04/22/17 South Heart, North Dakota

Nancy Eberts – Eberts Harvesting, Inc.

It seems like there are articles, phone calls, headlines and conversations about the many concerns in agriculture. I can easily add to them and agree.

In all the hustle and bustle of farming and getting ready for harvest, there is always time and room for concern. This hasn’t changed since we started. It’s all a part of the ‘bigger picture” we try to convey to or educate others about what we do.

If it’s farming…you worry about “prices” not just per harvested bushel/pound but the dollar amount you have invested in seeding that crop.  The high cost of fertilizer and spray, insurance and land rent are all a part of the “bigger picture”. These things, as well as the marketing and completion of harvest, never leave your mind all year long.

If it’s harvesting…you worry about getting the crew here, training them, their safety, your safety, if they will be able to step up to the task, and whether or not they will keep their word/commitment . You worry about readying the equipment – not only for the field but road travel as there are thousands of  miles involved in moving. You have insurance, payroll, fuel, repairs and licensing…all before you have bushels in the bin.

Mother Nature equally raises concerns for both the farmer and the harvester. She always has and always will.

So how do we do it? Why do we do it? How can you keep moving forward, when sometimes you feel like you’re moving backward?  Where do we find motivation and how do you balance the worry with the work?

I can’t answer for everyone but when it comes to Myron and me, after 37 years, I can tell you that it’s faith, hope and love! These three things make it work, truly in one way or another.

Together…
We pray together, work together, and love what we do.
We handle whatever comes our way together and our sense of humor has been very, very important!

Headlines and conversations change. Life is about change. In reality, we are not in control. But moving forward together is what gets us through the challenges and the storms.

God bless each and every farmer and harvester out there, either on the road or in the field. Together, we will tell the story of agriculture 2017.

Every day…three times a day,  I get market updates like this:

Every week, some publication comes in the mail or, yes, even through Facebook and you see the struggles and the circumstances they represent.
Farm and Ranch Guide is an Ag publication produced out of Bismarck, North Dakota.

Each state, as well as county, is affected. But there is always HOPE and we have to choose to keep moving forward.

Nancy Eberts
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