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Happy New Year!  Depending on your perspective, we have either been blessed or cursed with a blanket of snow and cold temperatures to start off 2025.

Personally, I enjoy the brisk cold air and the beauty of falling snow as it covers the mud and drabness of the dormant season. I also love watching our kids play outside for hours before coming into the house requesting (or demanding) hot chocolate. Growing up in the snow belt, I have fond memories of the same and I am excited that my kids get to enjoy the snow as I did.

Perspective can shape your outlook and attitude.

I could focus on the burden of plowing snow, clearing ice out of water troughs or putting on multiple clothing layers to take the dog outside.

None of those chores are fun, but no amount of grumbling and complaining will make those chores magically disappear. I find that if I focus on exciting parts of the season, like my kids wiping out on a sled, the less fun chores start to look like a fair tradeoff. 

A positive outlook in 2025 will be important as low crop prices, potential tariffs and elevated input prices may reduce margins for many crop farmers.

Livestock farmers, on the other hand, may look at 2025 with a little more optimism with higher cattle prices, low feed costs and milk prices have been favorable.

Farmers that grow corn and also raise livestock may find the best way to sell their corn is to“walk it to market”or feed the low-cost corn to high-priced cattle. Farms looking for opportunities to diversify their operation may find that 2025 holds favorable conditions to make that jump.

It’s easy to look on the bright side as I sit here dreaming about this upcoming growing season through rose-colored glasses.

Having open conversations with family and friends about successes and challenges can lead to a change in perspective. My wife and I recently sat down to discuss upcoming farm expenses, farm goals for 2025 and reflect on the 2024 growing season. When reflecting on 2024, it was apparent that we had very different perspectives on how the season went. I had a generally more positive perspective on the growing season, but from her experience, it was a little more stressful.

As we talked more we were able to develop a more realistic view of our 2024 growing season ­– it wasn’t as great as I thought and it was better than she thought.

Before talking, we were living with our own perspective, but after talking we both changed our perspective. This allowed us to make more reasonable decisions (hopefully) about the future of our farm based on reality.

I expect that my perspective in 2025 will remain positive, or until the baler breaks down with a storm on the way. There will always be setbacks, but I know that I can share my experiences with my friends, family and colleagues to learn and grow. Just maybe I can use a setback as material for this column.

If I fail, you’ll be sure to know about it. I wish you all the best in your farming and gardening adventures in 2025. If you ever need a bit of optimism, give me a call. I have plenty to share.

Stay safe!

Submitted by Lee Beers, an Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator for OSU Extension – Trumbull County.  Lee can be reached by email.

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