Tough times and farm stress are clearly on the minds of most of the speakers I have heard at meetings recently.

Jason Hanson of Rock and Roll Agronomy, Webster, N.D., wrapped up his recent presentation at the Northern Ag Expo about the big agronomic challenges for 2020  with a suggestion on a different way to greet farmers and ranchers this winter.

Instead of saying, “How you doing?” — which inevitably steers the conversation to wet fields, unharvested crops, trade tariffs, low grain prices and all sorts of other problems — greet people with a warm, sincere handshake and say, “Great to see you!”

Too often, people who aren’t coping with stress well withdraw and think there’s no hope. Maybe they feel as if no one cares about them, either. That they’re insignificant.

Hanson’s greeting seems like a way to get conversations started on something positive. It’s also a reminder than the business of farming isn’t as important as the business of living.