Cotton Farming - Editor's Note

And so we’ve come to the end of another year. Hard to believe, isn’t it? The calendar seems to breeze by in the blink of an eye. There really isn’t anything we can do about it...except perhaps take a long look at where we’ve been, and vow to make 2008 a lot better. That’s such a simple resolution, but it’s the routine we go through every December.

Can you believe that one year ago in this very column we were talking about the need for bipartisanship in Congress as the Democrats took control of both the House and Senate? I recall that we were hoping to put the harsh election campaign rhetoric behind us so that Congress could get busy and deliver a good Farm Bill for our farmers.

Our friends in the Senate didn’t get the memo. We can only hope that Santa Claus will come early and make the bill a reality before we roll into January. That would be an early Christmas present for cotton farmers who’d like to know how to plan for the next few years.

But enough talk about Washington and the upcoming presidential and congressional elections. From a personal standpoint, this year will be remembered for other things – like a renewed appreciation for farmers. This was one of those years where I had a chance to walk the fields with some folks who told their stories in a meaningful way. Alabama farmer Larkin Martin reminisced about her childhood as we strolled with the family dogs across the fields near her house in Courtland. Farming isn’t a job to her, but a way of life. She still remembers everything she learned from her late father, Sykes.

Then there was the afternoon in mid-summer when we spent a day with J.W. Hawkins of Brownfield, Texas. On a windswept day in July, he stood in the middle of his field and talked about how it felt to be planting his 47th cotton crop. And, as the headline on the story so aptly stated, J.W. does things his way, and he’s proud of it.

How could we forget our visit with Mississippi farmer John McKee of Friars Point who bemoaned how an unexpected freeze on Easter weekend had zapped his corn and wheat. Still, he remained hopeful and wasn’t ready to leave farming.

In this month’s issue, you’ll see where we visited with Mississippi farmer Kenneth Hood and Georgia farmer Ronnie Lee. Their stories also are full of encouragement about the future – no matter how difficult the current crop year was. We say “thanks” to all of the farmers who talked with us.

We never forget the values you represent every day of the year, and our hope for you is a healthy and prosperous 2008.

If you have comments, send them to: Editor, Cotton Farming Magazine, 5118 Park Ave., Suite 111, Memphis, Tenn., 38117. Or send e-mail to: thorton@onegrower.com.

- Editor's Note - A Tip Of The Hat To Farmers
By Tommy Horton Editor
And so we’ve come to the end of another year. Hard to believe, isn’t it? The calendar seems to breeze by in the blink of an eye. There really isn’t anything we can do about it...except perhaps take a long look at where we’ve been, and vow to make 2008 a lot better. That’s such a simple resolution, but it’s the routine we go through every December. Can you believe that one year ago in this very column we were talking about the need for bipartisanship in Congress as the Democrats took control of both the House and Senate? I recall that we were hoping to put the harsh election campaign rhetoric behind us so that Congress could get busy and deliver a good Farm Bill for our farmers. Our friends in the Senate didn’t get the memo. We can only hope that Santa Claus will come early and make the bill a reality before we roll into January. That would be an early Christmas present for cotton farmers who’d like to know how to plan for the next few years. But enough talk about Washington and the upcoming presidential and congressional elections. From a personal standpoint, this year will be remembered for other things – like a renewed appreciation for farmers. This was one of those years where I had a chance to walk the fields with some folks who told their stories in a meaningful way. Alabama farmer Larkin Martin reminisced about her childhood as we strolled with the family dogs across the fields near her house in Courtland. Farming isn’t a job to her, but a way of life. She still remembers everything she learned from her late father, Sykes. Then there was the afternoon in mid-summer when we spent a day with J.W. Hawkins of Brownfield, Texas. On a windswept day in July, he stood in the middle of his field and talked about how it felt to be planting his 47th cotton crop. And, as the headline on the story so aptly stated, J.W. does things his way, and he’s proud of it. How could we forget our visit with Mississippi farmer John McKee of Friars Point who bemoaned how an unexpected freeze on Easter weekend had zapped his corn and wheat. Still, he remained hopeful and wasn’t ready to leave farming. In this month’s issue, you’ll see where we visited with Mississippi farmer Kenneth Hood and Georgia farmer Ronnie Lee. Their stories also are full of encouragement about the future – no matter how difficult the current crop year was. We say “thanks” to all of the farmers who talked with us. We never forget the values you represent every day of the year, and our hope for you is a healthy and prosperous 2008. If you have comments, send them to: Editor, Cotton Farming Magazine, 5118 Park Ave., Suite 111, Memphis, Tenn., 38117. Or send e-mail to: thorton@onegrower.com. .

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