This summer 2011 has been the driest on record for Moore Farms and our great state of Texas. We, like many of our farmer and rancher friends in East Texas, are at the mercy of the weather each year. The Drought of 2011 will affect hundreds of family farms, ranches and agriculture industries and ALL consumers directly in the near future. The long term impact will be far reaching from the food we eat to the clothes we wear.
This year our sweet corn crop was yielding about 50 percent of what we normally average with a water bill that was simply outrageous. We then planted pumpkins and FORTUNATELY they like to stay dry. We are watering weekly and the plants look great right now. With temperatures sustaining 100 degrees or above for over 60 days now, most plants will have a hard time pollinating and producing fruit. The outlook for our fall crop is in limbo.
With a smaller than normal pumpkin crop predicted, more than likely we will be purchasing not only our speciality pumpkins as we do every year---Caspers, Cinderellas, etc, but some of our regular pie and field pumpkins. While we have done this late in the season in previous years as we run out, this season we will be securing pumpkins early. These purchased pumpkins are from farm families just like ours. They are Texas grown and we know them personally.
What does all of this mean for our farm, our farm family and YOU are farm customers and friends?While the farm will be dusty, dry and more than likely hot, most things will NOT change. We will have the same family farm based on what we do EVERY DAY. The cornfield maze will be non-existant as will any hay maze due to the drought. BUT we have left our sweet corn stalks up in the fields where they grew for some AWESOME fall pictures ops and a super NEW fall trail. As always, our mission is to educate people about agriculture---the good and the bad.
Our family will continue to FARM as we have for 5 generations. We can only imagine the trials our grandfathers faced without the latest technology in irrigation or equipment. We know the hardships we face may never compare to those of past generations.
To borrow from the FFA creed---
I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.
I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.
I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.
I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so--for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.
I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.
The creed was written by E. M. Tiffany, and adopted at the 3rd National Convention of the FFA. It was revised at the 38th Convention and the 63rd Convention.
Rain will come one day and the summer of 2011 will be a story we will share with our grandchildren. God Bless.
The Moore Family
Cleve, Lesley, Peyton and Lucy Moore
August 2011
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