For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for August 10, 2020

you’re quite something, Dan

“Darn! Look at it out there! For weeks, we’ve been needing rain and now that the crop’s cut, down she comes.”

This statement is completely confusing. My understanding is that you want the crop to be cut before it rains not after. Here is my source, just in case a certain someone thinks I am making up things (quoting):

https://southsaskfarmer.com/2014/09/04/why-is-rain-such-a-problem-at-harvest/

•Soggy fields- Combines are exceptionally large and heavy machines. While they are surprisingly capable despite their lumbering look, too much rain will overwhelm their ability to move around in the fields.

•Quality loss- This is arguably the biggest detriment to us in a wet fall. We grow a lot of acres of quality-sensitive crops that are very susceptible to rains when they are mature.

•Yield loss- Eventually, given enough rain, even tolerant crops like canola can start to lose yield.

Given all this, you would think Uncle Danny would be overjoyed that the crop was cut before the rain came in.

Some crops need to be cut and let dry in the field before it is actually harvested. If rain comes before it is actually harvested and stored out of the weather can ruin the crop.

I believe they already got the grain, so rain shouldn’t be a problem. The only loss would be the straw, which might dry out later, good enough to bale.

Farming is always a gamble. You will either have no rain, too much rain, or rain at the wrong time. Also you could have locusts, hail, tornadoes, floods, some sort of crop disease. Farmers have to be born OPTIMISTS.

So very true! When I was younger I lost my temper and yelled at people so many times I know for sure how pointless it is!

Michael has learned more on the farm than he has during years of schooling. Stay there and have a good life.

Truth.

Martha lets Mike down.

Another life lesson for Michael.

No rain on grain can mainly be a pain.

Not exactly. At least the sky won’t come back and let the air out of your tires.

They don’t have weather reports there?

Last strip right on.

He’s right. Don’t waste your breath.

Farmers have a certain type of charm and wisdom.

It’s based on realistic perception. Farmers can’t afford to indulge whims, denials, wishful thinking and emotional knee jerking.

My greatest fear is letting someone down.

True words of wisdom there, pay attention Michael.

If you yell at the sky in public, people tend to leave you alone.

“They still talk about it in the Kingdom of Didd as The-Year-the-King-Got-Angry-with-the-Sky.”

Good point there!

Now ain’t that the truth!

This farmer has not made his hair grey in sun. He understands life to the core.