4 minute read
Jerry Crownover – Politicians and farmers
from OFN March 23, 2020
by Eric Tietze
What’s On Your Mind, Ozarks? just athought
The son of an old friend stopped by last week to ask for some advice. He’s a senior in high school and is planning on going to college to study agriculture. The boy has now passed the biggest hurdle by having a family that is already established in farming, and willing to transition the land and equipment to him in the future, but he wanted my opinion on what areas to study.
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After informing him my advice was worth exactly what he was paying for it, I proceeded to offer him my suggestions. I told him everything starts with the soil and he would need to take some soil science courses to understand structure, fertility and conservation methods. Next, he would need to take some plant science courses to try and understand how seeds and plants were produced, and how they grow and reproduce during each stage of their life cycle. He would also need some chemistry courses to better enable him to select and handle the myriad of herbicides and pesticides that he would be using in the future.
Knowing his family also has livestock, I told him he would need a good background in animal breeding and genetics courses, that would allow him to constantly improve the quality and performance of his animals, while implementing newer technologies of artificial insemination and embryo transfer. Lots of courses in nutrition would be required, as well as a good working knowledge of veterinary science in order to manage herd health. I went on to explain his parents owned hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of hightech equipment that needed to be serviced and repaired each year, so two or three courses of study in agricultural engineering would be more than beneficial. He would need to understand the workings of GPS systems, hydraulics, computer integration and materials handling systems, just to name a few. Life Is Simple By Jerry Crownover
— Continued on Page 6 Life is Simple By Jerry Crownover
Jerry Crownover is a farmer and former professor of Agriculture Education at Missouri State University. He is a native of Baxter County, Arkansas, and an author and professional speaker. To contact Jerry, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’
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Toll Free: 1-866-532-1960 479-846-1002 • Fax: 479-846-1003 PO Box 1514, Lebanon, MO 65536 E-mail: editor@ozarksfn.com Member:
Eric Tietze Publisher Administrative Kathy Myers, Marketing Manager Eric Tietze, Accounting Advertising Pete Boaz, Display & Classified Sales Kathy Myers, Production Sales Circulation Eric Tietze, Circulation Editorial Julie Turner-Crawford, Managing Editor Jerry Crownover, Columnist Jody Harris, Columnist Production Amanda Newell, Production
Contributors Klaire Howerton, Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller, Amber Parham, Lisa Nance, Terry Ropp and Jenny Rucker
About the Cover Clarence Carson’s father deeded him 176 acres in 1971 to start his own farming operation. Read more on page 12.
Photo by Terry Ropp
Ozarks Farm & Neighbor accepts story suggestions from readers. Story information appears as gathered from interviewees. Ozarks Farm & Neighbor assumes no responsibility for the credibility of statements made by interviewees. © Copyright Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, Inc., 2020. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.
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MARCH 23, 2020 The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper
