Each spring, as we enter the new growing season, there are many different thoughts, opinions, and ideas around how the crop year is going to go. Different people may have very diverse ideas of how things will turn out.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course, but the truth is that no human knows exactly how the 2021 crop year – or any crop year, for that matter – will play out. Because of that, it can be helpful to take a certain mindset with regard to the upcoming crop year.

It’s in how you think

I’m thinking of a mindset known as “beginner’s mind” – and it’s applicable and helpful whether it’s your 40^th year of farming or if it truly is your first year. Using “beginner’s mind” especially as we go into the new crop year and growing season can be especially helpful.

It’s key because it’s the truth that every single growing season is unique in its own way. While some crop years can have some similarities to each other, the truth is that there will be variations and differences in every single one. Because of this, even if you’ve farmed for many years, you’ll still encounter new things and new situations every single crop year.

Beginner’s mind takes into account the fact that this new crop year will be unique, and that it’s best to prepare for a variety of different scenarios. It’s important to be ready to change and adjust plans as the situation changes and evolves along the way. Farmers know that in a major way when it comes to the weather and how it can affect day to day plans in farming.

Two takes

Here are two more aspects that can benefit from taking a beginner’s mindset as we move into the growing season.

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The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of Farm Futures or Farm Progress.