LANGDON, Mo. (DTN) -- Farmers everywhere share similar qualities that make them successful. Trials and tribulations from what seem like biblical-proportioned weather events make having the right temperament a desirable farmer trait. View From the Cab farmers David Brandt and Tom Tibbits are two such farmers because they most certainly have the patience of Job.

On his farm near Carroll, Ohio, David has seen sustained wet weather through most of this year's growing season. Rain amounts have fallen off some, but last week saw two more days of wet weather that, combined with cool temps, slowed field work and crop maturation.

"We haven't done much," David told DTN late Sunday, "it rained a 1/2 inch on Tuesday and three quarters of an inch on Friday. Temperatures Friday were in the 40s. By Saturday, they went up to 55 or 60. It's been wet and cold. I haven't seen anybody running anything this week."

Taking weather and crop conditions in stride, David managed one more trip to the farmers market on Friday to sell a dwindling amount of consumer produce. Adaptability is another facet of strong farm personalities. Sweet corn planted in August made ears, but ear worms rendered the corn unmarketable. Waste not, want not -- David decided to eat it himself.

David will circumvent the weather and delayed harvest by hiring an aerial applicator to fly on seed for rye grass in standing corn, and a combination of rye grass and crimson clover in standing soybeans. It was too windy and rainy when first scheduled on Friday. If weather cooperates the job should be done this week. Attempts at aerial seeding a few years back were not satisfactory, but with better equipment like GPS guidance and improved aircraft and seed distribution, it may work this time. Pragmatic David admits that even with the best of autumns, getting one crop off in time to sow another one is usually difficult.

Outside of Minneapolis, Kan., where Tom Tibbits has coped with both flood and dry weather this year, harvest has moved quickly enough to allow winter wheat seeding on about 600 acres; 90 of those acres are in specialty white wheat.

While Tom operates the grain drill, other family members cooperatively cut soybeans wherever they aren't too green. Some fields have had a green stem stress response to heat and dry weather that has slowed maturity. Even so, it appears moisture has been plentiful enough. "From what I've heard they're good," he said.

Tom noted that with no rainfall, breezy conditions, and low humidity, he's able to take advantage of favorable planting weather to work longer days. That's because his 30-foot JD model 1890 air drill can penetrate in no-till fields better when crop residue is dry. Using his abilities of observation, Tom studied thin stands in this year's crop, concluding they were results of plugging and poor soil penetration when seeded during last year's humid fall conditions.

"I saw places where I started too early, and ran too late," he said. But while dryness is good for residue management, some moistness helps soil penetration. As Job could testify, eventually patience is rewarded. In this case Tom has the best of both worlds. "Seed is going into good moisture. Some is sort of dry, but there's no place yet where the ground is too hard," he explained.

DTN Senior Ag Meteorologist Bryce Anderson said both David and Tom will be rewarded weather-wise in the coming week. David's central Ohio outlook is "basically warm and dry. Highs mid 70s to low 80s this week, then mid 60s to mid 70s next week. Lows 40s to low 50s." That should allow at least some harvesting.

And for Tom? Anderson said, "Central Kansas will be very warm and dry this week with highs in the mid 80s to low 90s. Showers over the weekend with rainfall total of .70 inch, then isolated showers next week. Temps cool this weekend to the mid 70s for highs, then mostly mid 70s to low 80s next week. Low temps throughout will be in the low to mid 50s." That's about as good as it gets for germinating wheat.

Last week DTN reported on different opinions regarding farm program spending. While most farmers want the safety net beefed up, non-farmers place a higher priority on conservation spending. DTN asked David and Tom to rate the importance of conservation and crop insurance.

David stated that he wished direct payments had never been made because even though they were prorated to production, larger farmers did much better as a result than smaller farmers. "Percentage is the same, but it's not the same," he said. More conservation spending, and tying other government benefits to conservation compliance, would help improve soil health and prevent erosion. "Farmers use a lot of tools that aren't the best for their soil," he said.

"Obviously we need a safety net, from here south is the reason why," Tom pointed out in reference to drought stretching from southern Kansas into Oklahoma and Texas. Besides yield, prices also set income levels. They may not always be this good. "These markets could turn around and go backwards. We need revenue assurance, but conservation is an area where we need further incentive."

Speaking as someone who's had trials and tribulations of his own on the farm, Tom also noted that in the past, "the farm bill has been where family living income has come from. Some farmers think conservation is important, others want their cash. But it will be hard for conservation groups to go along with that," he said.

(CZ/BS)

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