Re: A farmers wife

Pam Murray (csas001@unlvm.unl.edu)
Fri, 25 Sep 1998 13:41:19 -0500

Interesting observation, Joel. I was just in a meeting this morning where I
heard similar comments, because there are many programs in Nebraska that
could have helped -- from the U. of N. (including our Center for Sustainable
Ag. Systems), the Nebr. Dept. of Ag., and other organizations such as the
Center for Rural Affairs which you mentioned and the Nebraska Sustainable Ag
Society. One long-running university program is called "Returning to the
Farm" that deals with issues surrounding incorporating grown children into
the farming operation; participation in this kind of program might have
avoided some of the family communication problems. The univerisity has also
had programs dealing with crisis financial counseling for farmers. These are
just a couple of examples among many that I could list. I realize it is
tough for farmers to find the time to avail themselves of such services, but
look what happens if they don't.

At 09:59 AM 09/25/1998 -0400, you wrote:
>Hello to all...
>Perhaps I missed it, but I have not yet read any discussion on SANET of
>the specific details of the the documentary
>"A farmers wife". I watched it on Wednesday night and thought it was very
>well done. It is rather amazing to me that the family would allow/be
>comfortable allowing the world to view, candid footage of
>experiences/interviews that were personally quite traumatic. I think the
>film portrayed the emotional struggle within this family very
>effectively... yet as I think about
>this families scenario, I am left wondering about several things...
>
>While the film constantly portrayed efforts to reduce the families living
>expenditures, I only recall one mention of efforts to reduce their farming
>operational costs (Darryl states that he needs to take over the equipment
>maintenance costs and be more selective in identifying immediate
>maintenance needs)
>
>Darryl goes to counseling to help "sustain" his marriage, yet
>there is no mention of his trying to seek out more sustainable farming
>practices... I don't recall the film portraying Darryl talking to any
>other farmers other than his father....
>
>I recognize that the films producers were not producing the film for
>agronomists...(e.g they never even mentioned how many acres Darryl was
>farming) but the film left me wondering whether the focus on the families
>emotional struggle simply ignored Darryls efforts to farm more sustainably
>or... perhaps Darryl was not aware of the possibility of alternative more
>sustainable/profitable modifications to his farming system.
>
>Darryls farm was a mixed livestock/cash grain operation growing a variety
>of crops presumably in rotation... so perhaps his farming system is
>already more ecological than most... yet the film left me thinking... if
>only Darryl would avail himself
>of the activities of the Center for Rural affairs or other similar groups
>(I am not too familar with sustainabel ag resources in Nebraska), he might
>find a way to farm more profitably/sustainably...
>
>Any comments ?
>
>Joel Gruver
>U of MD
>Soil Quality
***********************
Pam Murray, Coordinator
Center for Grassland Studies and
Center for Sustainable Agricultural Systems
PO Box 830949
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, NE 68583-0949
phone: 402-472-9383
fax: 402-472-4104
e-mail: csas001@unlvm.unl.edu

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