A Letter From SDCGA President: Dave Ellens (Fall 2024)

Well, the kids are back in school, the crops are mature, and the grain trucks are busy on the country roads as I write this column. That means one thing: harvest is just about finished, and we’ll soon see what kind of crop Mother Nature has left us this year.

As always, the weather has been challenging, either giving us too much rain or too little. One thing is certain, though—I’m not sure we know what a "normal" year is anymore. However, looking at my own farm, I remain optimistic that the good ground has strong potential and may help offset the drowned-out acres we battled earlier in the year.

As we gear up for the busy season, I encourage everyone to pause and focus on safety as we harvest. The most important thing we can do each day is come home to our families at night. The fast-paced nature of the season can lead us to hurry and make decisions or take actions we wouldn’t normally consider.

There’s much to complain about this year in farming, but there’s also much to be thankful for. Fall, my favorite season, is when we get to harvest the crop we’ve worked so hard to cultivate. Seeing the results of our labor is what makes being a farmer so rewarding.

I hope you all have a productive and safe harvest. Remember to take the time to slow down and ensure you return home safely to the loved ones for whom you work so hard.