With the holiday weekend, this is being written prior to the release of the drought monitor report for this week. It is unlikely to have changed much. We are in dramatically better shape than the last few years at this stage in June. The six-to ten-day outlook (July 7 to 11) indicates near normal for temperatures and a 40 to 50% chance of leaning above normal for precipitation. The eight to fourteen-day outlook (July 9 to 15) indicates a 40 to 50% chance of leaning below normal for temperatures and 33 to 40% chance of leaning above normal for precipitation. The extended outlook is promising for summer row crops and forages, especially corn and grain sorghum. It’s good for soybeans, however, their greatest need for moisture is August and early September.
This Independence Day holiday weekend, let’s take a break and briefly explore how vital agriculture has been, is, and will always be vital to this country’s independence. In 1775, when the Revolutionary War started, while we did have cities, the population was rural and agrarian. This was especially true of the colonies of the mid-Atlantic and southern states. They were also the primary group settling the frontier. First as militia and then as part of the Continental Army, they comprised the bulk of the fighting force. Many of the leaders gathered in Philadelphia as the Continental Congress in 1775 and signing the Declaration of Independence were farmers. In this case, most were plantation owners. After the war, farming, especially with cotton, tobacco, and indigo were major sources of export and income for the country. This was either as raw commodities or in the case of cotton – textiles. As time progressed and the country expanded westward, it was settlers who were primarily farmers settling these newly opened lands.
During the Civil War, on bit sides but especially the Confederate States of America, most soldiers were rural and involved in agriculture. The country was still well over two thirds rural. After the war, an abundant, commercial agriculture from then until today, agricultural production allowed fewer individuals to be involved in farming and hastened technological advancements.
During both world wars, our agricultural production helped fuel our military productive capacity and feed not only our military personnel but our allies. In addition, many enlisted in the armed forces even though farming could grant an exemption. All of this helped allow the country to gain and maintain its independence. It’s impossible to overstate how the size of the country, the climate and soils, the farmers, and the money and effort invested in agriculture by the Federal Government helped the U.S. not only prosper but also maintain its independence as we didn’t have to be reliant on outside sources for what we needed.
Today, while less than three percent of the population, they provide food and fiber for more than our population; they provide valuable export income; and have greatly aided with energy independence. Happy Fourth of July.