One Moment, Please… Our Farmers and Their Impact with Fall Harvest

By Jason Sethre

Publisher

Fillmore County Journal

jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com

As we publish this section each year, our farmers are working around the clock to find their way to the finish line of the fall harvest.

For those of us who don’t live or work on a farm, we may not realize the impact our local farmers have on the bigger picture of our communities.

There is often a tremendous amount of attention given to tourism in our region, with our beautiful farmscapes painted as the backdrop of rural scenery.

The reality is that our ag economy has always been the backbone of our region.  Way before tourism was a thing, our ancestors were doing their best to build their communities by working the farmland.

From April to October each year, our communities are bustling with tourists, which is definitely welcome.  But, it takes both tourists and locals to keep all of our local businesses thriving.

Our farmers make their contributions in so many ways that we probably take for granted.

According to the USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, Fillmore, Houston and Mower counties accounted for $1.26 billion annual agricultural sales, before accounting for the additional economic activity created when farms purchase supplies, hire workers and support other local businesses.

Yes, farming is a major economic driver for our region, without a doubt.

There is a massive cash injection from harvest immediately flowing back into regional community banks.

Farmers are investing in local businesses post-harvest, spending money with equipment dealers, mechanics, and hardware stores.

All of the farmland and production revenues directly fund public schools, rural township roads, and county emergency services.

Then there are the seasonal and full-time jobs at local elevators, agronomy centers and cooperatives.

With all of the combines, tractors and trucks on the road, our local fuel providers see a surge in their business.

And, then there are the animal feed mills, dairy processing facilities, and ethanol plants – benefactors of our local harvests.

During my travels over the years, I’ve been stuck in traffic while traveling through Chicago or the Twin Cities, usually from an accident, construction or weather conditions.

In our rural area, traffic jams are often quite different this time of year.

When we encounter farmers in and out of fields with their big equipment, there is something pretty special happening.  They are not simply harvesting their crops.

When farmers have a successful harvest, a powerful ripple effect moves through the local economy in ways we may not immediately recognize.