President's Column: Tending To Our Farmers and Rural Communities Important During Holidays

The holiday season is upon us and for most of us, we’re slowing down a bit compared to the rest of the year.

That said, sugarcane farmers are still wrapping up a huge crop, so if you see haulers and combines on the road, please give them some extra space and caution.

It’s been a good year overall for farming in the state.  Prices have been good and inputs got in mostly before they started climbing late this year.  Harvests had good yields and the weather mostly cooperated, Hurricane Ida aside.  While we’re still digging out some of the coastal areas and estimating the agricultural damage in the hurricane-affected areas, I’m glad we made it out without more major storms this year.

I know one of the things many farmers will be dealing with next year is those higher input costs.  Many fertilizers have doubled or even tripled in price, in part due to the shipping shortfalls affecting all sectors of the economy. I’m hoping some of our own domestic production picks up to cut some of these costs.  Fuel prices are high and the USDA is predicting less robust prices on the markets, so we need a break.

Anxiety over what the coming year will bring can be especially poignant during the holiday season.  Seasonal Affective Disorder is the name given for how the shorter days can darken our moods, and uncertainty for the future doesn’t help.  In fact, the rates of suicide in rural areas is twice that of urban areas.  

It’s a less-talked about pandemic that I’m glad to see getting renewed focus on.  In late October, the Louisiana Department of Ag and Forestry announced a $500,000 grant to start a new network to help farmers and rural residents reach out for mental health assistance.  The program will be part of a 13-state network across the south and a hotline will soon be available to call.

In the meantime, if you or anyone you know is having a tough time mentally, please get help just like you would if you broke an arm or leg.  We are all in this together and a healthy rural America is vital for all Americans future. 

I do want everyone to have a Happy New Year and I’d like to celebrate with you in early January in Atlanta for the annual American Farm Bureau Convention.  The convention is early this year, Jan 7-12, but the lineup of events is great. As we talked about earlier with mental health issues, one of the workshops will be on QPR for Farmers & Farm Families.

There will be some fun stuff as well, including comedian Jeff Allen and F-15 pilot Jim Murphy who will speak at the convention.    Monday, Jan. 11, will see a new event—AFBF Celebration: A College Football Experience at the College Football Hall of Fame.  If you have not already done so, please register for convention today.

On behalf of my wife, Debbie and our family, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all the best for a healthy, successful and prosperous 2022!