Here are two basic truths about agriculture in this part of the country:

– No two growing seasons are ever quite the same.

– Even the smartest farmer can’t be sure of how much a field will yield until he’s actually harvesting it.

Those two truths are particularly relevant this crazy summer. Some fields look very good. But late plantings, drown-out, hail, heavy rains, high winds and crop disease hurt the outlook overlook.

Every early August brings uncertainty. But in all the years I’ve been involved with area agriculture, I can’t remember another August with so much of it.