The View From the Truck Windshield

Summer through the windshield

I can tell summer has arrived—not because the calendar says so, or because hay is coming off the fields, but because there are suddenly about 10,000 more bugs on my windshield than there were two weeks ago.

At this point, I may be navigating by memory, optimism, and the occasional clean patch left by the wipers. But even through the bug splatter, there are still things worth noticing.

The occupational hazard

Veterinarians do not really get to simply look at animals anymore.

Most people drive past a pasture and think, “Those calves look good.” A veterinarian wonders about implants, gains, vaccinations, and why one calf is standing by itself.

Most people see a foal running through a field. A veterinarian wonders about pre-foaling vaccines, colostrum, and whether the world's smallest scratch is about to become a tetanus case. Foals are tiny athletes with no coordination and an unreasonable amount of confidence.

Most people see lambs grazing green pasture. A veterinarian starts thinking about parasites, control programs, and genetic resistance to internal parasites.

What is going right

We spend so much of our lives looking for problems that sometimes we forget to appreciate what is going right.

From the truck windshield, quite a lot is going right.

• The calves are growing.
• The foals are learning.
• The lambs are thriving.
• The crops are coming.
• The hay is being made.

The people behind the work

Across Grey and Bruce, thousands of people are quietly doing the work that keeps rural communities moving forward. I see new barns going up, old barns still standing, kids helping with chores, neighbours lending equipment, and families working together.

The best producers I have met are curious. They care. They pay attention. They keep learning. And they show up every day.

Agriculture has always been full of people willing to try a new idea, adopt a new practice, invest in an opportunity, or trust their judgment when the crowd disagrees.

So if you see one of our trucks on the road and its windshield looks like it is losing a war against every mosquito, mayfly, and June bug in Grey County, you are probably right. But do not worry—we are still seeing plenty.