This is a great time of year to be a farmer! I love feeling the warmth of the sun on my face. I enjoy hearing the birds sing each morning as I go outside to do chores. I love how the earth smells after a rain, but fresh cut hay is the best perfume ever smelled by an old farmer!

Farmers in North Central Iowa are getting ready to make their first cutting of hay. Most of them have their crops in the ground and have moved their attention from planting to scouting crops for weeds and disease. The wet, cool spring conditions made prime conditions made the weeds grow like, well weeds!

In spite of all the work there is to be done on the farm at this time of year, it’s still a busy meeting season. I’ve written before that winter is the meeting the season, but meetings seem to have branched out to year around.

This week I’m part of a panel discussion at the National Pork Board office in Des Moines. Cristen Clark, who blogs at Food and Swine, and I have been invited to share some of our experiences with a group of new leaders, who also raise pigs. The theme of this week’s leadership training session is, “If not you, who?”

It’s important for real pig farmers to tell their farm stories because consumers want to know about how their food is produced. I can’t blame them because food is a very personal choice. Although most of us don’t eat what we should, we all want to think we are eating as healthy as possible! If the folks who raise the food don’t share what they are doing, then someone else will tell their story. Who will tell the farm story… a computer programmer? a TV doctor? a food blogger?

No one can tell the pork story better than a pig farmer! This group of farmers with whom Cristen and I spoke will also attend the World Pork Expo, June 3-5, on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. This three-day event brings together folks from all over the world to learn the newest and greatest ideas about everything piggy.

This year I’m not obligated to any duties at the World Pork Expo. I’m free to watch the pig judging and the pig races. I can attend seminars to learn the latest technology. It could spend days visiting all the booths displaying everything from new knee boots and the latest computer programs to wind turbines and natural fertilizer haulers.

As much as I enjoy all of these things, the best part of World Pork Expo is getting to see friends. I’ve made many dear friends during the 30 years I’ve been involved with pork organizations and activities like Operation Main Street.

I’ve made many more friends through my involvement in social media. I’ve been known to travel the state – and even out of state – to deliver a free speech. Some people wonder why…

If not me, then who? If I don’t tell my farm story, someone else will and I may not like it! If you’re a farmer, ask yourself what can you do to tell your farm story. If you’re a consumer with questions, talk to a farmer!

There’s been a lot of buzz about bees recently as more people voice concerns about declining pollinator habitats.

The interaction between farming and bees is a natural symbiosis because bees feed on pollen and nectar, and many crops need bees for pollination. Pollinators play an important role in keeping your garden healthy and blooming, too.

Interested in promoting pollinator populations for bats, butterflies and bees? You can plant a pollinator-friendly garden by following the three P’s: Plan, Plant and Provide.

PLAN

The first step in planning a pollinator-friendly garden involves surveying the area where you intend to plant flowers. What is the sun and/or shade coverage? What is the soil type? Assessing these conditions helps you select flowers that will flourish. Next, decide what type of pollinators you want to attract based upon the type of flowers that will grow in your region.

The Bee Smart ™ Pollinator Gardener’s app can help narrow the search of which plants to use in your garden based upon regional needs, such as soil, amount of sunlight, preferred type of pollinators and flower color. These planting guides are another resource organized by regions, which will help you begin answering these questions.

When selecting your flowers, choose plants that will bloom from early spring to late fall to ensure a long season of bloom. This will result in a consistent food source for your visitors.

Lastly, plan to choose flowers that offer a diverse set of colors, fragrances and shapes. This will make your garden more attractive for the pollinators you want to visit.

Gardeners’ tip: You can always alter the type of plant you grow. Since you can’t change the soil type and sun coverage, choose the type of flowers the fits your geographic location.

PLANT

Below is a list of 15 plants that can grow in most areas of the U.S. and can help increase the number of pollinators in your area:

Attracting a diverse community of native bee species begins with raising an abundant and diverse garden. When planting, be sure to plant generously throughout your whole garden. Pollinators are more attracted to large groups of flowers versus single plants.

Gardeners’ tip: Bees love blue, purple, white and yellow. Butterflies navigate toward red and purple flowers.

PROVIDE

Once your garden is planted, it’s critical to provide water in addition to the food source. Grassy areas and shrubbery nearby provides a healthy habitat for pollinators’ nesting and egg-laying needs. Improve the forage in your habitat to make native bee pollinators feel welcome.

Monitor the pollinators’ actions and needs. Be knowledgeable and interactive in your garden to satisfy the needs of your pollinators and flowers.

Gardeners’ tip: Post signs to educate the public about your new habitat and encourage others to do the same.

Along with attracting pollinators, did you know you can attract birds and butterflies, too?! Find out how by following these two links:

• Gardening Can Be for the Birds!
• Add Beauty to Backyard with Butterfly Garden

This past weekend, I attended one of my granddaughter’s high school graduation ceremony in a small town south of Des Moines. The ceremony was held on the football field, which is quite an undertaking during spring in Iowa!

By luck, and maybe a little divine intervention, the outdoor graduation ceremony worked. We enjoyed some sunshine. Then just like you’d expect from Iowa weather, some clouds moved in, a few sprinkles fell and the winds began to gust. Papers blew off the stage, and the young ladies were hanging onto their skirts. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful ceremony!

The keynote speaker was a retiring school teacher, who had taught most of his career at this school. I must admit that I don’t remember the speech at my graduation, however, he captured my attention by referencing farmers in his presentation! He talked about how farmers sow seeds, and teachers do likewise. What a great analogy, right?

Later in the commencement address, the speaker told these graduating seniors how they need to fix the problems of our waters in Iowa! He shared how an all-time high number of our waters are polluted. I could feel my wife’s eyes on me. As soon as we got to our car, Janice said she was a little concerned at how I might react to the keynote. Rather than say anything at the time, I decided to address it in this week’s blog.

It concerns me that educated people can be so misinformed! Did the teacher share untruths about Iowa’s farmers? No! Did he share all the facts? No!

Our government agencies have the ability to control public perception simply by choosing which information to release and when. The Des Moines Waterworks (DMWW) own data shows a downward trend of nitrates in the Raccoon River, but that’s not what is making the headlines these days in Iowa. Instead we’re hearing about increasing amounts of nitrates from the DWMM.

More Iowa waters made the “polluted list” this year, but it’s misleading because the standards by which waters are judged have changed. When you lower the level by which waters are judged, you have more water bodies on the list. Was this information shared with these new graduates? Of course it wasn’t!

The commencement speaker used the water quality example to rally new members of our society, and as is often the case today, people take information at surface value. Many people do not dig for the facts! Emotional issues run on emotion, not facts.

As I was pondering the commencement address, I an article from the New Yorker came to mind that reads: Scientists have discovered a powerful new strain of fact-resistant humans who are threatening the ability of Earth to sustain life. One scientist involved with the study concluded by saying that although the research is preliminary, “… It’s possible [humans] will become more receptive to facts once they are in an environment without food, water or oxygen.”

“Armchair farmers” believe agriculture is simple and that policies are needed to ensure farmers protect the environment. While I agree there are still improvements that we can make to further enhance water quality, let’s give credit for the improvements that have been made. Conservation practices are helping improve water quality.

Back in the good old days, a lot of damage was done to our soils and water. The ground was tilled until there was no residue left, so soil would either blow or wash away. “Conservation tillage” was a buzz word when I started farming. No-till was just beginning. Terraces, or dirt pilled to control water flow, were being built by the miles.

With today’s farming technology and equipment, we’ve made huge strides towards better soil conservation. I’ve planted acres of trees and bushes on my farm. By my creek, I’ve planted buffer strips for erosion control and wildlife habitat.

I have taken pictures of my creek, showing how clean my water is leaving my farm. The water is absolutely clear, so you can see the bottom of the stream. Such clear water makes it difficult to take a picture, but I hope you “see my point.”

Yes, we also need to control things in the water that we can’t see. That why I side-dress fertilizer, using just the right amount at the right time to feed corn plants. Lots of farmers are voluntarily spending millions of their own dollars every year to implement conservation practices.

Today’s technology can detect smaller amounts of pollution in our waters, but it can also help us reduce that pollution. Farmers have made a huge difference, and we’ll continue to do more because we take pride in seeing results!