“You want to rely on the Lord and hope for the best.”

American Humorist, the late Will Rogers once said, “The farmer has to be an optimist, or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.” Fortunately for all of us, farm families everywhere begin each planting season with optimism and renewed hope for good crops, adequate weather conditions, and a market environment that will bring profitability once the harvest is complete.

Many factors go into a good crop year but perhaps none more important than good weather conditions to kick the season off.

Dr. Jerry Brotzge, Kentucky State Climatologist and Director, of the Kentucky Climate Center and Kentucky Mesonet said the next several weeks are forecast to be relatively warm (average to above-normal temperatures) and wet (above-normal precipitation).

“We are expected to enter a rather active period, at least for the first few weeks of April with a series of systems moving across Kentucky,” he said. “At the large scale, general high pressure will begin to dominate across the Southeast bringing generally warm temperatures across the East and South.”

Brotzge added that a series of synoptic systems are expected to move across the Ohio Valley during that time, making for a rather wet early to mid-April. 

“Overall, Spring (April-June) is forecast to have above-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation for much of Kentucky,” he said. “Nevertheless, confidence in these forecasts is weak to moderate as large-scale ‘teleconnections’ are transitioning (e.g., now changing from a La Nina to Neutral Phase) and some larger-scale influences weaken during the warmer months.”

As they normally do, farmers across this state will dodge any interruptive weather events as they reach their planting goals.

Alex and Sarah Richardson of Meade County have deep roots in agriculture having both grown up on the farm. Their farming operation consists of about 2,900 acres of corn and soybeans and about 125 acres of winter wheat to go with their cattle, and hay. Alex said, in looking at last year’s crops, corn was good, and soybean conditions varied.

“Last year our corn was excellent, one of the top corn years that we've ever had,” he said. “Soybeans were highly variable depending on planting date, location, what farm got rain and what farm didn't, so I would just call them decent overall.”

Alex said their wheat crop was also good in 2024 with good quality straw they were able to market at a good price. “Overall, it was good production wise, prices could have been better.”

While market prices will often influence planting intentions, The Richardsons take soil health into consideration when planning for the season.

“Sometimes the market dictates that a little bit, but I try to look at long-term soil health and try to keep my rotation fairly equal and fairly consistent,” Alex said. “As farmers, our bread and butter is directly tied to our natural resources so we are going to obviously take care of our soil and water as best as we possibly can because if we lose that, we're out of a job.”

Profitability on the farm is certainly connected to the stewardship farm families practice in their operation. But today’s producers also have other resources to navigate their way through a season.

Alex said he uses a lot of risk management tools which are essential in this day and age including a marketing plan.. The Richardsons, who are the 2024 KFB Young Farm Family of the Year, work closely with a risk management advisor to get as close to what they think will be the cost of production.

“We try to dial in as close as we can to what we think the cost of production is going to be for the upcoming year so we know what the target is that we need to be at for profitability or at least breakeven,” he said. “Once we know that, we start employing different marketing techniques. I think the big thing, is having a handle on what it's going to cost you to produce a bushel of corn, soybeans, or wheat. if you don't know that, you don't know what you're trying to market towards.”

Clay Leveronne, from Grayson County, farms 1,400 acres of row crops in addition to a cow-calf operation. He said while the last few years have presented challenges on the farm, he has to be optimistic for the coming season.   

“In the past few years, we've been able to get started in the fields in mid-April, but you never know what the weather's going to do,” he said. “Last year I think I was able to plant two days in May and most everything that I planted in April I had to replant. So, it makes it a little discouraging thinking about going in and planting early again this year. But for the most part, we've always been able to start mid-April.”

Leveronne said good weather and strong commodity prices would be his order for the year.

“But a farmer doesn't have control over many things,” he said. “For the most part you go into a year not knowing if you're going to make anything or not. But you want to rely on the Lord and hope for the best. It's in your blood, and you've got to love it or you wouldn't farm.”

Leveronne, along with his wife Michelle, and their children Brianna, Jade, Holder, and Carter, make farming a family affair where everyone pitches in. He said for a younger generation getting involved in farming, it’s important to stay positive.

“If you'll work at it, you can make it, but you've got to put in the work for sure,” he said. “I know there's always things that can happen that put a chalk under the wheel but don't get discouraged.”

 Something he said he has enjoyed about the Young Farmer program is meeting people who are going through the exact same things on the farm that he is.

“You look at yourself and you think, well this is just me and what is it that I’m doing wrong,” he said. “Come to find out they're going through the same things.”

Leveronne, who serves as the Grayson County Farm Bureau vice president and Young Farmer chair, said being involved in Farm Bureau is also an asset to all farmers but especially to a new generation. 

“Farm Bureau is one of the top assets that we have as far as being able advocate for the farmer, because as a farmer, a young farmer especially, we often don't have time to go and do these things that are very important to our industry," he said. “Farm Bureau is there for us.”

As both Richardson and Leveronne work their way through planting season, they are continuing a tradition that is important to all, and excited to do it.

“We are always excited at the opportunity to raise another crop and we always want to go into the year hoping that we're going to do at least as well, if not better, than the year before and we're looking at ways to improve,” Alex said.

It is likely to think that for those who don’t farm for a living, it’s hard to imagine the anticipation farm families feel each spring when planting time comes. But Taylor Thompson, KFB Federation Commodity Marketing Specialist sums it up nicely.

"It might be an understatement to say our Kentucky corn and soybean growers are getting prepared for planting season, believe me, they are ready," he said. "But soil temperatures and weather are top of mind and capitalizing on warm and dry days will be key given the ongoing possibility of excess spring precipitation in parts of the Commonwealth."

As the old saying around these parts goes this time of year, “And they’re off!”