MERRY XMAS TO ALL AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT 2018 WILL BRING YOU A SAFE, PROSPEROUS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. WELL, WE DID END 2017 ON SOME POSITIVE NOTES. IF CASH PRICES WILL HOLD FOR RICE AT $15:00 PER SACK AND HOPEFULLY MOVE UP SOME,THEN WE MIGHT BE OFF TO A GOOD START. LOOKS LIKE GROWERS AT THIS EARLY POINT WILL GET THEIR FULL TOMATO CONTRACTS,WHICH SHOULD HELP TURN AROUND A BAD YEAR FOR TOMATO GROWERS. SO, ALL OF THIS BRINGS ME TO 2018.

AS A FORMER FARMER, I KNOW FARMERS HAVE TO BE OPTIMISTIC AND CONFIDENT OR THEY WOULD NEVER PLANT A SEED. AT THE SAME TIME FARMERS HAVE TO BE RATIONAL AND REALISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE. SO, WITH THAT SAID, I THINK FARMERS FACE SOME STRONG HEAD WINDS GOING INTO 2018. JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT WE COULD STOP WORRYING A LITTLE OVER RICE PRICES HERE COMES NEW TALK ABOUT DROUGHT AND WATER SHORTAGES. HOW MUCH OF THIS IS REAL AND HOW MUCH IS MAN MADE SEEMS TO BE THE HOT TOPIC AT THIS TIME. AND IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, THAT GROUPS LIKE THE FAMILY WATER ALLIANCE AND OTHERS FIGHT HARD FOR NORTH STATE WATER INTERESTS.

ANOTHER HEAD WIND THAT SEEMS TO BE ON THE MINDS OF GROWERS IS FINDING AND KEEPING EXPERIENCED WORKERS. IT SEEMS THAT EMPLOYEES JUMP AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY WHEN SOMEONE WAVES A BUCK IN THEIR FACE AND ANY LOYALTY GOES RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW! THIS HAS GOT TO BE VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN A GROWER HAS SPENT MONTHS AND YEARS TRAINING A GREEN HORN EMPLOYEE. AND I COULD TALK ALL DAY ABOUT RISKS TO THE EMPLOYEE IF THEIR DECISION DOES NOT PAN OUT. BUT FOR NOW LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY WEBSITE AND A BIG THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO BOUGHT OR SOLD ITEMS THOUGH MY WEBSITE. WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT THE COMPUTER AGE/INTERNET HAS BECOME ANOTHER TOOL IN THE FARMERS TOOL BOX!! ALSO, LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO COMMENT ON ANY ARTICLE THAT I WRITE.LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS. AND THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

YOURS IN FARMING, DENNIS