W : Would you please describe the nature of your farm?
M:Sure, I mainly grow feed crops. Feed crops are crops that are used to feed cattle. The crops that I grow are corn and wheat. I do grow cotton and other when the prices for them are better.
W:How many employees do you have?
M:I have three full-time employees and six to seven part-time employees.
W:Do you pay them hourly or are they salaried?
M:I pay them by the hour because sometimes they only work a few hours and other times they work many hours. Therefore, it wouldn' t be fair for them to get a weekly or monthly salary year round.
W:How many hours do you work as the owner?
M:In the winter I work eight hours a day, but in the spring, summer, and fall I work twelve to fourteen hours a day. Many times a farmer' s work depends on the weather. For example, if the crop need water and it hasn' t rained, I must irrigate my fields which can take many hours. At other times, I spend my time in checking my fields for pests. If I f'md them, I have to apply pesticides. If my machinery breaks down, I have to fix it. Of course,1 must also make sure my crops get picked when they are ready.
W:If you were to start a new business this year, what changes would you make?
M:I wouldn' t make many changes, and the few changes I would make would be subtle. Right now I am a successful farmer.