The summer has not been what any of us would have expected with rain, rain and more rain to quench our thirsty soil. We’ve probably forgotten what a drought even is at this point. But I haven’t forgotten. I’ll take my friends and family dodging rain days to get hay put up over brown, brittle pastures and the pain of feeding hay in August any day.
One of the first stories I did when I had come on full-time here at Ozarks Farm & Neighbor was with a particular Braunvieh cattlemen out west of Springfield. As I looked over his beautiful brown cows, I noticed how nicely they blended with the pastures, if, at that point, they were even “pastures” anymore. The herd was called in, and dust rose in plumes around the stampede. I’d never seen a spot in southwest Missouri look so brown.
But now we're nearly over our normal annual rainfall count, and it’s July. By the time you read this, it’s likely we will be over the 44.97 inches expected in a year in southwest Missouri.
Is it still wrong, though to say I’ll take the rain? Even with my parents' basement recently flooded, and many unfortunate souls displaced from their homes. It’s not ideal when moisture decides to make up for lost time, all at once. But I’d suggest if you’re feeling guilty about being thankful for a rainstorm that’s greening your pastures, but flooding another’s home, then do something about it. Spend a rainy day organizing a food and clothing drive for our friends in Stone and Taney counties who’ve been displaced. Call the local Red Cross and see how you can help the flood victims. There are always extremes of nature we, as farmers, have to deal with. But I hold that dealing with the weather extremes while your hand is outstretched to your neighbor will always sustain you, whether you abound or are abased this season.
God Bless,
