Spring Update – Part III – A message from the President

As our season continues on the farm, we are so lucky to have such great crops growing. We’re off to a very dry start. In Florida, we’re experiencing the driest winter in 80 years and it looks to continue into the spring. I won’t complain too much, however, because I think we can do a better job getting the water to the crops rather than getting the water off the crops in a timely fashion when we get too much. That happened a few weeks back when we got 5 inches in a couple of days.

Also, dry seasons usually mean better yields, providing it is not so dry that the seeds wouldn’t get germinated properly. A nice half-inch soaking of rain once a week would be perfect for the crops and cut our electric bill by a bunch! But as farmers we have learned to accept what we get in the way of weather and deal with it the best we can. As the saying goes, “Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.” That really is the mind-set one has to have in agriculture. Unlike many other businesses, you have so many variables (weather in particular) that you can’t control, and months of hard work and investment can be wiped out in a matter of a few minutes.

As a result, what we farmers concentrate on doing is controlling the variables that we can and do the absolute best we can to be at the top of our game. Then we hope that the rest falls into place! That probably goes against all the business-success models that you have ever learned, but that is farming. To be a farmer you must be the eternal optimist, always positive, tirelessly persistent and have unyielding faith. Not unlike other businesses, you have to surround yourself with great people who share a similar passion.

If you‘re reading this and think I have it all figured out, you would be mistaken. I would love to hear any input you might have, because everyday on the farm is a learning experience and I love out-of-the-box thinking.

Thanks for all your support of our efforts and please come and visit our retail store, Scott’s Country Market, beginning April 29th.

Hank Scott
President
Hank@LongandScottFarms.com