Keep Holding the Line

August is not an easy month in agriculture.

The heat has taken its toll. The grass is getting short. Water is becoming a bigger concern. Drought conditions can make every decision feel heavier, an

d wildfires can turn months—or generations—of hard work into ashes in a matter of hours.

Then there are the markets.

Cattle prices can move on decisions made far beyond the pasture gate. Politics, policy, trade, consumer demand and headlines can create uncertainty that leaves producers wondering what tomorrow's market will bring. It can be frustrating to work harder than ever while feeling like some of the things affecting your bottom line are completely out of your control.

And that's exactly why it's important to remember:

You are not failing because agriculture is hard right now.

You're doing what generations of cattlemen and farmers have done before you—getting up, checking the cattle, fixing what needs fixing, making the best decisions you can with the information you have, and showing up again the next morning.

But even the toughest people need a break.

If the drought, fire, markets, finances or uncertainty have you feeling overwhelmed, angry, exhausted or discouraged, don't keep it bottled up. Talk to somebody. Call a friend. Sit down with your spouse. Check on your neighbor. Find someone who understands what it means to make a living from the land and livestock.

Asking for help doesn't make you less of a cattleman. It makes you human.

We can't control the weather.

We can't control the markets.

We can't control every political decision.

We can't control what tomorrow brings.

But we can control whether we look out for one another.

This August, take care of your cattle—but take care of yourself, too.

Check on the neighbor who has been fighting the fire.

Check on the producer hauling water.

Check on the family worried about the next rain.

Check on the cattleman watching the market and wondering how he's going to make the numbers work.

And if that person is you, let somebody check on you, too.

Agriculture has survived droughts, fires, bad markets, tough years and uncertainty before. It will survive them again—but it needs the people who make agriculture possible.

Keep showing up. Keep talking. Keep looking out for each other.

We may not be able to control the circumstances, but we can make sure no one faces

them alone.