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Partners & Friends,

On one hand it seems like time is flying by, but with all the uncertainty in the world it seems like the unknown ahead of us is coming very slowly. As much as we are used to instant gratification in today's society the pace of "shelter in place" is perilously slow. At Hess Family Farm we are adapting to differences as best we can, including

  • Social distancing among families-keeping 6' between people when working or socializing

  • Staying home at night

  • Grocery shopping every 10 days

  • Ali is doing the last quarter of her second year at UChicago from home 

  • Watching Dr. Pol on Disney 

  • No hugging or spending time with grandkids

  • Riding in backseats transporting people—feels like being chauffeured

  • Watching someone fixing a machine and not being able to help

  • Not being able to visit my parents face to face

Someday we'll look back and say all this makes sense when we see the results. So far there have been very few positive tests in our area, but I feel it is just a matter of time till most have some exposure and get some sort of immunity. Like everyone is discussing, the world is going to be a lot different and this has only sped up the change that is coming. It does seem to be harder for older people to accept and adapt—keep us in your prayers.

On the farm we have completed the first pass of spraying all the crop ground. Last week we planted about 200 acres of soybeans. We are also fervently trying to repair issues from last year's extreme rains. We have hauled dirt to repair washouts for days. Our excavator has been used almost every day repairing tile holes. We have seeded several new waterways to prevent future erosion. Our corn planter has gone through another major rebuild with more technology added.

With Ali home she has rebooted our livestock enterprise with a group of bucket calves. We have also picked up a couple of beef cows for the pasture. We have been selling unused equipment online to clean up some storage space and we even purchased a combine online in Mississippi. We have been in on several zoom meetings with suppliers and could actually get used to the efficiencies of all this technology. I do miss the personal contact but the world is changing.

On the US agriculture front things are in chaos. I'm sure you are aware of pork and chicken processing plants closing, dairy farmers dumping milk, and the bottom falling out of corn prices due to ethanol demand and China not buying and the huge predicted planted acres forecast.  Even with government help this is going to be a very difficult year to stay on top of marketing, production, and finance (our three legs of the business). I have been lecturing my family. We need to be very aware of the future and how we can adapt to it. The opportunities are going to be great but I fear also the downsides will be horrendous.

Family is doing well. Having a college daughter taking class from home makes me ask the question, why not make this offering a part of education and skip the expense of college room and board? We are enjoying FaceTime and Duo to see the families but miss the personal time and hugs and cuddling. We were already used to church online when we travel but miss the face to face time there as well. Last Sunday we took in 3 services. One big concern I have is we are becoming more addicted to the news and feeling like we need to read and see everything. The downside of that is the news is so depressing it keeps us from realizing how blessed we really are. 

New Crop Prices:

Corn 3.17

Soybeans 8.51

Let us know how you all are doing.

Steve