Suit coat, tie, and shiny shoes, are all part of the daily dress for an average businessman, but a farmer doesn’t wear any of that and he is a businessman. He has to make decisions on what products to produce according to markets, and his abilities and resources available. Balancing accounts, paying employees, and producing budgets are all a part of the daily process. A farmer has to track his taxes, manage his loans, and direct the appropriate funds to certain projects. The farmer has the job of making sure the business is making money today , and will continue to make money in the future. Because business interactions are major part of a farmer’s daily task, he can be given the title of businessman as well.
Cantankerous equipment, falling down buildings, animals that break boards, and fences all require a “fix it” man. Farmers must be able to fix all types of machinery, pens, and buildings. Specialists in everything from electrical {{color c=”red” text=”repair (?)”}} to carpentry to mechanical {{color c=”red” text=”(?)”}} , farmers put in numerous hours every week to keep everything running smoothly. Without them being able to do this on their own, the bills to repair everything that is broken would be outrageous.
A farmer’s tractor is their version of a shiny new {{color c=”red” text=”C”}} orvette. Although not quite the same, the tractor is their prized possession. Making sure the maintenance on the tractor is up to date is essential in order to get the crops planted in a timely manner. Farmers run eighteen-hour days in planting and harvest seasons to get the crops planted or harvested before the rain clouds move in. Back and forth, back and forth, down the row, farmers take pride in the work they do. It is important because the rows must be straight, and the crops planted just right {{color c=”red” text=”This isn’t a sentence.”}} . If the tractor and equipment are not maintained then the crop won’t be planted correctly, which leads to a decrease in profits.
All the while, farmers are still part of the family, and even take time to teach their kids how to farm. Teaching them to feed calves, run a tractor, build a sturdy fence, and maybe even how to swim in the creek is all a part of a farmer’s life. There is a lot of work to be done on the farm, but a farmer always finds time to build a tree house, sand box, or fix a falling down swing set. The farmer will stop production early on a Saturday afternoon to go watch a T-ball game, or see their daughter off to the prom. Family is important to a farmer, their children hopefully will be taking their place someday, and they must prepare them for the hard road ahead.
To the common eye they may seem to be just a “dumb ole farmer”, but in reality farmers are some of the most intelligent members of society. Continual learning, changing, and adapting are essential to their success as a business. Although they may or may not hold a degree, they still attend workshops and seminars in order to keep up to date on the latest inventions and the newest research. Maybe they can’t quote Shakespeare, or interpret a legal document, or speak three languages, but their knowledge is as widespread as anyone I know.
{{color c=”red” text=”What a great conclusion! Seriously, wow. This paper is excellent, despite some problems with grammar and style, as we discussed in class on Friday. Overall, this is a big step forward for your writing and is very clearly and logically organized. Good work.”}}
The Vital Farmer
How many times do we hear the phrase, “dumb ole farmer”? Farmer’s are also sometimes perceived as people who aren’t smart enough to do anything else, so they farm. Their work is perceived as mindless with no intelligence needed. But on the contrary, farmers are probably some of the most intelligent people there are.
Man or woman, a farmer works twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Although they may not be actively working if something goes wrong, they are always on call. Salesmen interrupt family meals to sell them the latest product for the business; the farmer will invite them to join the family around the table instead of sending them away. Neighbors will visit in the evening to chat about the business and maybe even complain about practices on the farm, and farmers will listen politely and ask about their family and wish them all well at goodbye. Family vacations are non-existent because they have to be at the farm all the time.
Many people possess PhD’s or specialties in certain areas, but farmers must be specialists in many areas. They consult outside resources, sometimes specialists, but overall the farmer has to make a decision based on his or her own judgments. These decisions will affect their business, and how successful it is. In turn, it affects their families and employees, which puts a lot stress on each decision made.
Agronomists, farmers grow feed for their livestock, or crops to be sold, and they must know the land {{color c=”red” text=”I don’t understand this sentence.”}}. They also must understand what nutrients are present, and which ones are lacking and know how to treat the ground to adjust the levels {{color c=”red” text=”This sentence is a bit of a run-on.”}}. They must be able to identify invasive pests, and know how to get rid of them; when to spray or what practice is needed to prevent the arrival of these pests. Which type of crop will thrive the best in the soil type {{color c=”red” text=”This isn’t an independent clause and needs to be one in order to make sense.”}}, and how to rotate crops so as to get the best quality crop for their animals, and buyers{{color c=”red” text=”This isn’t a question or a complete sentence.”}}? These questions are a constant struggle in an effort to plant and raise the best crop possible.
Feed rations are complicated, and are constantly changing with feed quality, digestive systems of the animals, and even the weather. Nutrients provide the key to growth and production in animals; these nutrients are found in the feed that is consumed. Farmers must know what feeds and how much of them to prepare for their livestock; they must be talented nutritionists. Observation of the intake and even the waste that is deposited is essential to knowing if the ration is at optimum quality.
Veterinarians are a great resource for farmers, but they can’t be present all the time, and it is not cost effective to call them every time a problem arises. Farmers learn the tricks of the trade in order to treat sick livestock on their own. Splinting legs, administering IV’s, giving shots, cleaning wounds, and delivering newborns , {{color c="red}} farmers do all this and more to save money, and sometimes because there is simply no time to waste. Knowing which vaccines to give when, and having the knowledge to give antibiotics or other pharmaceuticals when an animal is ill is vital to their success as an operation.Suit coat, tie, and shiny shoes, are all part of the daily dress for an average businessman, but a farmer doesn’t wear any of that and he is a businessman. He has to make decisions on what products to produce according to markets, and his abilities and resources available. Balancing accounts, paying employees, and producing budgets are all a part of the daily process. A farmer has to track his taxes, manage his loans, and direct the appropriate funds to certain projects. The farmer has the job of making sure the business is making money today , and will continue to make money in the future. Because business interactions are major part of a farmer’s daily task, he can be given the title of businessman as well.
Cantankerous equipment, falling down buildings, animals that break boards , and fences all require a “fix it” man. Farmers must be able to fix all types of machinery, pens, and buildings. Specialists in everything from electrical {{color c=”red” text=”repair (?)”}} to carpentry to mechanical {{color c=”red” text=”(?)”}}, farmers put in numerous hours every week to keep everything running smoothly. Without them being able to do this on their own, the bills to repair everything that is broken would be outrageous.
A farmer’s tractor is their version of a shiny new {{color c=”red” text=”C”}}orvette. Although not quite the same, the tractor is their prized possession. Making sure the maintenance on the tractor is up to date is essential in order to get the crops planted in a timely manner. Farmers run eighteen-hour days in planting and harvest seasons to get the crops planted or harvested before the rain clouds move in. Back and forth, back and forth, down the row, farmers take pride in the work they do. It is important because the rows must be straight , and the crops planted just right {{color c=”red” text=”This isn’t a sentence.”}}. If the tractor and equipment are not maintained then the crop won’t be planted correctly, which leads to a decrease in profits.
All the while, farmers are still part of the family, and even take time to teach their kids how to farm. Teaching them to feed calves, run a tractor, build a sturdy fence, and maybe even how to swim in the creek is all a part of a farmer’s life. There is a lot of work to be done on the farm, but a farmer always finds time to build a tree house, sand box, or fix a falling down swing set. The farmer will stop production early on a Saturday afternoon to go watch a T-ball game, or see their daughter off to the prom. Family is important to a farmer, their children hopefully will be taking their place someday, and they must prepare them for the hard road ahead.
To the common eye they may seem to be just a “dumb ole farmer”, but in reality farmers are some of the most intelligent members of society. Continual learning, changing, and adapting are essential to their success as a business. Although they may or may not hold a degree, they still attend workshops and seminars in order to keep up to date on the latest inventions and the newest research. Maybe they can’t quote Shakespeare, or interpret a legal document, or speak three languages, but their knowledge is as widespread as anyone I know.
{{color c=”red” text=”What a great conclusion! Seriously, wow. This paper is excellent, despite some problems with grammar and style, as we discussed in class on Friday. Overall, this is a big step forward for your writing and is very clearly and logically organized. Good work.”}}