When I was regularly writing farm news and features, I became an expert on lots of agricultural topics – for about a week at a time.
One week the topic might be trichomoniasis, after hearing a talk by Dr. Craig Payne, DVM, and the next week it could be the beef market outlook, after talking with Extension economist Scott Brown.
Over the years I became a short-term expert on about everything to do with Ozarks farming, but at the end of my career came away knowing practically nothing. Either I had forgotten what I knew or the facts had changed. Take tall fescue, for example: one year it’s the cattleman’s best friend, the next year the cause of weight loss, then next year the best pasture ever. Why the flip-flops? As my economist friend liked to say, “It depends.” Depends on what? Ask the experts, not me.
I went to a warm season native grasses workshop recently where the program was capably presented by specialists from University of Missouri Extension and MFA, Inc., professional experts in their fields.
But, standing with the landowner in his impressive stand of big bluestem and Indiangrass, it was clear who was most “expert” of all. There was nothing theoretic about his success. He had obviously expertly applied the expert advice provided him.
I was never an expert on anything much longer than it took to research and write about it. Every story was much like a college paper – get it done, forget it and go on to the next one.
What I did retain was a profound respect for the farmers and livestock producers who live the life every day, routinely dealing with adverse weather, unpredictable markets, high production costs and a consumer public that thinks farming is as depicted on the TV show “Green Acres.” Never mind the clownish county agent “expert,” Hank Kimball.
In many respects farming may be the most satisfying career in the world – I don’t know many farmers who would want to do anything else. But, farming is not for the weak of heart, body or mind.
It takes grit, intelligence and dogged determination to make it.
I’ve long argued that a successful dairy producer could easily take over as CEO of General Motors or any other major corporation and embarrass the current leadership.
As far as I’m concerned, the men and women of agriculture are the true experts in farming. They’re the folks with skin in the game – university specialists, ag teachers or farm writers, we’re just along for the ride.
I’d like to think, though, that as a farm writer I may have provided those real experts a little information to help them be more successful, even if my expertise borrowed from ag specialists lasts only until the next story.
Then I can become “expert” on something else.
A former feature writer for Ozarks Farm and Neighbor, Jim Hamilton is a retired newspaper editor/publisher. Hamilton was reared on a small dairy farm in Dallas County, Mo. Contact Jim at [email protected].
