"Climate change legislation could be an economic godsend to farmers..." Or maybe not. It could also be a tremendous financial burden, according to an article in Tuesday's Washington Post by AP reporter Margery A. Gibbs. There are two sides to that coin, and nobody knows how it will land when and if it flips into law. Farmers, ranchers, legislators, economists... some are calling heads and some are calling tails.

     Those who are against the bill say it would lead to skyrocketing fuel and fertilizer costs, cutting into farmers' and ranchers' already unpredictable profits. Those who support it contend any losses would be more than made up for through a provision that would allow companies to meet their pollution targets by investing in offset projects, such as farms that capture methane or plant trees.

     USDA projects initial losses of anywhere from one to seven percent of farm income, but says the losses could be offset by projects to reduce greenhouse gases. Very confusing. See for yourself here:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/01/AR2009090100150.html

     Plowing for old time's sake is a passion for the 16 or so guys who turned out for the 52nd annual Pennsylvania Plowing Contest on Friday and Saturday, August 21-22.

     The event was held on the farm of Jay Wickard, outside Boiling Springs on a hot muggy day that did nothing to hamper the intensity of the contestants as they focused on rendering the straightest, most exact furrow ever plowed anywhere. Some came pretty close. I was there to capture the excitement and intensity, and to shoot a few pictures for the Lancaster Farming issue due in your mailbox on Saturday.

     Don't you just hate it when your kid jumps on the bed? http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=23012247