A Soaker

A good rain at this time of year is a Godsend.

The grass will sprout early in the pastures, the cattle will whoop for joy and chase the “green stuff” as the ranchers say.

The farmers will begin piddling around the barn, checking their equipment, dreaming of another record year like the last.

Getting psyched up for the coming season after only a brief respite. They only just finished stripping cotton.

But a good spring rain will get the juices flowing again.

They will check their gauges, exaggerate the results at the feed store, and scrape away the soil to see how deep the moisture crept.

Farming is a tough stressful operation and a significant part of the Scurry County economy.

Businessmen know it when farmers have money in their pockets.

Farming is a form of gambling with a lot of hard work thrown in.

The reason is that most of their expenses come upfront at the very beginning of the season.

And so much of the final result is totally out of their control.

Just luck.

Not only must it rain, but it must rain at just the right time.

How about a summer hailstorm right when the cotton is opening.

Not much a farmer can do about that.

And the world market.

China decided to add a million acres of production and the already low prices plummet.

Ah, the joys of farming.

It takes special people to be successful or even survive in that profession.

Let’s wish them another successful season.

That will be good for the whole community.