Don’t Be the First, But Don’t Be the Last

Kevin Brown, BCCD, Ag Resource Specialist
Sayings, I am full of them.  Just ask my counterparts.  We even play games about what one I will say next.  There are a hundred of them, and they all have some merit to them.  This is why they exist.  This one definitely has some validity to it (I believe).   We will always have those “early adapters”.  You know the ones.  They have to be first to try everything.  Now, I am not opposed to someone being that way.  We need them.  We need to know how things will work, and this is the way to get that information.  It is not me personally, but it is the way some people operate.  And, if you can afford the risk, and you are willing to take it, thanks.  Thanks for helping the rest of us understand the pros and cons to whatever the next “thing” is.
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On the flip side, don’t be the last person to get on board either.  If it is something that darn near everyone else is doing, then there must be a reason.  Just maybe you should get on board with whatever that is.  It may be saving you money, or making life easier, or who knows what.  I know a guy that still doesn’t have a cell phone.  He might be the last, LOL.  Are their pitfalls to having a cell phone?  Absolutely.  However, with a little bit of restraint or self-control, they can be quite helpful and make life a lot easier- directions, answering questions, learning things, calling or texting some really important things when they happen, etc.  Can they be problematic?  Of course they can, if you let it.  Remember, you are in control, not your phone.  You don’t have to answer that phone call, especially if it is a number you don’t recognize.  You don’t have to be on social media.  You don’t have to care what (insert name here) thinks about you.  (Sorry, I digress.  I am getting way off-topic.)

In the agricultural world, we see the same thing.  I was at a meeting last week where we toured one of Penn State’s satellite research farms and the topic came up about what the “next thing” is that they are researching.  What is the next “hot topic” that someone has come up with that is taking the world by storm?  Will there be some breakthroughs here?  Probably, but most of them don’t pan out.  Again, can you afford the risk?  Here are some of the ones that we discussed (how many do you remember?) - a tall fescue (that shall remain nameless) that was marketed as the greatest thing since sliced bread (another saying) that most people despise now, teff, hemp (in several forms), hops, flax (they are researching now), and the list goes on.  Today, we are still working with the same old crops we had 40 years ago.  Not much has really changed.

It makes me wonder two things.  One- obviously, we know what works here and what doesn’t, based on history.  The chance of some new-fangled crop that comes roaring into the area is pretty slim, but I suppose it could happen.  And two- outside of agriculture, where will we be in 40 years with some of the latest things being marketed to us now?  Solar, electric cars, wind, etc.  The other day I saw on TV solar panels that are in roll-up form.  They were applying them to rooves and sides of buildings by using an adhesive backing and rolling them out like a fruit rollup.  Do they work?  I don’t know.???  I hope they do.  Cutting down a forest to put up solar panels??????  That is NOT helping the environment.  Maybe roll-out, adhesive panels stuck on existing buildings will be the answer.??  If it is, remember, “don’t be the first, but don’t be the last”.
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The Bradford County Conservation District is committed to helping people manage resources wisely.  You can visit the Bradford County Conservation District at 200 Lake Rd in Wysox across from the Wysox Fire Hall. Contact us at (570) 485-3144 or visit our web page at www.bccdpa.com.