Tobacco Troubles

The past three weeks I have spent several hours everyday stripping tobacco. We were unable to secure any amigo help this year, so I am at work as are some of the hired hands that help put the tobacco in. I have also took it upon myself to be in charge of the statistics and payroll for the year also, so I have a pretty good idea what is going on.

The trouble part is that we are likely unable to sell any of the tobacco we have. This drought level fall season has left our tobacco with a color that the buyers and graders and anyone associated with the purchasing of tobacco at our local market don't want anything to do with. They did send a letter out saying that if the tobacco has not cured, let it stay in the barn. We are apparently illiterate, as we took no heed of the letter and are now in a position to not be able to sell our tobacco.

So the point of this is that I am unlikely to be able to sell my tobacco. I don't know if any of our tobacco will sell at all. Dad and grandpa are seemingly unable to wait and see if the tobacco is going to cure out or not. They can't stand being idle for a single day. Sure, we have weeks of work ahead of us once the tobacco cures and is able to be sold. Our help may not lounge around waiting on us to call them when the tobacco cures out. We need to do as much as we can when we have the help we do.

Financially, I should have enough money to pay the bills and get me through the last month of the year. I am expecting at least 18 grand the first of the year from my soybean sales. I have more bushels to sell that I can hopefully get over twelve dollars a bushel for when I decide to sell. I had been wanting to sell my pickup truck and buy a larger truck but am not sure I should do that if I don't get the income from my tobacco crop. I will have enough money to pay my mortgage. I should be making payments on my student loans next year also. I can't say or think for sure that I can afford truck payments if I don't have tobacco income. For the 2009 year, my profit from my tobacco ended up being what my tax bill was. I need to get my tax record book in shape and go see an advisor to plan ahead what I may have to spend. I wanted to get a new truck so I can deduct that expense as farm expense. I can do such a thing with my self employed life style.

The other issue is the letter the warehouse folk sent out. They say the market will be open as long as needed to sell all the crop. I keep pointing this out to my bosses, but who know if they are listening. The tobacco will cure out, we just need to give it time. Even if it takes until late spring, I would be willing to do it. Grandpa seems convinced it will never change color.

I also need to get something looked at eventually. My neck gets really stiff when working. I don't notice it at all during work. My neck only get that way when I try to lean forward  some, or point my chin down. If I treat this as a stretch and slowly work it loose, things are okay. However, the same thing happens when I also drive the tractors all day during the spring. I must focus to much on staring straight ahead. As long as I know how to treat the stiffness, I should be okay.

times typed "oftern"-0