Choices

Summer 2017

As I turned away from closing the barbed wire gate, I thought, Would anyone really want to know what it’s like for this organic farmer?

I just spent an hour chasing cattle out of certified organic hard red spring wheat that I allowed in to graze two hours earlier. The wheat is in
dough stage and scorching from the drought. It was late seeded and it’s a small fenced field alongside native pasture we are using for a sacrifice pasture this summer while we wait for rain or harvest to afford more grazing.
Before starting the move out of the next field gate, I snapped a photo of the sight…in the long shadows of near sunset and all those tender wheat beards turned upward to meet the sun, it appeared to be a mistake that the cattle are there in the first place. How many folks know the terror of the call ” Cows are out!!!” and the fact of it being in a lovely crop…maybe even the neighbor’s crop.
One moment- on closer inspection ( and not much closer), the majority of the field is turning brown from the ground up. And at least one third is turning brown on the heads from the top down. It’s pitiful.
Yet from another perspective, it is a blessing to have a field of edibles so near the location of the cattle in need. We have been feeding a bale or two of hay from last year’s crop to supplement the’ grazed down’ pasture. Holdover hay. Another blessing.
As far as grazing the wheat under drought conditions, there is the concern of nitrate poisoning if it is not managed properly. The concentration of the nitrate would be in the base of the plant, so the closer the livestock eat to the ground, the greater chance of ingesting the nitrate…if there is a concentration. The forage sample was sent to the lab today after consulting with a nutritionist. After discussing the situation, it seemed manageable to allow intense grazing for a short period of time on this maturing crop. Of course, dough stage is allowed for grassfed beef so we are good on that end. And we wouldn’t want the risk of brittle beards to cause mouth issues later. It could certainly be a likely problem with mature beards.
So this is the perspective I choose to take-God is good! As evidenced by his provision on the most common level, I see his love through his provision of food for the cattle.
Is it hard to open that gate to let them graze the crop meant for grain for wholesome clean food for the people? Yes it is. But it provides wholesome clean food for the cattle that will be wholesome clean food for the people.
And as I prepared a quick supper of sauteed greens and grilled whole wheat toast made from last year’s crop, the old prayer from childhood came to my mind. God is good , God is great, let us thank him for our food, amen.