Farming Fortitude: Battling Nature's Fury
By Karl Wiggers
Louisiana Farm Bureau News
Just north of Port Allen, the relentless drought and scorching temperatures are putting local farmers to the test. Heath Morris, a sugarcane and soybean farmer, is one of those determined souls engaged in a battle with Mother Nature yet again.
"This year has been exceptionally dry and abnormally hot," Morris says, standing amidst his sun-scorched sugarcane field. "But with a farm, we're in control of about 20%. Good Lord takes care of the rest."
In south Louisiana, farmers like Morris typically rely on plentiful rainfall to nurture their crops. However, this year, fortune has not favored them. Morris anticipates his soybean harvest to yield around 15% less than last year.
"We have drought damage. We've seen lower than normal yields this year," Morris reveals with a hint of disappointment. "The major thing right now is, of course, the drought. We had some plants where the top four or five pods at the plant's apex were empty. The pods were there, but there was nothing inside. The crop looks great, but when you get out there, it's underperforming from what you'd expect."
Adding to the challenges is Morris' sugarcane crop. Despite being a remarkably stable crop, even sugarcane demands more rain than it has received this season.
"Cane can take short-term droughts, not like what we're experiencing now. It can handle the droughts, the hurricanes. Year in and year out, the cane crop is more stable than grain," Morris explains. "In contrast, grain crops could be wiped out overnight by a hurricane or flood. While we may lose some sugar due to a hurricane knocking the crop down, it remains harvestable."
The current dry spell is just one facet of the annual gamble farmers undertake—never certain about the adversities Mother Nature might unleash.
"We're in control of about 20%. Good Lord takes care of the rest," Morris affirms, underscoring the blend of faith and hard work that defines his approach.
Faith, both in a higher power and in the resilience of his crops, remains paramount to Morris. Equally vital is his concern for the well-being of the workers who aid him in bringing sustenance to tables.
"Equipment, we can fix it all day long. It's the people. It's our people, man," Morris emphasizes, acknowledging the toll the sweltering conditions take. "It's been brutal. Some days, it's 2:00 and you've got to shut it down. You can't go on anymore. We start earlier and shut down earlier just to get a reprieve from the dangerous heat. I mean, at any given point, if someone's feeling bad, you better get them out of the heat. It's not to be taken lightly. It's hot every year, but I can't remember one being this hot. It's been a scorcher."
Heath Morris' story is a testament to the tenacity required to farm in the face of nature's challenges. With faith, dedication, and a strong team, he continues to stand strong amidst the adversity, embodying the spirit of resilience that defines the heart of farming.