The year is half over. Time flies. Lots of weather issues have impacted agriculture throughout the nation this year. California came out of the years-long drought this spring, only to be inundated with floodwaters in several areas of the Valley agriculture regions. West Texas, the heart of the nation’s cotton production, endured a drought in 2022, experiencing the worst reported cotton production on record. This event illustrated the multiplier effect of agriculture in rural communities and the downstream force on local businesses, economies and family livelihoods. Now, to start the 2023 season, the area got serious rain in a short time period, causing delayed planting, considerable re-planting and some damage to fields. Drought continues over portions of the Central Plains, and grain market volatility is whipsawing the industry.
The devastating dairy fire near Dimmitt, Texas, on April 10 that resulted in the deaths of 18,000 head of dairy cattle and the injury of one employee has been determined to have been caused by an accidental engine fire in a manure vacuum truck that was cleaning part of the barn. The state fire marshal’s office found there was “no intentional act to cause a failure,” but did not determine the cause of the engine fire.
These and other events and activities add to the continual acknowledgement of the riskiness of agricultural endeavors.
These are trying times for many industries, not just for agriculture, and for families and communities. Mental health issues are the topics of a lot of conversations. Inflation and interest rates are affecting everyone’s financial portfolios. The list goes on. But, as I look back in the history books, nothing has ever been easy. Wars, rumors of wars, famine, social unrest, natural disasters and family discord all keep coming.
As professional consultants in a variety of disciplines, we are called upon to assist producer and agribusiness clients, and to be an independent source of information, unfettered by trying to sell a product or service that is in conflict with the best interest of the client. Our objectivity and independence are our guiding stars.
On a personal note, I returned May 30 from my three-week tour of western Europe with a friend of mine who retired from a U.S. Army career and who knows well the military landscape of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and the Netherlands. We toured many World War I and World War II American cemeteries, shrines and memorials, in addition to some French, Belgian and German cemeteries and monuments. We visited Omaha Beach, Utah Beach and a number of battle sites that commenced D-Day and achieved the liberation of Europe from Nazi oppression. To say this was a sobering experience that gives me pause to think about and compare our present-day issues with those of the early twentieth century is a severe understatement.
I left Europe after attending two Memorial Day ceremonies. One was at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupre, Belgium, and the other at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery near Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. This latter site is where my dad’s brother, my Uncle Charlie Weisenberger, lies with 7,991 of his brothers-in-arms. For sure, freedom is not free.
I have returned home with a refreshed and heightened appreciation of our American way-of-life.
Let’s step up our game plan and do our utmost best for our clients and our communities. God has indeed blessed us.
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We’ve been regularly fielding inquiries from people hearing and reading about ASAC, expressing interest in membership and the Certified Agricultural Consultant program. The AgPR news releases from Warren Clark have been a driving force for these inquiries.
Our membership roster reports 81 members. (I miscounted in last month’s Communique. Please forgive my Aggie Arithmetic skills).
Welcome as a new member.
Lee Williams – Lee Williams Consulting – Casper, Wyoming
We have interest from a company group of consultants that may add seven new members to the roster in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned for details. I hesitate to disclose names before they make the move to join.
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The Annual Meeting and Conference, planned for November 5 – 7 in Fresno, California, is coming together. Go on-line to the ASAC website and get your lodging confirmed. The registration form will be available shortly.
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Member Highlights:
Russell Morgan and I attended the National Agricultural Law Center’s Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 9. We listened to some interesting and informative presentations, and enjoyed a meal at the world-famous Rendezvous, feasting on their signature ribs. Most importantly, we connected with professionals in a variety of disciplines serving agriculture and rural America and identified a number of potential ASAC/NALC collaborations.
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Our programs...............
Shop Talk program. Contact Jean Merry and Russell Morgan for information to help develop a program. Consider putting something together from your company or industry and host one.
The Blog Post. Write an article on something pertinent to our ag consulting profession and submit it to Don Tyler, Northern Region Director (don@dontyler.com). He’s taking the lead on getting content to the website. Keep an article to no more than 600 words.
Standing Committees:
Membership – Ron Rabou - raboufarms@gmail.com
Nominating – Kyle Walker - kyle.walker@peoplescompany.com
By-Laws – Dave Mielnicki - david.mielnicki@nmrk.com
Ethics and Grievance – Ethan Robertson - ethan.robertson@farmcrediteast.com
Continuing Education – Russell Morgan - education@agconsultants.org
Annual Meeting – Keith Dickinson - keith.dickinson@farmcrediteast.com
Finance – Keith Raynor - keith@trpsumner.com
Ad Hoc Committees
Marketing and Promotion – Paige Gilligan - collateralexec@gmail.com
Strategic Alliance – Norm Brown - norm@fbssystems.com
Remember...............
The Sky is NOT the Limit!
Pete Weisenberger
President
