic has helped us all focus on what is really important in life – the essentials. And food is one of them. Grocery stores never closed…because food kept growing and farmers and gardeners kept harvesting it and selling it to distributors.
The life of a farmer is often misunderstood and undervalued. Farmers work hard. They are smart people who watch not only the weather, but also markets, economic trends, and new products. They are willing to take risks and stick with tough situations because they love the land, they love the freedom to manage their own businesses, and they are committed to producing products that sustain life on our planet.
North Dakota is rooted in agriculture. Agriculture is a vital economic force with about 90 percent of the state’s land being used for agriculture, totaling 39.3 million acres devoted to farming and ranching. North Dakota’s sub-humid continental climate is perfect for producing small grains, helping make it a top producer of dry edible beans, navy and pinto beans, flaxseed, and honey. It is also the top producer of durum and spring wheat—when you eat spaghetti, chances are it contains North Dakota wheat.1
Larry Stolz lives in Sykeston, North Dakota, with his wife, Joye, and farming has been a part of his life since childhood. They live in his childhood home and Larry farms the land his father farmed. Larry grew up working alongside his father on the farm, planting, maintaining, and harvesting crops. During his college years he branched out on his own, rented some land and with the use of his father’s machinery he planted crops and managed his own small business that helped pay most of his tuition at Union College.
The life of a farmer is varied. North Dakota’s spring and summer are short in comparison to other climates, but even during the “off” season farming never takes a back seat. There is always something to do. Winter months are sprinkled with grain hauling and inside work such as machinery maintenance. January sees finalization of accounting, tax filing and other reports. March is the time to take inventory and buy the remaining supplies needed to last through the year. Various machinery is being removed from storage and given a once over, making sure everything is ready for the spring. Trucks and cars are serviced, carburetors are cleaned, and attention is given to making sure things are running smoothly. Mid-April to early June fertilizers are applied to fields and seeding begins, spraying the fields to manage insects and various plant diseases that may impact the crops. A lull comes in July as the fields grow and flourish and then the harvesting season begins and continues through October.
Barley, canola, hard red spring wheat, sunflowers and soybeans can all be seen on the land Larry farms. Have you ever seen a field of blooming canola? The bright yellow flowers undulating in the wind can almost fool your eye into believing you are watching a golden ocean’s waves move across the landscape. Sunflowers move with the sun, their bright beautiful heads turning to take in every ray. Even harvest lends beauty to the landscape as rows of freshly cut golden wheat weave across the countryside.
“It is gratifying to see the process of multiplication, of life: from clean seed sprouting, growing, and maturing.” Larry shares. “I love the variety of work I get to do, inside and out. Who wouldn’t want to drive a tractor?! Setting our own schedule in the off season is also a blessing. I enjoy the quietness, the excitement and sometimes even the chaos of farming. I love working with my hands and the variety of work farming allows me to do.”
Farming does not come without its challenges. Living at work can take its toll. “It is important to not be consumed by it because the reality is that work is never truly done—there is always something to do. Taking time to rest and relax is important. I try not to worry about the things I can’t control,” Larry adds.
There is also the uncertainty of a profitable return each year. Changes in grain prices, unexpected expenses for machinery repairs and the weather all have an impact on the bottom line.
Each year the weather plays an important role in the yield. Excess moisture and drought can both impact quality and yield. Excess moisture can make it difficult to harvest, while areas that have gotten too much water can become inaccessible. Hail can also have an impact. Just a few years ago, Larry was one day away from harvesting a beautiful crop of barley. A hailstorm came through and totally wiped out the field. Every head of barley was broken off at the stem. What would have been a field that yielded around 12,000 bushels yielded 1,000. (A bushel is a measure of capacity equal to 64 US pints, used for dry goods.) The loss was significant. Even more interesting to note is that weather varies mile to mile. Spotty showers or violent hailstorms can hit one field but completely miss the next.
“There are always two paths to choose in how we react to challenges,” Larry says. “There are lessons we can learn from nature and through being dependent on the elements. The solitude gives a person a lot of time to think and process. We can never plan on bountiful crops and good prices. I don’t worry about it or even speculate because I am promised that my needs will be met by the One. And sometimes we need to realize that prosperity from big crops and high prices isn’t necessarily our need.”
Our homes are impacted daily by the farmers who dedicate their lives to the love of their vocation, this wondrous cycle of renewable food. There is a lot of work that happens from start to finish, including processing and distribution. And they always do their best to produce a food product that contributes to our health in a positive way, while also being caretakers of the land from which they harvest.
1 farmflavor.com/north-dakota-agriculture/
