Farming amongst a Global Pandemic, A Word from TPPB Chairman

 The resilience of farmers is proven in our ability to constantly adapt our operation for success. COVID-19 has proved, and still is, proving to be a time of endless problem solving and perseverance. 

There are a variety of outside influences that enable farms to operate efficiently. For me, this is where the impact of COVID-19 is hurting the most. The issues surrounding immigration are proving agricultural workers are an essential part of our infrastructure. Supply chain delays introduce challenges for repairing equipment, acquiring chemicals, and necessary drivers to pick up and deliver harvested crops. As peanut harvest approaches, I suspect there will be issues with the ability to staff buying points with enough personnel and the ability to have peanuts graded. 

Farmers all over the world have been put to the test to cope with the turbulence of COVID-19. Fortunately, we are well seasoned in overcoming obstacles. Too much rain, not enough rain, wind, hail, and poor commodity prices are on the short list of obstacles we encounter. Every year we pivot a few times before finding our path towards harvesting a crop. This year, we have pivoted a dozen times and we’re just half way there. 

I once heard a saying, ‘If it were easy, everyone would do it.’