Just Butterflies....

I've always been attracted to butterflies.  It probably says something about my nature.  When I was a kid I spent time chasing butterflies with a net one of my uncles had made for a high school insect collection.  I learned how to mount them on a board for display and at one time had quite a few.  I used to be able to identify a large number of the ones common to the area where I grew up.  The one in the photo is a Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae).  The photo was taken at our home in northeast Texas a few years ago.

At that age -- maybe 6 or 7 years old -- I wasn't aware of their role as pollinators; no one had given me the speech about the birds and the bees.

Sometimes I find myself distracted by a butterfly flitting across my vision.  On our small piece of the countrside we have a hay meadow bordered by woods.  Along the edge (a very important area for wildlife) there are wildflowers and flowering trees/shrubs that attract pollinators.  We also have allowed the milkweed to grow, relatively unchecked, as an attraction to the Monarchs which we find are using our meadow as a resource.  (I posted about them last year - link here.)  There have been many times I stopped my work and paused to watch a butterfly dancing among the flowers nearby.  Whatever noise I was making didn't seem to deter them from their task.

Photo of a Monarch cocoon I spotted in the meadow last year.

Did you know that some butterflies are attracted only to a single species of plant?  They have evolved a symbiotic relationship in which the chemicals in the flower of the plant create a scent that attracts the pollinator.  The butterfly absorbs those chemicals into its body and it may make them bitter tasting, or some other flavor that repels predators which might otherwise attack them.

Think about it; a bright, showy flower is just saying, "come to me" -- like a siren song -- so it will be pollinated.  The bright, showy butterfly pollinates the flower and floats off toward the next opportunity.  Why are they bright and attractive colors?  If I wanted to be unobtrusive to predators I would be wearing camouflage.  The secret to their sauce is that they taste bad and their bright colors quickly signal potential predators to leave them alone.  Being easily identifiable as tasting bad can have advantages.

The Monarch and the milkweed are complementary symbiotes (I'm not sure that's the correct scientific term used by wildlife biologists, but it conveys the thought).  What it means is that both species benefit from the relationship.

Obviously, I find all this stuff fascinating....

The IoT and the IoN

It is easy to be a bit overwhelmed by what is being called the Internet of Things (IoT).  Computing power has enabled engineers to design virtually any type of equipment to include tiny computers that allow us to program the device but, also for the device to collect information about how we use it and to relay that information elsewhere.  That connectedness allows us to change the programming remotely such as from an application on our cell phone.  It is truly amazing once you get past the fear that your machines are watching you -- which they are in a way.

The natural world already does something similar to the IoT.  It happens to a large extent beneath the soil.  The mushrooms in the photo are a good example.  Beneath the soil is a network of something called mycelium, thin threads that are part of the mushrooms.  When you dig into soil in an area where there are mushrooms have you ever noticed white fibers (not roots of plants) running through it?  Those are the mycelia of mushrooms and they interact with the roots of plants such as trees and shrubs or forbs.  They share nutrients drawn from the soil and in the process, transport chemical signals between plants.

The fungi (mushrooms) draw carbohydrates from the roots of the plants to which they are connected and in exchange, transport key nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen from the soil to the plants.  It is something of a fair-exchange trading system -- an "underground economy" if you will.  Interestingly enough, in spite of this mutually beneficial relationship, when the fungi "attack" the plants roots it triggers an immune response, just like your own body would fight off a bacterial infection.  That response bolsters the plants ability to fight off other more nefarious enemies.

The connections, through the mycelium, between plants also allows the passage of chemical signals from one tree to another if, for instance, there is an infestation of insects attacking. The tree will release chemicals in response which are transported through the network of fungi to other trees and act as a "warning" that those particular insects are back and they should prepare to defend themselves.  Essentially, the "scout" discovers the enemies and sends a message back to its comrades that the enemy is coming.

This type of plant/fungi interaction creates interesting possibilities for agriculture.  Can you imagine tapping into that information network as a source of "intelligence" that is then communicated to robots that can respond to whatever situation is sending ripples through the network?  We could respond almost immediately to insect or bacterial infestations, nutrient shortages, etc. on a highly targeted basis -- to the specific plant in trouble.

Just imagine, an IoT connected to the IoN (Internet of Nature).

Treating Symptoms, Finding Cures

One of the things that attracted us to the house in which we currently live was a huge Willow Oak tree that filled the backyard.  I've no idea how tall it was, but its canopy spread over the yard in such a way that there was very little area not shaded.  It made a tremendous difference in the temperatures during the summer and there were few days that were not bearable in the backyard simply because of that tree.

Shortly after moving into the house we began to experience falling tree limbs.  I'm not talking about the small bits and pieces you find on the lawn that simply require picking up and disposal, I'm referring to fairly large limbs that require cutting up with a chain saw before they can be moved.  The photo above is of the first one that did any real damage.  It is difficult to estimate from the photo, but it was about 4 inches in diameter at the base and around 10 to 12 feet in length.  When it fell, we were sitting in the living room and it sounded like someone had lobbed a grenade at us.

There was no apparent reason for the limb to break off and fall.  It appeared to be perfectly healthy.

As time went on, more limbs fell; some larger and some smaller.  The worst was a massive piece, larger than most trees, which fell onto the garage, punching half a dozen holes through the roof.  To give some perspective, at the base of it, my 16" bar chain saw would not reach across it to cut it up.  I measured the longest piece protruding into the work room at the back of the garage and it was over 10 feet long -- that was after the smaller pieces were stripped off as it went through the roof!

Again, there was no apparent reason for the limb to fall.  I decided it was a combination of old age, a few minor spots of disease, but most of all, the tree was so massive that when filled with water, the limbs became too heavy to maintain structural integrity and simply broke from their own weight.  I became tired of patching roofs and decided the tree must come down -- which it did -- several thousand dollars later.

For some reason, I woke up thinking about that tree.  In a way, it symbolizes how we spend lots of time, energy and money addressing symptoms while ignoring the root causes of a problem.  We put bandaids on the cut, but fail to wear protective clothing the next time we are dealing with thorns.  We don't find a cure for the headaches, we just take aspirin to alleviate the immediate pain.  Okay, I've belabored that point a bit, but you get the picture.  We treat the symptom and avoid the cure.

Sometimes the cure is expensive.  It requires taking out the beautiful tree that provides shade and cooler temperatures to the back yard.  The cost is real.  The question I had to face was one of a slow trickle of expense and labor over years with the risk of a catastrophic event such as a limb crashing down and taking out a large portion of the roof, or the sizable, but manageable, expense of removing the tree.

It was a hard choice and I miss that tree.  Did I mention that if I stood and embraced the tree, my arms would not reach half way around it at chest height?  When removed, the stump was over 5 feet in diameter and the rings indicated the tree was about 120 years old.  It was a sad day, but I haven't had to patch the roof a single time since.

This post goes back to some of the time management commentaries I have made previously.  The urgent issue was dealing with a limb when it fell.  The important issue was figuring out why they were falling and addressing that problem.  Once the cause was determined and a cure effected, the urgent issue of falling limbs was no longer adding to my "to do" list.  I suspect we all have similar things in our lives that need a cure.

Storm Trooper Weather Forecasting

Yesterday morning we went out to check cattle before the heat became unbearable.  It was actually quite pleasant and a few unexpected clouds were popping up to produce brief showers.  The one in the photograph was blossoming to the west and reminded me of a Storm trooper from Star Wars.  As I look at it though, it might have been a white gorilla -- hmmm...I suppose in some minds that would be the same thing.

I have always been fascinated with clouds and weather.  Where I grew up on the southern edge of the Texas Panhandle, watching the weather was sometimes a matter of survival.  Thunderstorms there often produce large hail, high winds and tornadoes.  The advantage there over many other places is that you can see the clouds coming for miles -- some might say, for days.

Weather is critical to agriculture.  I frequently find myself looking at weather app's on my cell phone to see what the local temperature might be, or whether a shower is expected.  Radar images are just a click away.  Some app's show rainfall totals, soil reflectivity and many other things useful to agriculture.  Weather satellites circle the earth and provide a tremendous amount of data that makes forecasting much more accurate each and every year.  The availability of those forecasts and other information gleaned by those "eyes-in-the-sky" is becoming increasingly important in precision farming.

Beyond things like rainfall, heat stress and weather risk, some app's even provide tools to help evaluate the likelihood of disease based on weather conditions and patterns.  If the outbreak of a disease is unlikely, spraying is probably not necessary or, conversely, if the risk is high, timely application of fungicides can prevent heavy losses or damage to a crop.

In my part of the world it would be helpful if we had something to predict an outbreak of army worms!  Last year they came just as the grass was recovering from a drought-stressed summer.  The new growth was quickly reduced to leafless stems.  Hope turned to dust overnight and hay became an extremely precious commodity.

After thinking about it, maybe that wasn't a Storm Trooper in the cloud yesterday morning.  Perhaps it was the weather guy taking a look to see what could be expected.  I was just thankful for the brief coolness before the heat began to bake us.  On a similar front (pun intended), we suddenly went from no rain in the 2-week forecast to a good chance, starting on Sunday, for a few days.  It will probably change again between now and then.  That's one of the frustrations of all of this new weather information being so readily available -- there are lots of different models designed to predict what will happen and as conditions change, the forecast changes -- sometimes multiple times a day.  In spite of all of these new tools, the "storm trooper" in the sky doesn't always get it right.  Storm Trooper just seems to be such an appropriate name for the weather guy....

Morning Sounds

There is something about the early morning light

To delight

The senses

As fluttering wings hint

At the source

Of cheerful sounds filling the air

In notes that

Override

The background drone

Of insects buzzing their constant

Tones.

Heavy,

Humid,

Warm

Air saturated with the scents

Of blooming trees

Mutes

The stirring sounds of neighbors

Waking.

Even in this neighborhood where people surround --

Hidden

Within their caves

Of brick and wood,

Protected from that which would

Overtake them

If not for the constant battle

Against --

Is life;

Thriving

In a world of concrete

And asphalt.

Fixing What is Broken - and Climate?

Sometimes you've got to fix what is broken.  We've had an amazing year of rain which began last Fall and has lasted until about a week ago.  It is time to turn on the sprinklers to keep the lawn healthy and green.  Yesterday, we ran a test on our yard system and found that one emitter near the driveway was a gushing fountain rather than a nice, pop-up spray as it was supposed to be.

Since I seem to have spent a large amount of my life working on irrigation systems of one kind or another, and being frugal, I dug it up and found the break.  It seems one of us managed to get an automobile wheel off of the driveway and run over the sprinkler.  With the damp soil, the weight apparently caused the tire to sink in deep enough that it snapped the line at the "T" beneath the sprinkler.  It will be a fairly easy fix, but takes time.

It's a good thing we tested the system before merely setting it and letting it run.  We operate our sprinklers late in the evening, after dark, to reduce evaporation.  We don't worry much about fungus on the lawn since the humidity is so extremely high most of the time that the grass is usually wet from dew anyway.  The test revealed the break, allowing me to repair it rather than to find all of the water from that section had flooded the driveway.

Why do we water our lawns?  Lawns are quite a drain on water resources.  Restrictions on watering lawns are one of the first things cities do in times of shortage.  I suppose we just crave the green space and are willing to expend the resources for our small piece of "nature."  As I think about it though, I believe there is more to the story.

I am not a meteorologist, but I have always been intrigued by the subject.  Yesterday, I watched a brief video of radar showing the outflow boundary of a pop-up thunderstorm over Lubbock, Texas.  The storm released its energy when almost exactly over the geographic center of the city.  Think about that for just a minute.

Cities are a complex of asphalt, concrete, rooftops and other surfaces that affect reflectivity.  If you don't believe me, take off your shoes and socks and walk on a street in August, then hop on those blistered soles to the sidewalk before tumbling onto the grass that is hopefully growing in a narrow band to the side.  Wow!  The grass is cool!

Urban development affects local weather.  I suspect the heat over Lubbock caused the thunderstorm to blossom through any strata that was capping its energy causing it to release the rain.  The cooling effect of that release created the visible outflow boundary seen on radar.  Sometimes that isn't the case.  Frequently, those heat domes over cities will cause clouds to "slide" around them and release their moisture over other areas.  The heat creates a barrier.

Now, to jump back to lawns.  I believe we need more "green space" in our cities.  We need lawns and parks and other areas covered with trees and water that help to mitigate the effects of the man made structures.  We also need to re-think how we build so that we change the heating effects -- perhaps with different materials.  We also might consider how to capture that heat when needed -- such as in the winter.

Maybe, the way we build cities is broken -- just like my lawn-watering system.

There is another piece to the puzzle that has to be considered.  It is well-documented that particulate matter in the atmosphere also affects reflectivity and therefore, heating of the air.  With the concentration of automobiles in cities, the exhaust adds to the heat-building effect of summer sunshine by helping to trap it rather than allowing the energy to be reflected into space.  As much as we hate giving up the independence of operating our own automobile, in the city environment, some form of public mass transportation is needed to reduce emissions -- it will improve the air quality as it changes the heat-trapping effect.

City dwellers often point to agricultural practices as the source of a warming climate.  They outnumber those in agriculture -- especially in highly developed countries.  The power of their voice and their vote is difficult to counteract, but they -- just like all of us -- need to look in the mirror before pointing fingers when it comes to "climate change."

We don't need to eliminate animal agriculture, or stop farming the Midwest and turn it back into a buffalo prairie, we need to figure out better ways to build highways and parking lots and skyscrapers and how to move people to-and-from their work without filling the roadways with automobiles.  It doesn't work so well out in the country where food is produced and people are spread over wide areas, but where people are concentrated into urban and suburban megalopolises, much could be changed that would make a difference.

Maybe what we need are strips of grass instead of sidewalks and gardens on the roof of every high-rise building.  Vertical greenhouses could be mounted to the sides of those same buildings.  High-speed trains might move people through green spaces of tree-lined spokes and concentric circles.  Sigh, I suppose I'm dreaming, but dreams are the stimulus for creativity.

Feeding the World and Complex Issues

Sometimes the weather cooperates.  The photo above is of a field of grain sorghum (I grew up calling it milo) near Amarillo, Texas, that was taken late last summer.  It is one of the most uniform fields I have ever seen.  If you look closely, there are no signs of disease, or insect damage on the leaves.  The field was planted using minimum-tillage equipment that leaves the remains of the previous crop of wheat stubble intact.  The plant stubble on the field helps to hold moisture in the ground rather than opening it up to evaporation.  The field appears to be weedless as you look across it.

As I view this field I am impressed with what I see.  The crop is extremely uniform.  I recall growing up how there would frequently be odd varieties of plants sticking up here and there in a field of grain sorghum.  The seed in this case must have been very clean with no stray varieties mixed in, or someone spent a lot of time manually removing any that grew.

Fields like this lend themselves easily to automation.  The uniformity is important for utilizing the economies of scale in large equipment that can cover many acres quickly.  The product (grain) will be of the highest quality as long as weather cooperates through the harvest.

This field is also likely home to many hundreds of pheasants.  After the harvest, the birds will be able to easily access seeds that may have fallen to the ground.  The field may also be either grazed by cattle, or the stubble harvested for hay.  Milo butts, if supplemented with protein, can be a good source of energy for cattle.

So, what are the downsides of this type of massive scale agriculture?  One is that the monoculture crop places the entire field at risk to adverse events such as weather, insects, or disease.  Another is that the removal of this much plant material (if the stalks are utilized for hay) means a greater need for the addition of fertilizers.  If grazed, the organic material in the manure adds back to the soil as a rich source of highly available nutrients.

As evidenced by the wheat stubble covering the ground, this crop is part of a rotation system employed by the farmer.  Changing the crop grown on a regular basis helps to mitigate disease and insect risk.

This type of farming requires huge capital investment, but it is highly efficient and part of the reason that U.S. farms are so productive.  In spite of that productivity, due to the capital requirements, the farm is likely only marginally profitable in most years.  It is the result of tremendous scientific advance, although most of that advance is not obvious to the casual observer.

Industrial scale farming is probably not the answer for many parts of the world -- yet.  Perhaps someday.  It is the result of many years of a slow process of advance from subsistence to scale and requires massive amounts of capital to achieve.  As we look at growing populations throughout the world, we need to be cautious about focusing on this single model to resolve the food issues we will face in coming years.  It is my opinion that we should consider a phased approach to move less-advanced agricultural economies by stages into this level of production and we must remain mindful of the social and environmental impacts it will have.

Where the field in this narrative exists was once a prairie ecosystem of short grasses adapted to low rainfall.  The primary large animal was the American Bison.  In a way, what we have described is similar to the way it was 200 years ago -- a field of grass (yes, grain sorghum is a grass) grazed by ungulates.  Today, we add the additional step of harvesting the grain for human consumption.  The natural ecosystem tended to build soil, whereas the current one tends to deplete it.  That is one of the pieces we need to figure out -- how can we have industrial scale agriculture without the need for artificial fertilizers?  Livestock, also utilized for food, may be part of the answer.  They are highly efficient converters of plant material to usable protein.

I've rambled a bit this morning.  The answers to how we produce our food are complex.  Sustainability must include profit in order for there to be advances, but it also must balance the long-term factors such as soil health, resource depletion, capital requirements, labor vs. automation, impact on water and air and myriad other things.  The future of agriculture is bright and attracting some of the best minds to solve these types of issues.  It will be interesting to see the advances just over the horizon.

Ancient Knowledge, Big Data and Robotics in Agriculture

I think we all should be concerned about the loss of genetic diversity in agriculture.  The photo above was taken several years ago as I was crossing the Oklahoma Panhandle.  I stopped because it was an exceptional group of cattle and they weren't black.

There are several reasons the cattle industry has become dominated by black cattle -- notice that I say black and not Angus.  One is that Certified Angus Beef has done an amazing job at promoting the quality characteristics of the beef produced from Angus cattle.  A second is that the Angus breed truly does typically marble more easily and therefore, the beef is more flavorful and tender.  Because the market favors those characteristics, ranchers are often paid more for black-hided cattle that exhibit the phenotypic Angus traits.  Less profitable breeds tend to fade away, or become extremely small niche opportunities for breeders seeking uniqueness and finding profit in a boutique market -- or the they find more effective ways to market their product.

The same thing has happened in almost every aspect of agriculture.  We now see only a few basic types of most species dominating their market -- whether it be corn, soybeans, fruits, vegetables, pigs, chickens, or whatever.  Agriculture moves toward the most profitable.

The narrowing of the gene pool comes at a price.  Along with more productivity based on market-driven factors we often see susceptibility to disease or, weather-driven factors such as drought or extremely wet conditions.  That susceptibility adds to the use of chemicals, drugs, or other high-cost inputs to combat the problems.

A different approach, especially in countries that are less industrialized in their techniques, might be through the utilization of multiple strains of a plant across a field, or the varying of strains based on specific conditions unique to a location.  Ancient civilizations did this through a collective wisdom garnered through trial and error and close observation.  Today, with the information gathering capabilities we have, data banks could be designed with a focus on what I might term "species intelligence" that allows the farmer to better match genetics to current conditions of soil, weather and other factors at his specific location.

We need to re-think species diversity.  Uniformity is not always the answer.  We have moved that direction, to some extent at least, to accommodate industrialization of the farming processes.  It is easier to plant, cultivate and harvest the crop when it is uniform.  Varying species across a field would mean that the needs of the plants would not all occur simultaneously.  Diversity might add to the necessity for robotic farming.

It is interesting to me that in order to gain efficiency we moved away from ancient knowledge and techniques but, in order to reinstitute that ancient knowledge we may be challenged with developing even higher forms of technology in order to reap the benefits of that knowledge and wisdom.  Have you ever noticed that we seem to "evolve" in circles?  The pendulum swings....

The Agricultural Impulse

My favorite photograph from a trip my wife and I took to Kenya in 2011, was of this young man selling carrots by the roadside.  I thought of it as entrepreneurship at its finest.  The location was a speed bump in the highway as we were traveling west across the country from Limuru to Kakamega.  Because the speed bumps caused traffic to slow down, roadside vendors had set up and approached travellers with their wares.  I didn't get a photo, but on the opposite side of the vehicle a young lady was carrying a basket of plums, also for the purpose of selling to passersby.

Most of the homes we saw were on small plots of ground.  Areas not utilized by the structure were often intensely "farmed" as the family garden.  Any excess produce was sold in the local market, or as opportunity provided, to anyone with the means to purchase.  It was a clear demonstration of how foundational agriculture is to the economy.

As we consider agriculture around the world we must always be mindful that it is a source of income to the poorest of the poor.  Many would farm on a larger scale if they had access to land.  Control of land varies from country to country, but often it is in the hands of a few who have political connections.  Frequently, foreign investors control large swaths of the most productive land.

Flourishing agriculture goes hand in hand with good governance.  If allowed the means and access to productive soil, most people find a way to grow food.  Even in refugee camps, gardening is seen.  Many of the issues related to food are in the areas of governance, infrastructure and the concentration of people into ever larger cities.  Governance and infrastructure are closely related while the movement to cities is a highly complex issue involving governance, infrastructure, concentration of capital and trade.

Solving the challenges of food supply among exploding populations will require multiple approaches, all of which must consider the social and governance factors which compound the difficulties.  When governments recognize the value of feeding their own citizens -- not through a concentration of power, but by a diffusion of the productive impulse into the hands of the people -- the task will become easier.  The young man from Kenya stands witness.

Let Freedom Ring

The song, "Yankee Doodle," is synonymous with the Revolutionary War.  The tune is said to have been brought over by the English soldiers who fought in the French and Indian War.  During the Revolutionary War the British soldiers used a derisive set of lyrics to mock the shabby colonial soldiers.  "Yankee" was a contemptuous nickname the British used for the New Englanders, and "doodle" meant "dope, half-wit, fool."  The Colonial Soldiers responded with their own lyrics that eventually became their battle cry.

Father and I went down to camp

Along with Captain Gooding,

And there we saw the men and boys

As thick as hasty pudding.

Chorus:

Yankee Doodle keep it up,

Yankee Doodle Dandy,

Mind the music and the step,

And with the girls be handy.

There was Captain Washington

Upon a slapping stallion

A-giving orders to his men --

There must have been a million.

Then I saw a swamping gun

As large as logs of maple

Upon a very little cart,

A load for Father's cattle.

Every time they shot it off

It took a horn of powder

And made a noise like father's gun

Only a nation louder.

There I saw a wooden keg

With heads made out of leather;

They knocked upon it with some sticks

To call the folks together.

Then they'd fife away like fun

And play on cornstalk fiddles,

And some had ribbons red as blood

All bound around their middles.

I can't tell you all I saw --

They kept up such a smother.

I took my hat off, made a bow,

And scampered home to mother.

Happy Independence Day, America.  Long may your flag wave as a symbol of freedom.

Source:  "The Annals of America; Volume 2, 1755-1783, Resistance and Revolution," -- Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. 1976.

Refocused

Quietly,

I contemplate the day to come

Focused on things to do,

When I realize

I am

Thankful.

Anxiety

Is displaced by

Peacefulness.

This day is won.

A Human Element in Agriculture

A few years back we took a trip to Kenya.  Although not the purpose of the trip, the agriculture that we witnessed there was a highlight for me.  The photo above is of laborers picking tea leaves in a region called "The White Highlands" west of Nairobi.

Our guide told us the work of the tea pickers was very difficult and that they were not paid well.  I have no doubt of the difficulty, I have put in many hours of manual labor and it can be extremely demanding physically.

One way such backbreaking labor could be minimized, or possibly eliminated, is through robotics.  Sensors would detect when the leaves are at the peak level of maturity for picking.  The difficult manual labor would be eliminated and instead, there would be mechanics and engineers to maintain the machines.  Those labor intensive jobs would be eliminated.

Even though it was a number of years ago that I witnessed this, the thought of mechanical pickers crossed my mind at the time.  I considered the large amount of capital investment and the elimination of the difficult jobs.  I also thought about the fact that most people in Kenya are struggling to survive, have little opportunity for employment and rely on foreign investment to a large extent for the growth of most industries and therefore, jobs.

The U.S. is a country founded on agriculture and trade.  We have moved far beyond that to one of technology and service, but we still are the most advanced producers of food in the world.  Our farms are the most productive and each farmer feeds many, many people -- not only here, but around the world.

In our developmental period, farmers and their families provided much of the backbreaking labor.  In some areas, imported labor in the form of slaves increased productivity (I am opposed to slavery in all forms but, won't get into that discussion here).  Later, and even today, much of the labor for some types of farming comes through poor immigrants seeking jobs.  However, a tremendous amount of the need for manual labor has been replaced by mechanical devices that plant, cultivate and harvest the crops.

Those who have never been in the situation of desperately needing a job don't understand that there is dignity in work -- even difficult manual labor.  Mechanization and robotics eliminate jobs.  Are we guilty of applying "first world" views to "third world" problems when we think this way?  Those jobs may be foundational to some economies.  The issue of appropriate compensation, health care and working hours/conditions is something totally different.  Those are issues of governance.

I am a firm believer in and enthusiastic about the advances being made in both mechanization and robotics as applied to agriculture.  Along with such advances though, needs to come an awareness of the impact on the people dependent on agriculture for the dignity of a job.  An awareness of the social issues is just as critical as the desire to replace human labor with machines.

Fallacies, Farming and Food

There seems to be a growing movement of young people -- well, not all of them are young -- who are becoming "experts" about agriculture.  They scour the Internet for information on everything from the evils of industrial agriculture to the destruction of our health with processed flour.  Their certainty of "right and wrong" is based on, "I read it, therefore it is correct," without ever questioning the source of the information.

Along with this desire to become "experts" on subject matter which requires a lifetime to master, they need to develop a little wisdom.  We have tried to instill in our children and to a lesser extent, our grandchildren, the discipline of questioning what they read.  Just because someone has a PhD after their name, or is considered an expert in their field, doesn't mean they don't have an agenda driven by less-than-pure motives.  It is important to question and dig deeper.

There is no doubt that there are better ways of doing things.  In my lifetime I have observed significant changes in agriculture that are more focused on conservation while still increasing production.  While still in college I spent some time working for an irrigation company converting sprinklers from high-pressure "rainbird" type sprinkler heads to low-pressure emitters on "drops" that used less water, less energy and placed the water closer to the plant so there was less evaporation loss.  Many small grains farmers have switched to minimum, or no-till planting and cultivation systems that leave the land almost undisturbed.  It increases the amount of organic matter in the soil, reduces loss to water and wind erosion and saves energy in the farming operations.

Some farms have switched to "strip-till" methods where they alternate crops in narrow bands.  It is a method to help reduce insect infestations because of the variation in plant species.  It also changes the soil health by utilizing nitrogen-fixing plants alongside nitrogen-depleting plants.

We see more and more farms that utilize grasses to slow runoff from fields and create "filter zones" to catch silt before it enters a stream or river.  Streams are bordered with trees and grasses rather than the crops being planted right up to their margin.  Such practices protect our water supply and provide habitat for wildlife.

Precision farming methods now vary fertilizer application, seed population rates and therefore, plant densities across a field based on the needs and capabilities of the ever-varying soils.  Such methods reduce soil depletion while also reducing, or eliminating fertilizer from being carried off the field by runoff.  It allows the maximization of production with the optimization of inputs.

Yet, the cry is louder each year that farming is "bad" and we need to re-think everything we do in agriculture.  I wish more people had the opportunity to actually spend time with farmers and ranchers to see what they are doing to protect our environment while growing more food, more efficiently, so those very people who complain will have plenty of inexpensive food to eat.

There is always room for improvement, but there is much that has been done and many who are working diligently to make those improvements happen.

Race Against Time

Ripened fields of golden grain
Bend
As the waves of moving air
Flow
Quietly o'er the heavy heads
Waiting
For the giant machinery to
Harvest
The bounteous increase of man's
Labor.
While struggling furiously against
Time,
As looming masses of vapor
Bloom
In the western sky which
Threaten
To delay or possibly to
Destroy
The fruit of many months
Invested,
The farmer sends clouds of
Dust
To smudge the darkening
Sky
In a race against the violence
Nature
Has sent to thwart his
Effort.
Tiny kernels of the
Harvest
Heap in growing piles of
Gold
Where churning wheels
Transport
Them to a future turned to
Bread;
Sustenance for the growing
Masses.

Gardening: A Love/Hate Relationship

I like gardening.  I hate gardening.  Okay, let me start over...

I love fresh produce from my own garden.  I want to grow those few vegetables which I enjoy such as squash, okra, green beans, peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn (I want it cut off the cob) and potatoes -- even a few onions.

I also want fruit trees and a vineyard.  I want cherries, peaches, apricots, apples, plums and grapes -- all grown by my own hands.  If I lived in a tropical climate I would add oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit to the list.  I would even try growing bananas, mangoes and pineapple if given the chance.

All of those things are "wants" that come with a lot of hard work.  I love the fruits of my labor, but sometimes am not too thrilled by the labor itself.  Is it a lazy streak?  Not really, because when it needs to be done, I do it.  I'm just not excited about a day in the hot sun with rivulets of sweat making tracings in the dust on my face.

I suspect that's why so few people are involved in agriculture.  It requires a lot of work -- even with modern farming techniques and the application of advanced technology.  The hours are long, the sun is hot, and it seems like everything is out to destroy your hard work -- like a hail storm, or insects, or some exotic disease that you didn't know existed until your plants had withered and died.

I suppose agriculture provides the perfect metaphor for life in general.  We work hard so that we might enjoy the fruits of our labor only to see them stripped away by some unexpected event such as illness, or accident.  Sometimes its just a matter of timing in a volatile economy.

I once had the opportunity to visit with a "past-his-prime but well-known" country singer who owned a ranch in my neighborhood.  He said, "Can you imagine?  I spent my whole life working my tail off so I could get off the farm only to buy one when I finally made it."

Agriculture is in our DNA.  It brought us civilization and wealth.  It is the foundation of every successful economy.  It takes a lot of work, but the rewards are worth it.  Now, I'm thinking a perfect summer southern meal of fried pork chops, fried squash, fried okra, mashed potatoes and cream gravy would just about be perfect....(I know fried isn't the healthiest, but it tastes fantastic.)

Trapped in a Box

One of the things we tend to do with the people we meet is to place them in categories.  This is especially true when it comes to the workplace where people are largely defined by what they do.  An engineer is an engineer.  A biologist is a biologist.  A feedyard manager is a jack-of-all-trades related to cattle.  Yeah, they are somewhat of an exception.

The trouble with placing people into categories is that we sometimes miss the fact that there is more to that person than what their career path has defined.  The engineer may also be a pianist.  The biologist might have a hobby farm that employs advanced agronomic techniques.  The feedyard manager -- well, he's so totally immersed in cattle that he probably has a cow/calf operation on the side, or is a golfer -- which in a way is related since it is chasing a little white ball around a pasture.

Every once in a rare while you run across someone who is proficient in multiple areas.  I'm not just talking about a generalist such as I have mentioned in previous posts, I'm thinking of those individuals who have multiple varied interests that they pursue simultaneously.  You might be able to recognize them by their circuitous career path.  It isn't linear, but may cross disciplines in unexpected ways.  I probably fit into that category.

One of the "buzz phrases" that has made its way around the world of business has been related to "thinking outside the box."  There is much to be said for the concept in that it refers to drawing ideas from unexpected areas.  It says, "don't be trapped in your thinking by convention."  I suppose I've never been particularly conventional and tend to respond to the concept with, "what box?"

We place people into boxes -- those categories I mentioned in the first sentence.  Sometimes we trap them in those boxes.  We fail to recognize that there is likely much more potential to that individual than is defined by the "box" we have them categorized into.  Every person has value beyond their role in an organization.  We need to find ways to tap that value and unleash the creativity that comes with it.  Who knows, maybe the future CEO is currently serving as the janitor....

Facing the Wrong Direction

Messaging is important.  I've been perusing a large amount of material produced by corporate marketing offices and it is sometimes a chore to figure out exactly what the company does.  They create wordy paragraphs referencing their culture and sometimes their mission, but the core of what they do has to be ferreted out by digging deeply.

I've written before about Trade Shows and how some booth displays clearly indicate what they are about, but the majority mask their mission in phrases and words that require deciphering.  Their message needs to be concise and on point, but often is not.  Large companies with recognizable names will usually go ahead and draw visitors simply through brand familiarity, but the small ones see the traffic pass them by because they don't realize the value hidden behind the vague and confusing messaging.

Companies need to re-learn how to be clear about what they do.  Their images need to convey the same message.  A good example might be a seed company supplying hybrid seed to farmers.  A simple message would state something along the lines of, "Hybrid Seeds Are Our Specialty!"  In the background there should be fields of growing plants from those seeds.  They could inset some smaller photos of a laboratory, a DNA strand, a happy farmer and maybe even a consumer.  The images should support the core message clearly and concisely.

Instead, what you are likely to see is a technology focused photographic mosaic with happy employees doing things which are not clearly related to the message which is all about their culture.  Wait!  Maybe that is the key.  The messaging is focused inward, not outward.  It is all about me rather than what I can do for you.  Could it be that the same disease which has infected individuals is corrupting the ability of companies to articulate why they exist?

We need to reexamine company messaging.  It shouldn't be inward focused; it should be all about the customer and how we serve them.  It should clearly state, "THIS is what we can do for you!"

My Response, My Responsibility

"Young padawan, you must first learn to master yourself!"

I don't recall that line being used in any of the Star Wars movies, but it might have been.  It does, however, fit my perception of the process of development we must all go through as we grow and learn.  It is a proficiency that is rare, but necessary for success and critical for leadership.

What do I mean?  The best way to explain is with an example.

Suppose you are in a meeting with an individual that tends to "get under your skin."  You suspect it is deliberate, but it might just be a part of their personality -- or, perhaps their background is so completely different from your own that you see things somewhat as polar opposites.  You are often angered by the things they say.  When angry, we are not at our best.  Anger clouds our judgment. It causes us to lose our train of thought and fail to reason clearly.  We say and do things that we regret.

To overcome those situations, you must first overcome your own proclivity to be angered by what is said.  You cannot take the words as being a personal affront even though they may be meant to provoke you.  You must learn to "set aside" your visceral reaction in favor of reasoning.  Stay focused on the issue, not on the perceived abusive behavior of others.  Control your own reaction.

When I was younger, this one was very difficult for me.  I had the world by the ears and planned on conquering everything that stood in my way.  I took any and all obstacles as a personal affront.  It sometimes led to poor judgment.

One of the advantages of a few gray hairs is that they are usually earned through hard lessons.  Those lessons taught me that I didn't have all the answers, even though I may have thought otherwise at the time.  The issue was that I usually didn't have all the information necessary to produce correct answers.  Maybe the best response to the perceived affront is to question.  It is a tool that can be useful if correctly applied, or can be "fuel to the flames" if done poorly.  Many times, the types of individuals who tend to "push your buttons" are provoked if you question them.  They often will respond with indignation and increase their level of attack. 

The best way to diffuse your anger is to seek its source and then seek to understand why you see things differently.  Master your understanding and in doing so, master yourself.

I am posting this in spite of reservations about the wisdom of doing so.  I am not an expert in human behavior, nor do I have all the answers about how to deal with difficult people.  It is something that we all face at times and have to figure out our own way of coping.  My point in all of this is still, we need to learn how to master our own response to those situations.

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." -- Proverbs 15:1

Sometimes that's easier said than done....

Machines That Know Us?

As creatures of habit, we humans tend to be very predictable.  For those of us who are married, we quickly learn behaviors and habits of our spouse so that we usually know how they might react to various situations, or whether they would choose one type of movie over another.  Familiarity aids us in developing the "sense" of knowing the other.

The ability to predict from observed behavior is something that is likely written into our genetic makeup.  It would logically be part of the set of survival tools that allowed us to become the dominant species on the planet.  We learned many, many generations ago that when certain things were observed -- e.g. a lion -- we needed to respond in a certain way -- run!  Developing the cognitive ability to recognize danger, or safety, or situations calling for decisive action were necessary for coping with the world around us.

Animals also appear to behave along the same lines.  People who are highly observant of how animals respond to stimuli are often extremely good trainers and achieve a level of effectiveness that appears almost empathic.  It is simply that they are observant of the cause and response mechanisms and able to employ them to affect behavior.

What sent me down this pathway today is an observation on Facebook by someone I grew up with that their automobile seemed to know their habits to the point it was spooky.  They got in the car to go to church at the same time they normally do on Sunday and their navigation system informed them, without any input, that it would take them 19 minutes to their destination of XYZ.  The immediate reaction was, "I think our devices know way too much about us!"

Pattern Recognition is a field of study that has been around for a long time.  In recent years computing ability has made it more accurate and more pervasive.  The field of statistics developed as a rudimentary way to analyze behavior and through mathematical modeling, predict likely outcomes based on past behavior.  Today, such modeling has been refined to the point that huge reams of data can be parsed into subsets which allow a tremendous amount of accuracy in predicting behavior.

In the instance of the example above, it is clear that the machine (their GPS) has the ability to recognize patterns at some level.  If every Sunday afternoon at 5:40 they start their car to go to church and approximately 19 minutes later they arrive there, a clear pattern begins to emerge.  If next Sunday they get in that car and start it at approximately 5:40, where are they likely going?  You get the picture.

Computers have given us the power to model behavior in ways never before imagined.  It will be interesting to see how more and more machines mimic human behavior.  It isn't so much that the machines are exhibiting intelligence as they are using predictive algorithms to solve problems almost instantaneously that analyze the situation and compare it to a database of behavior-response scenarios that allow the prediction of likely outcome based on a specific action.

Alan Turing once wrote on the subject.  He suggested that we shouldn't ask the question, "Can machines think?" rather, we should ask, "Can machines do what we (as thinking entities) can do?"  It seems the answer is yes.

Space Food, a "Growing" Frontier

I've been reading quite a bit about the new efforts by NASA and various private companies and other nations to get back to the moon and possibly even to Mars.  The projected timeline for both endeavors is within my potential lifetime.

I remember lying in the floor watching the early forays into space on our black and white television, listening to Walter Cronkite describe what we were seeing.  In my head, I can still hear his voice.  When Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon it was as though we, mankind, had achieved a victory.  It was more than just a U.S. win over the Soviet Union in the race to the moon, it was something that "felt" as though it went beyond that to encompass all of humanity.

One of the things that intrigues me as I read about the possibility of going to Mars is the question of how will they transport enough food for the duration of the trip?  If you figure roughly 6 months each way and maybe 90 days on Mars for 4 or 5 people, it will take a good deal of food.  The weight and volume of that food will be an issue in the design of the craft and it will affect other things such as the amount of fuel necessary for the trip and space available for other items.

In recent news there has been much ado about various alternative technologies for producing meat-like products.  One is through the use of bacteria to grow the tissue.  Perhaps that is one of the solutions being proposed for the trip.  If a substantial portion of the nutritional needs of the astronauts can be produced on the way, it might alleviate some of the space requirements.  I don't know enough about the technology to evaluate the feasibility but, I would guess that waste could possibly be recycled and utilized by the bacteria as part of the matter necessary to produce the food.  After all, something isn't created from nothing -- there has to be food to feed the bacteria.  It becomes an issue of efficiency in conversion.

Efficiency is one of the biggest constraints in food production.  There are widely varying differences in the efficiency of different processes.  It is a question of how much input is converted into usable output.  With catfish, the conversion is about 1.1 lbs. of feed for 1 lb. of meat.  In cattle it is closer to 6 lbs. of feed (on a dry matter basis) to make 1 lb. of meat.  I don't know what the conversion rate is with bacteria, but I can't imagine it being possible to do better than 1 to 1.

Even for vegetable production it is something that must be considered.  If we take and take from the soil without replenishing that soil, eventually it becomes unproductive.  Growing food of any kind is a matter of chemistry.  It requires energy and various elements which are extracted and recombined into forms that are usable by us, or by other animals as fuel for growth, maintenance and reproduction.  One of the more valuable contributions of plants is that they take carbon out of the air as well as from the soil.  That could be useful on a craft in space and would reduce the power requirements necessary for carbon scrubbers to keep the air breathable.  The water component is recyclable for the most part and fuel for food production could come primarily from sunlight.

Any way you slice it, food will be one of the major considerations as we venture into space.  The astronauts, trapped within their craft, are a microcosm of the same issue we face on our planet.  We are all, in essence, passengers on this giant blue marble hurtling through space.  We have to manage our resources in new and creative ways as our population grows in order to have enough to last the journey.

Take a Break!

Mental breaks are as necessary as is exercise.  I have found that the two are related.

I usually get both in physical labor.  Some people like to run, or go to a gym and work out, but I prefer to spend my time outdoors doing something physical.  It doesn't have to be mowing the lawn with a push mower in 95 degree heat, or working on a stretch of fence that needs repair; it can be as simple as sweeping the sidewalk.

The best mental break for me is a walk in the woods.  This time of year it isn't something I normally do because of the extreme heat, but when there is a cool morning and I have the time, there is little that I enjoy more.  Often, especially if I am out early or late in the evening, I will see wildlife.  Sometimes it is deer, or the occasional coyote or, feral hog, but I also enjoy seeing the various birds and listening to the frogs.

For some reason, when I am out and doing something physical, the cares and thoughts of work fade away.  My mind rests -- even more so than with sleep.  The constant background churning that is seeking solution to various challenges seems to fade away and I become more aware of the present.  I focus on the sights and sounds around me and simple actions like where I place my foot to avoid snapping a branch that would frighten away any wildlife that might be in the vicinity.  I focus on becoming part of my surroundings rather than an intruder blundering through.

I think our minds and bodies need the "rest" of physical activity just as much as they need the rest of a good night of sleep.  Without those breaks we lose our edge over time and with the fatigue of constant mental focus, we miss things that should be obvious.  It is amazing how often I return to a focused mental effort after such a break and the solutions appear clearly in my mind.

I have learned that small breaks during the work day aid in maintaining mental clarity.  Sometimes it is a deliberate walk to get a drink of water, or possible to step outside for a moment.  Such breaks help me to stay with a task.  It may seem counterintuitive to some, but the right kind of interruptions at planned intervals can speed the process by giving my mind the breaks it needs.

Give your mind a rest.  Get outside.  Do something physical.

Bridging Technology Gaps

In a world of specialization, it can sometimes be difficult to be the generalist.  It seems that multiple degrees with increasing focus on a narrow band of study has become a status symbol -- especially in certain circles.  The trend has added to a polarization in the workplace that is embedded within the perceived intellectual superiority of those with "like" qualifications.

Specialists are needed.  As the complexity of technological innovation grows and more deeply permeates everything that surrounds us in an increasingly integrated "Internet of Things," those who have depth of knowledge in such devices and systems are required to keep them operating at expected levels.  For those of us who are "mere users" of the technology, dependency on the specialists comes at the price of loss of control.

In such an environment that is bifurcated into technologists and users, a niche exists that is often overlooked which can lead to failure in the implementation process.  It is that of "interpreter."  During the transition period to new technology, especially, there is a need for individuals who can walk, with some level of competency, in both worlds.  They become the bridge for implementation.

I have filled that role several times in my career.  One of the first opportunities I had to do so was during the early utilization of software systems to track animal health and feed data in cattle feeding operations.  Later, it was in the implementation of diagnostics as a tool of prevention rather than a tool for analyzing events.  Most recently, it has been in the interpretation and application of genomic data to fit within operational constraints of production systems.

Recognizing the need for those who can walk in both the world of technology and the constraints of the users of that technology is difficult for many specialists.  In the first example mentioned above where I worked with users of software in the cattle feeding industry I was told it would take six weeks to achieve a minimum level of competency to be able to solve the issues generated by "ignorant" customer personnel.  It took about half a day to understand how to bridge the gap.  It was a classic case of the "intellectual superiority" of the software developer blinding him to the fact we were dealing with a simple communication issue.

In the end, it boils down to communication.  My father was an educator.  He once told me that until you can explain a subject at a level appropriate to the student in such a way that the student could understand the subject, you did not truly understand the subject yourself.  Maybe that is the key to it all -- the generalist is the "educator" who fills the learning gap between creator and user of systems and technologies.  In this world of growing complexity where "specialists" reign, never forget the need for the generalist who sees a broader picture.

Coronado's Quest

As I gaze across the silent plains
My mind plays tricks on me;
Through shimmers of the rising heat
There appears to be
Figures
Moving silently.

In my head I make the leap
To a time so long ago
When Coronado crossed this land
And he didn't know
What
He might see.

I think of how he may have paused
And raised his hand to halt
The mighty train that followed him
Whose sweat had turned to salt,
Crusted
On their skin

As unknown strangers there appeared
And sat upon their steeds
So alien with feathers in their hair
Aware of growing needs;
Water,
Source of life.

In unknown tongue and gestures
One pointed to the east
Then turned his shaggy mount
And seemed not the least
Concerned
For safety.

Soon, there before them yawned
The canyon of the Tule
Hidden in the vast domain
Where Comanche rule
Protected
By isolation

These warriors of the open skies
Who feared no beast or, man
Led parched and weary soldiers
To quiet pools where they can
Drink
Their fill

Before moving on in search
Of wealth they had been told
Lay hidden in this sprawling land;
Cibolo, made of gold,
Enticing,
Leading on,

Never to be found.

Expectations Frame Perspective

The way we view events is often affected by our expectations.  It can be as simple as a storm which we see on the horizon.  We note the amount of lightening and the darkness of the color and think, "That's going to be a bad one."  Once it is over, we pass judgment with words such as, "That wasn't as bad as I expected," or, "Man, that was worse than I thought!"

On a slightly larger scale, our expectations affect our view of climate change.  Flooding in the Midwest this year is an example.  Those who are staunch believers that we are experiencing extreme weather events as the result of climate change see the flooding as a result of that change.  Those who are more skeptical, see the flooding as part of the cyclical nature of the world and point out historic flooding in times past.

What we fail to realize is that the same issue of expectations affects us in many other ways.  If we expect conflict to develop in a family gathering, it likely will do so simply because of how it affects perception of things said, or done.  That perception evokes reaction and the conflict begins.

It happens on social media too.  When we see a post from someone who typically thinks very differently than we do -- such as those of the opposite political persuasion -- we tend to react to it in a polarizing fashion rather than actually thinking about what they posted.  We immediately think, "stupid" liberal, or "ignorant" conservative rather than considering what they are really trying to say.  Admittedly, many such posts are meant to be somewhat provocative, but there is always an intellect of some kind behind them which is saying, "This expresses what I am thinking."

In business we often don't realize that a similar thing occurs.  When we present an idea, or a plan, we do so with expectations that the audience will see it the way we do.  That isn't always the case and we are faced with rejection.  Most people respond to rejection defensively.  The correct response is to be inquisitive.  Until you truly understand what is behind their rejection, you cannot effectively formulate a plan that will be successful, or frame your idea in such a way that it is understood.  We fail to clearly communicate because we are caught up in our own expectations.

Sometimes, our expectations get in the way of our success.  They cloud our ability to understand.  Our first response to rejection needs to be a question; "What is it that I don't understand?"  

Becoming Innovative

The way we each go about solving problems tends to become entrenched within us.  When we find an approach that works, we subconsciously register that success in the "win" column and are likely to turn to it when the next challenge arrives.  Over time, we may build on that approach so that it becomes somewhat more "elaborate" and it will change slightly over time to incorporate new things that we learn.

Innovation comes with scrapping the old and bringing in the new.  It is difficult because our natural tendency is to turn to the tried-and-true methods that have previously brought success.  We "know" what works because experience has informed us that a particular approach provided a solution.  The problem is that we accept "a solution" as a "win" whether it was the best solution or, not.

One way to becoming more innovative is to look at how others solved similar problems.  We sometimes do this with friends, neighbors and acquaintances, but rarely look much farther.  Until we look beyond our circle of influence, we aren't likely to see radically different methodology.  This hit home with me years ago on a trip to Niger.

I was extremely interested in agriculture as practiced by farmers there.  I went with the preconception that the mega-farm approach using mechanization was the solution to all of their difficulties.  I quickly learned that I needed to lose all of my assumptions and start asking questions.  I didn't understand their situation and overlaying my experience was not truly applicable to solving their issues.

Finding that my "bucket of knowledge" was almost useless in their situation forced me to think differently.  What I learned there has helped me here.  Looking beyond the same old pool of experience is necessary to stimulate thought that leads to innovation. 

I realize this brief commentary doesn't include much in the way of details.  That is intentional.  My goal is to stimulate thought, not provide solutions....

That Which Dwells Within

Sometimes when I write,
The thing that is on my mind
Is wondering if
There is something I might say
That would make a positive impact
On one of my grandchildren
Who might read the words
At some point in the future.

I think,
Deep down,
What all of us really want
Is to know that what we did
Made a difference
For someone else.

There are other times when I write
That I think of those
In other parts of the world
Who might happen upon my words by chance
And read them,
Wondering who this person was
And why they think/thought the way they do
And just possibly
Find something positive there.

I think,
Deep down,
What all of us really want
Is to know that what we did
Made a difference
For someone else.

There are other times when I write
That those people
Who I came across at some point in time,
Whether classmates, or acquaintances,
Or friends through the years
Might read my words
And realize that who they knew
Wasn't all
Of who I am.

I think,
Deep down,
What all of us really want
Is to know that what we did
Made a difference
For someone else.

Ultimately,
I hope that somewhere in my words,
People who might read them
Will see that,
In spite of my flaws,
Jesus is firmly at the center
Of what I believe
And who I am.

That, I think,
Deep down,
Is what I should want most of all --
Knowing that what He did
Can make all the difference
For someone else.

"For God so loved the world, He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not die, but have eternal life." -- John 3:16

Happy Father's Day

We watched the College World Series game yesterday between Texas Tech and Michigan.  It was more than out of character for me to do so, but my better half is an extremely passionate fan of the Red Raiders.  I also am happy to see them do well although they are not my alma mater.

The game made me think of Dad.  He loved baseball.  I wanted to take him to the College World Series but, either never had the money, or the time, to make it happen.  It is one of those things I regret.  It was something he wanted to do, but was never able.

Baseball is a game that requires patience.  It isn't like football, or basketball, with the constant action.  In some ways golf is similar because of the duration, but golf is an individual sport with competitors going head-to-head while baseball is a team sport at the deepest level.  It requires constant situational awareness which changes continually throughout the game.  Every player is dependent on his teammates and must anticipate their response to each action.

I don't have the patience to watch it for any length of time simply because I don't have the passion for the game.

Today, on this Father's Day, I am listening to the thunder which is likely to persist throughout the day.  We have had rain since about 3:30 a.m. and it is expected until Midnight.  I don't know of any baseball games scheduled here today, but if there were, they would be rained out.  I'm sure the weather will put a damper on some cookouts though.  I'm sure that if they are watching baseball in heaven, Dad will be there -- unless he's playing, or golfing.

Happy Father's Day.

Life on the Farm Ain't Really Laid Back....

Sustainability.

S - seeking perpetuity in the ability to deliver.
U - understanding the long-term consequences of actions.
S - securing the welfare of all through thoughtful planning.
T - taking only what is necessary and regenerating where possible.
A - aiming for generational continuity.
I - intelligent use of resources.
N - natural processes that replace damaging practices.
A - acting responsibly toward others and the environment.
B - building systems that focus on renewability.
I - investing in solutions.
L - long-term thinking.
I - integrating economic and environmental systems.
T - teaching responsibility for and to others.
Y - yielding to needs beyond self.

I've been spending time digging into some of the new agricultural technology -- or, at least reading about it.  The buzzword of "sustainability" gets tossed around a lot.  I am a firm believer in sustainability, but I think sometimes the word gets used and abused in ways that subvert the meaning.

Ultimately, sustainability means to look beyond oneself.  All of us follow the natural tendency to focus first on our personal needs and then on the needs of our immediate family.  Rarely, you find those who reach beyond that to their community.  Even more rarely do you see someone who thinks on a broader basis -- to the needs of humanity.  Most of those have some angle that is driving at financial wealth.

We need more people who think in terms of global impact who recognize that we are all -- no matter of race, creed or country -- passengers together on this giant marble swinging around the sun as it hurtles through space.  We need to realize that actions have consequence beyond ourselves.

Am I a globalist?  No.  But, I do believe in a phrase captured in the Declaration of Independence in the words of Thomas Jefferson that "all men are created equal."  In spite of those who would make him an atheist, Jefferson was echoing a Biblical tenet in that we all are descendants of Adam.  We are all part of the human race.  Come to think of it, Darwinians think the same way, but they see us as descendants of primordial ooze.

"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.  At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.  Then there will be equality, as it is written: 'He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.'" -- 2 Corinthians 8:13-15

Feeding mankind will become increasingly challenging as populations continue to grow.  Weather factors affect production in various areas every year.  Seeking ways that work with the local climate, yet recognizing that it won't always cooperate, we must realize that the efforts in one geographic area may ultimately be the salvation of another.  We are dependent on each other -- globally -- for food.  Here in the U.S. many of our fruits and vegetables come from other countries.  They are often luxury foods, rather than our primary foods.  In some other countries that isn't always the case.  Many of them are virtually dependent on imported food to feed themselves.

Profit is necessary in order to fund growth.  It shouldn't be the total focus of man's endeavors, but must be a part of it.  Profit can be defined as "increase" above the cost to produce.  The "increase" of a herd are the calves born.  The "increase" of a crop is that each seed produces many hundreds of seeds.  U.S. food production is profit driven.  In most parts of the world it is survival driven.  We are fortunate to have an economic system that allows us the luxury of building a food system, through its profitability, that surpasses anything in the world.  We must remain aware though, that we cannot feed the world alone and that as our own population grows, there will be increasing pressure on resources by competing needs.

Sustainable practices here can inform sustainable practices worldwide.  We must continue to do more with less.

As to globalism vs. nationalism, I am unashamably a nationalist.  I believe in my country and our system of government.  It is being threatened at a level never before seen -- internally.  Those who would destroy it use everything possible against it -- even food production.  We need to be exporting our beliefs and our systems rather than allowing the destruction of those very things by those who would tear us down in order to build something else.

I suppose I have rambled a bit this morning.  Reading the mess in the news sometimes does that to me....

Thorns, Scars and Lessons

I've been doing quite a bit of "clean up" out at our place in the country -- mainly along fences which quickly become overgrown with brush and vines if they don't receive regular attention.  As a consequence, I get to deal with itching arms and legs from the chigger bites.  Fortunately, they don't attack me quite as bad as they do some people so it isn't unbearable.  It is a task that is much easier if attended to regularly than if one waits until the fence is overgrown.

This country is interesting because it's as if "nature" doesn't want to be controlled.  It seems that most of the trees and vines have thorns on them.  I was working to clear a path through one particular area yesterday using a chainsaw to cut through a tangle.  A dead honey locust tree (think 2 inch thorns all over it) had fallen.  It was covered in a vine of some kind that had probably been the reason for its demise.  The vine had spiraled around the locust and then grown across to multiple other trees, using them as a trellis to spread through the canopy.

I cut through the tangle and then had to pull the masses of thorny tree tangled in vine out of the way which meant pulling the remaining uncut vines loose from the trees overhead which sometimes caused thorny branches to come crashing down on my head.  It was hot and humid and there were mosquitoes and fireants and the unseen chiggers.  As I backed away, straining to drag a tangled mass to a spot where it could be piled for later disposal, I backed into a Bois d'arc tree.  It felt as though a thousand tiny needles were piercing my back.  What fun!

Oh, did I mention the greenbriar?  It is a vine that seems to grow everywhere in this part of the world.  It is covered with thorns similar to those on a rose bush.  They seem to go through any and everything.  Leather gloves help, but do not prevent them from leaving bloody punctures and scratches all over.  There was also greenbriar in the tangle.

Somehow I managed to get a honey locust thorn stuck in the end of my finger in the process -- through the leather glove.  I pulled it out with my teeth -- or, tried to do so.  The broken-off tip later had to be dug out with a needle.

What struck me about the whole mess is that it is an example of what happens in our lives.  If we allow the unwanted things to creep in and become established, it can be a difficult chore to clean them up and get rid of them.  They need constant, regular attention which requires discipline and effort.  It's a lot easier to gain control before they grow up to entangle us.  Allowing them to overwhelm us can be deadly (like the choked out tree) and removing them can leave scars.

Aging and Attitudes - A Little Randomness

Why is it that the more I learn, the less I know?
Why, with knowledge, do certainties become uncertainties?
How does youthful optimism become the skeptical old man?
Is experience about learning, or about attitude?

There was once a young man named Roy
Who wanted to be a cowboy
He headed out west
In spurs and a vest
And that is the end of my story.

If I follow my dreams to the end of the earth
In pursuit of riches and fame
Will I lose all the things that truly are worth
The price of my good name?

Life is a series of blusters and blunders
That lead us ever on
With fits and starts and various arts
We look up and find it is gone!

I once thought I could be President
Then found out I didn't want to be.

I never quite had the world by the tail
But, I found the Golden Rule:
Do unto others as you would have done
By them to little old you.

It's about the journey, not the destination.

Trends in Food Production

I was reading this morning about a company in Singapore that is growing shrimp meat in a laboratory.  They populate a "soup" of growth medium with shrimp tissue cells which then grow.  After a period of time, they strain the cultured tissue from the liquid and have what is basically a shrimp puree.  It is being served in high-end restaurants there.

Singapore is a tiny country with a huge population.  Only about 1% of its land mass is devoted to agriculture, so virtually all of their food has to be imported or, harvested from the sea.  That dependence on others for their food has led their government to invest a good deal of money in new technologies such as vertical farming -- or, greenhouses in the sky (in a land of tall buildings, they add greenhouses on the roof).

Here in the U.S. the recent Beyond Meat initial public offering was extremely successful.  They create meat-like products using vegetable proteins.  The products have zero appeal to me, but they must entice a lot of people because investors have bid up their stock to a $5 Billion valuation.  I guess my penchant for beef biases my opinion, but I am concerned about the sustainability of such an enterprise.  The ingredients compete with the vegetable industry more than the beef industry.  Cattle eat plants that are not especially desirable or usable by humans.  Beyond Meat has done a fabulous job on their marketing campaign which appeals to many groups such as vegans, animal rights groups and climate change fear-mongers.

You can probably tell by my posts of the last few days that new food-production technologies are on my mind.  I have always been intrigued by such things, that's probably why I have stayed with a career in agriculture.

There will be proponents of strictly technological solutions to the world's food needs, but I think we also must think about it in other ways.  Fully integrated solutions similar to "First American" practices (American Indians) are another approach.  Many tribes would plant corn (maize) and then plant beans between the stalks.  The corn stalks would act as trellises for the bean vines.  They planted squash and other species such as pumpkins and cucumbers in a similar manner.  They were producing multiple crops on the same land simultaneously.  Modern mechanized farming methods make that all but impossible.

Another initiative that has interested me is the "Whole Earth" approach that creates intensive farms on very small acreages.  It might combine fruit trees, berry vines, vegetable plots, bee-keeping, greenhouses, chickens and swine all in a small space -- maybe 10 acres.  Irrigation water would be cycled and re-cycled and the ditches would be used to grow fish.

The big difference between the two approaches -- technology vs. integrated -- is the labor necessary for success.  A technological solution replaces human labor whereas the integrated solution is labor intensive.  One question I have for the proponents of pure technological solutions is what do people do when all of the jobs are replaced by robotics?  Not everyone is suited to be a computer programmer or, an engineer....

I think we need to consider all approaches to food production.  Each has its place and proponents.  It will be interesting to watch and hopefully be involved in over the coming years.

Budgets and Allocations

Years ago, in one of the various roles I served a small company, (to me it was large, but in the bigger scheme of things not as large as it seemed) I was responsible for developing an operating budget for the areas of business for which I was responsible.  It was in a time of rapidly fluctuating input prices -- particularly for fuel -- which were a significant component of our operating costs.  We were challenged to find ways to reduce those expenditures yet, to grow our top line revenue.

Any type of business operation works somewhat like a funnel.  You, hopefully, have a large amount of material going in the top (revenue) and after siphoning off what is necessary to keep the business running and generate that revenue, a steady stream coming out the bottom of the funnel.  The size of the "out" end of the funnel is larger, or smaller, based on the amount siphoned off to cover those operating expenses.  Most people in management focus on the expenses, whereas most leaders focus on the amount going into the funnel at the top.  That is one of the key differences between management and leadership.  One seeks to control activity and the other seeks to stimulate activity.

In a generalized sense, both types of individuals fill crucial roles in an organization and both are constantly thinking about the allocation of resources to meet various needs.  [I didn't intend such a lengthy preamble to what I wanted to say this morning.]

Allocation of resources is a complex problem for most businesses.  It can be complicated for a household dealing with competing needs -- house payment, groceries, fuel, clothing, etc.  If you expand the thinking to a country economy, or even beyond to the world economic situation, the problem becomes almost insolvable.  We depend on the marketplace to allocate resources based on pricing mechanisms that are often manipulated by governments -- such as the tariff "wars" with China, or the product embargoes against Iran.  Ideally a free market allows for efficient allocation of resources.  That free market can mean large price fluctuations based on temporary shortages, or gluts of specific products -- especially applicable to agricultural products -- food.  These can be local, regional, or global in nature.

Is there a better way?  After all, security issues will always come into play in interactions between countries -- or, between companies.  Those issues affect the movement of goods and services around the globe.

I don't think a "One World" government is the answer -- mainly because it concentrates power in too few hands, but I do think better needs-based intelligence could help provide a solution.  The growth of databases and the computing power now available can help us to solve global issues of resource allocation.  Making that "intelligence" available to businesses can provide better decision-making processes based on the dynamics of resource movement.

The problem is an old one; it is simply that of logistics.  When I was in college I took a course in Operations Research which was the mathematics behind solving efficient allocation of resources.  In simplest terms, an example is the best way to describe it.  If you are a large railroad company moving freight around the country, how do you determine the routing of individual rail cars to most efficiently transport them across the country from their point of origin to the nearest point of termination?  If you really think about it, it can become extremely complex.

For many years this type of problem was solved by brute force computation and a few wild guesses.  Today, it can be solved very quickly with computers.  Now expand that thinking to the worldwide allocation of food....

More Thoughts on Food Production

It seems that across the world people are becoming more and more interested in food production.  I think there are a number of reasons for this:  1)  Growing populations need to eat and some are recognizing a real concern with the ability of our planet to feed everyone adequately.  2)  Environmental impact of food production.  3)  Global warming -- whether you subscribe to human-causation, or not, doesn't matter because enough people do to make it an issue.  4)  Periodic weather events that disrupt agriculture.

I have recently been working with some folks from England regarding a project which they hope eventually to take to the AIM market (Alternative Investment Market -- similar to NASDAQ in the U.S., but on the London Exchange).  They have indicated that the taste for longer-term investments in agricultural technology is something very popular on that market and seek to take advantage of it.  I find that interesting -- the words "longer term."  Here in the U.S. most investors are worried about quarterly reports and fear "long term" operational horizons for their investments.

I mention that because this morning as I perused the Reuters News I came across two articles related to food production.  The first had to do with a vertical greenhouse and the second with a global network of satellites to map heat which is expected to be a useful tool for agriculture.

The vertical greenhouse mentions some of the very ideas that I referred to in yesterday's post regarding proximity of vegetable production to the marketplace.  It is investment intense, yet the advantages on reduced transportation and reduced land-mass footprint are also large.  It allows for better control of pests and invasive plant species (weeds) than do traditional production practices.

The heat mapping is interesting because I believe it will show something that might be even more beneficial in surprising ways than the benefits to agriculture.  I believe it will also show the impact of urban/suburban development on trapping heat.  The earth is an integrated bio-physical "machine" in which what happens in one place affects what happens in others.  I suspect far too little focus has been placed on the impact of urban development than is needed.  Along with adressing some definite opportunities in agriculture production, we need to re-think how we build cities.

Anyway, just my thoughts this morning....