The Crisis of the Orchardist
A visiting professor delivers a sobering sermon on why so many Kennewick orchard farmers are destined for failure.
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Professor H.B. Hainsin spoke to the people of Kennewick regarding the future of the Northwest fruit industry. He was optimistic but warned that many would fail, noting that orchard work is not for everyone, just as not everyone can be a musician. He criticized the common practice of 'clean tillage' which depletes soil fertility, urging instead the use of cover crops. Hainsin pointed out that nine-tenths of business ventures fail, and farms are no exception due to poor management. He lamented that most people buy land and start orchards before learning the trade. He concluded by advising those unwilling to study, fight against difficulties, and maintain an honest, high-grade pack to 'get a few cows, pigs and chickens and forget that they ever owned an orchard.'
“He who depends upon soil, water, and climate to do his work has a mighty hard job ahead of him.”
The transition from small-scale pioneering to industrial-scale farming has been a recurring theme in the Tri-Cities for over a century. The professor’s warning about 'lack of management' versus 'crop failure' mirrors contemporary frustrations with corporate agriculture and the volatility of modern commodity markets.
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