Portraits in Isolation

By Joseph L. Murphy

Social distancing, quarantine, self-isolation … all terms that, in the last seven weeks, have become a staple of everyday life. People and communities are trying to flatten the curve, and as a result, distance and isolation have become the norm. As the coronavirus spreads around the globe, every single person’s life has changed.

Like many essential businesses, farmers are hard at work to help ensure shelves are stocked and families are fed around the world. Many farms across the country are on the eve of a planting season that will once again provide food for millions. Their work continues despite disruptions from COVID-19.

"In these uncertain times, we see the real heroes come out of the woodwork," U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said during a recent taped message. "Food is essential year-round, but in the face of a pandemic, it is critical that the shelves remain stocked and supplies remain plentiful. America's farmers and ranchers are doing their part. You have jobs that can't telework and we appreciate that."

It is quickly becoming the new routine to “shelter-in-place” and “maintain safe distances” while utilizing digital communications to keep in touch. That offers a juxtaposition from the social nature of visiting with friends, family or attending sporting events.

Farmers, in many ways, have practiced social distancing for centuries. Geographically, their homes and farmland are in rural areas away from metropolitan areas and small towns. That has produced a spirit of self-reliance and a connection to the land that can't be broken.

The following photos are "portraits in isolation" as farmers from around the world continue their work to feed hungry nations during this health crisis. The images were taken using FaceTime and Messenger video calling apps to reach out to farmers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico as they worked amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lexi Marek - Riverside, Iowa

Marek is the sixth generation on a family farm near Riverside, Iowa. She is continuing her work as Communication Coordinator with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. "I'm proud of the Secretary of Agriculture and the leadership team for the work they are doing to help farmers stay connected with the Ag community," she said. "The work that is being done is positive in a challenging time." Marek has three sisters and all are back on the farm during the coronavirus pandemic. She said not much has changed with the daily operation of the family farm. The family has a show pig business, plant row crops and have a cow-calf herd. "When it started, we had a few in-person pig sales canceled," she said. "So we switched to an online system." She said that at this point, we are hopeful that summer events will be able to continue but sales for our pigs and futures for commodities have dropped due to the virus.

Crystal and Jon Blin - Independence, Iowa

The Blins run a purebred cattle company in Independence, Iowa. JJB Cattle Company is a high-quality Hereford operation focused on raising replacement and show heifers. They also have a freezer beef business selling to local customers. The Blins like many other farmers haven’t been severely impacted by COVID-19 in a business sense. They have had trouble scheduling service with their locker because many of the butchers are older and are observing social distancing due to the coronavirus. They are also watching the cattle markets and keeping their cattle on feed longer than normal to optimize sales. 

Brent Renner - Klemme, Iowa

Renner grows corn, soybeans and has a cow-calf business.

“I’m spending more time with family and find that I have more time to accomplish projects on the farm that maybe were neglected earlier,” Renner said. “The biggest thing is being uncertain of whether or not my dad should come out and help. Being over 70, I don’t want to expose him to something that my kids might be carrying since once works at a grocery store.”

Cristen Clark - Runnels, Iowa

Clark, like many others, has continued her daily work routine on the farm. She has noticed an increased demand for their butcher pig business. “I think people want to have some meat in the freezer during this time,” she said. “Working is quite the same. It’s the evenings for us that have been a 180 shift. No basketball, baseball or softball for the kids and no coaching for me. The silver lining of self-isolation with the family and staying home is literally being home.”

Megz Reynolds - Lacadena SK, Canada

Reynolds grows barley, Durham wheat, lentils and flax. She has been working from home during the coronavirus crisis.

“There is not a lot going on here right now,” Reynolds said. “We won’t start seeding until the end of April.”

Mark and Mike Jackson - Rose Hill, Iowa

Mark and Mike Jackson grow soybeans and corn. They pride themselves in their conservation initiatives, including no-till and cover crops. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled a recent cover crop field day that they were going to host on their farms. They held a virtual field day instead. “We have to order all of our machinery and maintenance parts on-line,” Mark Jackson said. “So far, there have only been small changes in the way we do business.

Sara Ross - Minden Iowa

The Ross’ grow corn, soybeans and have a cow-calf operation.

"Right now it’s business as usual. I feel like we are getting more done because Kevin is home,” Sara Ross said. “We are working on the things that weren’t always on the top of the list. The boys have been helping with calving and the weather has been cooperating too.”

She said they are contemplating buying fuel for their storage tanks because prices are low right now.

“We are gearing up for planting but already have seed and other inputs so everything is on track,” she said”

Dan Hanrahan - Winterset, Iowa

Hanrahan has a cow-calf operation and also provides excavation services for agriculture water drainage. "My dad would be in a high-risk category, so it's strange how I interact with him when it comes to the farm work," Hanrahan said. " "It's even changed how we would interact with the veterinarian to some degree and how the local sale barn works," he said.

Bryan Reed - Albia, Iowa

Reed said the most significant change on the farm due to the coronavirus pandemic is having his children home. They can help him with chores. He said it is a change in routine as he also tries to help them with school work.

Gina Gutierrez - Pachuca, Mexico

Gutierrez said that much remains the same at her dairy farm in Mexico. They have requested that workers take extra precautions when they are away from the farm, but there aren't any confirmed cases in their area, so work goes on like normal.

Dave Walton - Wilton, Iowa

Walton said, for the most part, the work he is doing on his farm hasn’t been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that it has added inconveniences when dealing with calving and lambing this Spring.

“I’ve had friends ask if I will be able to continue working,” Walton said. “I tell them it is the same thing as always. It is business as usual out here. Usually, there are only one or two of us working on the farm.”

Walton said that his part supplier is taking orders over the phone and leaving the parts for pick-up.

“It makes it difficult when you can’t go into the store, look at the engineer schematics and point to the part that you need,” he said. “It can be difficult trying to explain the exact part you need before picking it up to see if you explained it correct”

Kellie Blair - Dayton, Iowa

Kellie and her husband grow corn and soybeans and have a cattle feeding operation. She said the main difference on the farm during the pandemic is having her kids home. "It changes how you work," she said. "I've had to adjust how I handle book work while they are home. We're alone out here, so not much else has changed." Blair said that they marketed some of their grain before the impacts of the coronavirus on commodity prices. They have also decided to feed their cattle longer at the farm to see if prices rebound.