As the warmer months begin to roll in and irrigation canals are beginning to open across Idaho, farmers don't have much time to talk.
"We're all way too busy," says Kyle Bowers of Bart Bowers Farm in Burley.
At Bart Bowers Farm, prep work has already begun to ready the fields for planting.
“This winter’s been a really good winter; we’ve gotten a lot of moisture, which is important for us," he says. "We grow sugarbeets where the Burley Irrigation District is, and we don’t get our water in until April 15."
He says punctuality is crucial with any crop, and a lot of farmers are making sure their on time in regards to thing like irrigation.
"If you’re not timely on irrigation then you stress the plant, especially early in the year, it could be really costly." And irrigation is just one of a plethora of concerns going through most farmers minds ahead of the spring planting.
Kyle Bowers describes these challenges as "windows," and they include things like monitoring soil temperature, weed cultivation and applying nitrogen.
"If we're hitting all our windows right, yields will be optimal," he says. "Planning is one of the most important things you can do, and planning just right."
Kyle's father, Bart Bowers, owns the farm and says although it's rewarding to go through a successful spring season, there's still difficulties Idaho farmers face that consumers don't typically know about.
"I don't think they know about agriculture," he says.
He describes a variety of obstacles such as low commodity prices, and describes some of his ups and down farming.
"I started farming in 1982, and I've seen about three good years where I made a little money," Bart Bowers says. "You're lucky to hold it together [most years]."
He's seen it's been hard for some farmers to stay optimistic, especially when losing money is a real possibility and sometimes a reality in agriculture.
"The sugarbeet industry as a whole has kind of paid the mortgages, but you don't get rich," he says.
He says one thing that's helped Magic Valley farmers through downturns, compared to other areaslike the Midwest, is the variety of crops grown in southern Idaho.
"We hope to make money on beets, potatoes, and as you know the Magic Valley is the bean capital of the world," Bowers says. "Dairy has also helped this Valley, but they are struggling right now.
“It is a busy time because you’re trying to get all the prep work done," he continues. "Most of the seasonal workers are going to come up, so you’re trying to get everything ready for them."
“I think there’s just a little bit of anxiety in the air this time of year, because you don’t want to miss anything," Kyle says. "Your windows are really important in farming. Because if you miss a window, it could really be costly.”
Father and son do agree that there is hope, and there's nothing quite as rewarding as turning a good crop.
"We're excited about seeing a crop and getting it in the ground," Kyle says.