When it comes to getting a message across to a politician, money speaks. That's how former Kent County farmer and now successful Mississippi plantation owner, Willard Jack says he gets action from his elected representatives. Jack was speaking to several hundred farmers at the SouthWest Agricultural Conference at Ridgetown College in January. He titled his speech, "Is the Grass Really Greener?" Cutting to the chase, "greener" was a given as far as this 53 year old farmer is concerned. With direct farm support ranging from $85 to $120 per acre, "Our government takes much better care of its farmers than yours," he explained.

Jack calls his operation Silent Shade Plantation but after telling how he works the lobbying trail, he is anything but silent. "I go to our state capital regularly and I go to Washington just as regularly. I know my congressmen, I know my senators, I know their aides by their first names and I take them out for supper when I am there," he said. Jack told his audience that effective lobbying starts with finding out what the politician doesn't want to talk about and that is where taking the aides out to supper comes in. "I find out what not to talk about with the politician and I take that topic off the table, then I hammer home the other issues," he explained.

Willard asked the question, "Is it right to lobby"? He responded with, "It is our right and it is our responsibility to lobby. If we don't, then in comes the Sierra Club or the Consumer's Union to push their goals. One more thing about lobbying, remember to bring your cheque book," he advised.

Willard Jack has taken on many duties with the Mississippi Soybean Association and also on the state Soil and Water Commission. In 2001, Jack was named Southeastern Farmer of the Year, a title that confirms he is no longer a "foreigner." To listen to his drawl you would think he was Mississippi born and bred. However, he did confide that both he and his wife are still Canadian citizens.

In an interview with the Ontario Corn Producer, Jack told about some homework he had been doing to be ready to address the Ridgetown Agricultural Conference. "I looked at some of Ontario's commodity groups. Some groups already have the lobbying strategy down pat. Your chicken, egg and dairy groups are doing a good job lobbying (known as the Farmgate 5). They do a credible job and I applaud them. The rest of Ontario farmers had better forget about their jealousies toward this group of supply managed producers and get on with the job. And one more thing; don't worry about what American farmers think of your policies, American farmers don't care what Canadians think," he advised. "Canada is not even on our radar screen."

Speaking to his Ridgetown audience, Jack told about the 'up-side' and the 'down-side' of farming in Mississippi. He grows corn, cotton, rice and soybeans on 3,200 acres, 400 of which he owns. The leased land is under long term arrangements such that he can spend money on some of the infrastructure. All the land was laser-leveled under his management. This allows him to irrigate his crops using a flood or row style method of adding water. Pivot irrigation was used earlier but has been abandoned in favour of this lower cost method. Jack tries to add 0.35 of an inch of water every other day to his corn, soybean and cotton. The rice, of course is grown in some of the same fields but under water until it is harvest time.

His corn is planted in February with harvest commencing in mid-August. "I like to deliver into that early market when the commodity is still being priced on 'old-crop' carry values," he explained. Although this corn is sold locally for poultry and pig feed, it still enjoys the benefit of pricing values that are determined in the traditional 'Corn-Belt' market. He harvests his corn and beans with two John Deere combines.

When Willard Jack looked at farming opportunities in Mississippi in the late '70's, corn yields there were 100-125 bushels per acre and not much different from what he was leaving in Kent County, Ontario. With the addition of irrigation to his enterprise, he can now count on a minimum of 175 to as much as 225 bushel/acre average. And there are no drying charges on this corn. Jack says the summer heat finishes off the crop and takes moistures down as low as 14-16.5%. That's when he starts harvesting.

Jack is a firm believer in research and development. His Soybean Association is a big contributor to state operated research activities. Other farm groups do the same through acreage check-offs. He said he contributes $2/acre on soybeans, rice and cotton take $4/acre and corn also about $2/acre. These funds are not for running the associations but rather are funneled directly into research. Jack says both levels of government go much further than Canada when it comes to funding for agricultural research. He estimates Washington spends $5 for every grower dollar put in and the state spends $3. "There's far more money spent on public research for variety, disease, weed and fertility studies than there is back in Canada," he stated. "And some of that is due to the lobbying efforts of our farm groups," he said.

In his presentation he said he would not be where he is today without the genetic advancements of Roundup Ready soybeans and corn and the Bt genetics for his corn. "When I started here, I could expect to grow 35 bushels/acre of soybeans. Now I can hit 80 bushels/acre on good years. Now that's technology that has gotten me here," he claimed.

On his farm, soil and water conservation are key players and according to Jack, the state and federal government are very much involved here as well. "Our federal government cost-shares in any of the installation of underground irrigation pipe. They also help with the costs of installation of the irrigation berms and pipes to carry the water into the fields," he said. "And don't forget the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They maintain and manage the river water levels and carry out erosion prevention measures," he added.

The third and most apparent aspect of government support comes in the form of direct payments. Willard Jack says support levels were established from a year period during the 1980's and whether you still grow that crop or not, you get a payment. Jack estimates his direct payments range $85 to $120 per acre.

One big 'down-side' matter that he left with his audience was weed and disease pressure. "We have about four times the weed growth in our region and disease is always being combated," he said. On the 'up-side' is land cost. "One thing our farmers do well down in Mississippi is not drive up land costs. Rents run $85 to $100 per acre per year and ownership is $1,500 to $2,000 per acre. To buy land, you better bring lots of money. They don't sell them in 100 acre chunks, more like 1,500 to 2,000 acres at a time," he explained.

Other ventures the Jacks are involved in include a six truck commodity hauling fleet managed by Willard's wife, Laura Lee, a Merlin, Ontario native. They are also co-owners of Holmes County Gin, a cotton processing plant owned by 20 other farmers, which processes about 25 thousand acres of cotton each year.

Willard Jack left southwestern Ontario in 1979 after his brother Dennis and father Murray pondered how they could expand their Brookston Acres farm in Dover Township. Land prices were escalating then and so were interest rates, making land ownership too risky. They liked the opportunities that appeared in Mississippi in the last 25 years and they jumped in ready to learn how to farm in another country. To this day, this Kent County farmer has never looked back.

Is Willard Jack happy with his decision? You bet. To quote him, "I'm glad I came to Mississippi. It influenced myself and my family both economically and socially. Not only am I making more money, we have a daughter with her Masters in accounting helping to run this plantation, we have a son-in-law with his PhD in Weed Science giving advice on our crops, we have a son doing a double major at University in turf grass and landscape management and our youngest son is getting a B.A. in Agricultural Economics and perhaps a Masters later. From a parent's standpoint, what more could you ask?"