Life and Farming during a Global Pandemic

How will we explain to those who aren't alive yet what this current time was like? This possible defining moment of a generation? Or will this just be another blip in the history books or should I say on Google search? I started thinking and I just needed to write this down...

Dear Future:

   Early in the first part of 2020 something happened. As I write this it's still happening. Somewhere in the world a virus started and it swept around the globe causing chaos and loss of life. Many businesses are currently shut down and millions are unemployed. The economies of most nations are in turmoil and many are facing huge deficits. Some argue we are over reacting and others say we are facing one of the greatest threats ever, but the facts are lives are being lost and people are doing what they can to stop this.

  This is certainly not a rosy picture I've painted so far but this isn't something anyone wants to take lightly. Social distancing has become a thing. I had never even heard this phrase uttered before but it means keeping distance between you and others so as not to spread the virus. People no longer shake hands but politely nod or wave and have a conversation from a minimum of 6 feet away. All non essential travel has stopped

   Now that you have a little background as to what's going on right now let's move on to why I felt I needed to write this down. I'm a farmer in Central Alberta and most would say we are some of the least affected as we live in smaller communities or in the country and are used to being alone unlike our neighbors in the bigger centers. We also are seeing less deaths and less cases but that is mostly a numbers thing and we are just as exposed as anyone. Farming has been declared an essential service as well as many other businesses and services that we need to live. This allows us to continue on doing our jobs in this new environment.

   But farming has changed in the day to day things that we do. I now phone in and have parts or filters dropped off outside the farm dealership and no longer enter it. When I pick up oil at the local supplier it is set outside and I grab it and they bill me. The grain elevators have all gone to no contact and we drop off our grain and don't go in and visit or grab a coffee. These are all minor inconveniences compared to getting sick or spreading this disease. But they all still affect us in a peculiar way. This lack of interaction with people is very disconcerting. It isn't normal and it feels awkward but we are doing it because we realize it's necessary but this realization doesn't make it easier and we shouldn't be afraid to talk about it and share how it makes us feel.

   Seeding is to start in a few weeks and many are concerned what will happen with suppliers and also worried about what happens if I get sick during this very busy and important time of the year for us in Agriculture. We have one shot at this every year and it decides the fate of everything that comes after. If we are late planting this can push back harvest and can cause quality concerns or possibly even leaving crop out over winter. If we mess up because we aren't feeling good it can cause the crop to be less than what it should have been and with thin margins and bills to pay we cannot afford screw ups. It weighs heavy on my mind. I'm 52 and fairly healthy but if I get it I could get very sick or worse. Many farms hire help to get the crop in and are facing huge challenges. Some are laying off help or choosing to do more themselves to avoid the possibility of getting ill. This means some farmers will work longer hours and this can put a huge strain on them both mentally and physically. This on top of the stress that most are already under due to our new reality and the fact some still have harvest left from 2019 that will have to be picked up before planting can start. I realize many other industries are facing huge challenges as well at this time but I am a farmer and can only speak to what I know.

  Once again this story is not getting any better. This is something that 6 months ago I would have thought of as a bad Sci Fi movie plot but sadly no it's our new normal at least for a while.

But the doom and gloom isn't the whole story

   The last few weeks thankfully have also had small glimmers of something better. Some bits of humanity showing through in all the chaos. Families forced to stay home have reconnected. Students with school being cancelled are home with their parents and still learning remotely but also learning directly through life experiences and time with family. Board games and puzzles have become a cherished commodity as people look for something to fill the void and are experiencing similar things to generations before us who didn't have all the distractions and bustle that we accept as normal in our current society. My family has been playing games and socializing around the table the way I did growing up. People are reaching out through Skype, Face time or Zoom and taking the time to check in on each other. There have been incidences of people singing off their balconies in Italy and helping neighbors by entertaining them and allowing them to escape for a while. People in our home town are taking groceries to seniors and other vulnerable people so that they can stay safe at home. We are buying local which is always a good thing but has become more a necessity now as everyone has restricted how much they travel outside of the community.

   We will feel the repercussions of this for a long time there is no doubt in my mind. But just like any challenge put before us we must face it head on and deal with it one day at a time. Make the decisions for the long haul. Small sacrifices now will pay dividends in the future and our children will thank us for it. We will eventually be able to shake that friends hand. Have a beer with a buddy or a coffee with a neighbor. These are just little things but are still important to our well being.

   So from this Central Alberta farmer sitting at home on Easter Sunday in front of his computer social distancing and typing. Thank you for staying home. Thank you for thinking of others and not just yourselves.

Hope this finds you safe and healthy

Your friend
John Kowalchuk
(Regular Farmer)