Tech Comm

Literacy requirements for farmers : 

Literacy requirements for farmers By: J.A. Beall 12/8/09 ENGL 3053

Farmers : 

Farmers In order to find out exactly what literature that farmers actually rely on to run successful operations on their farms, I interviewed three very experienced farmers. Michael Squires, a farmer from Little Rock, AR with 30 years of experience. Will Cooper, a farmer from Wilson, AR with 26 years of experience. Jonathon Welch, a farmer from Newport, AR who has farmed for 45 years.

Who actually farms? : 

Who actually farms? In the United states 15% of the labor force is made up of people who work in some form of agricultural business. In Arkansas 21% of the labor force work in agriculture. The average age of farmers in Arkansas is 44 years old, and 87% of farmers are male. 70% of farmers in Arkansas own all of their land. The top 5 agriculture commodities in Arkansas are broilers, rice, soybeans, cotton, and cattle.

What kind of education do I have to have to become a farmer? : 

What kind of education do I have to have to become a farmer? Technically there is no education requirement for farmers. The farmers I interviewed (all of which have earned degrees), said that a good mentor is more important in this field than a formal education. However, in college agriculture students focus more on the economic side of farming which is very beneficial to aspiring farmers.

What are some reading duties of farmers? : 

What are some reading duties of farmers? Farmers have to stay on top of the ever changing literature that is published by professionals in this field. Every year hundreds of new farming practices are introduced, and a farmer has to do research on which ones might actually help them produce a better and more profitable crop. Will Cooper, a farmer I interviewed stated “You can’t just hear through the grapevine about a new method that produces a better yield and actually start using it before you read up and find out how exactly this new method works and who it has worked for in the past.”

What do farmers read on a daily basis? : 

What do farmers read on a daily basis? Every day the prices change on crops such as corn, soybeans, rice, and cotton. So it is the farmers duty to keep up with these prices . The business section in newspapers is the easiest way to keep track of these prices. Another thing that farmers have to keep up with on a daily basis is the weather. The weather is by far the most critical component to farming, and in order to be a successful farmer you have to keep track of it on a daily basis. Michael Squires stated: “Rarely will you ever step foot in an agricultural business without looking up at a television with the weather channel on”.

What do farmers read on a weekly basis? : 

What do farmers read on a weekly basis? The three farmers I interviewed all agreed that the most helpful form of literature for farmers is a weekly journal called the Delta Farm Press Magazine. This magazine publishes everything a farmer in Arkansas could possibly want to know and more. Michael Squires said “The Delta Farm Press magazine has been giving farmers reliable information for over twenty years”. In some cases this weekly magazine has actually brought it to the farmers attention that something is wrong in their fields before they had even discovered it themselves. The Delta Farm Press Magazine is made up of crop scientist, farmers, and writers with agricultural backgrounds. The best part about this magazine besides its massive amount of information is that it is free.

What do farmers read on a monthly basis? : 

What do farmers read on a monthly basis? The three farmers I interviewed claimed that the only mandatory reading that they do on a monthly basis is double checking all of their financial statements. They said it is extremely important to review all bills and bank statements. One reason this is so important is because farmers may spend thousands of dollars during the planting months such as April and May. It is easy to overlook a check that was paid or a shipment received. One shipment of seed can cost over 10,000 dollars, so as a farmer you have to thoroughly read up on all transactions that take place on the farm.

What do farmers read on a yearly basis? : 

What do farmers read on a yearly basis? Another extremely beneficial reading material are the studies conducted and published by the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Experimental studies are conducted every year by the U of A. And their academic journals have been helping farmers for years. Numerous studies are published each year by the U of A. They experiment to find better ways to produce crops, thus taking the gamble away from actual farmers.

What kind of writing is necessary of farmers? : 

What kind of writing is necessary of farmers? The writing required from farmers is not nearly as extensive as the reading but adequately as important. I learned from three experienced farmers that keeping in depth documentation of what happens day to day on the farm, can be one of the most important tools to success. Successful farmers should write down exactly what they accomplished for that day in a journal log and keep it around for future help. Farmers constantly go back to these journals and see how far ahead or behind they are from previous years. So what exactly should be included in these journals? Jonathan Welch said “I rely heavily on previous information that I have compiled over the years, for instance this year I had about 200 acres that I couldn’t get rain water off of. After looking through my journal I realized that one of the culverts in the field had been stopped up to hold water for duck season. Without the journal I would have never remembered that.”

Writing cont. : 

Writing cont. Farmers are also required to write yearly reports to the Division of Agriculture stating the exact amounts of grain they produce, how much money they paid in labor, and many other statistics. Farmers also need to keep detailed records of any shipments they receive. Many of these shipments have implications that can get farmers reimbursed so they definitely do not want to overlook one.

What can you be doing to become prepared for necessary writings required of farmers. : 

What can you be doing to become prepared for necessary writings required of farmers. Take as many English courses that you can handle while in college to become a proficient writer. Practice by keeping track of all the financial transactions that you make. Visit the USDA website, and look at the sample surveys and questionnaires that real farmers have filled out. Talk to an actual farmer to receive insight on the writings they perform.

Works Cited : 

Works Cited “Agriculture Fact Book.” United States Department of Agriculture. 2006 Cooper, Will. “Interview with a Farmer.” Telephone interview. 1 Dec. 2009 Griffin, Terry. "Arkansas Farm Record Book." University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: Agriculture and Natural Resources. Hollis, Paul. "Arkansas Farming Statistics." Delta Farm Press Oct. 2003 Squires, Michael “Interview with a Farmer.” Telephone interview. 1 Dec. 2009 Welch, Johnathon “Interview with a Farmer.” Telephone interview. 1 Dec.2009