Source: Das Nordlicht, 2 November 1927 · 📰

Article: DEVASTATING TIMES FOR BESSARABIA by Theodor Gross
Emmental, Bessarabia

The harvest, a farmer's reckoning of his labor, is of greatest interest to him. It either compensates him for his hard work and strife of the entire year or brings harsh disappointment. The latter happened to us, but thank God we were not as hard hit as the neighboring folks on the Black Sea, who had a total harvest failure. It was a bitter disappointment nonetheless, especially with the crop looking so promising during the spring. Heat and drought ruined our grain and we had a very small harvest. We also did not get enough fodder and straw, so we are very concerned about the winter ahead.

Threshing did not take very long this year. With hardly anything to thresh, the farmers were finished in ten days or less. We reaped between 20 and 50 Pud/Desjatine, the average was between 18 and 30 Pud. Prices are stable, however, and folks who have crops to sell will be able to get by. In Tarutino and at other markets, wheat sells for 100-125 Lei/Pud, barley between 10-75 Lei and oats between 55-80 Lei.

Many farmers dreaded the fall and the winter planting, as they do not want to seed the arid, dried out soil. We did have a nice soaking rain, however, and the farmers are getting a little more hopeful. The rest of the planting went well. It has already rained a little more since. So far, the winter harvest looks well. Perhaps the good Lord will grant us an abundant harvest, as the last four harvests were very weak.

The rain helped the vineyards as well, although it won't do much good for this year's crop. This has been our worst drought in 25 years. The wine harvest is expected to be very weak, but experts say this year's produce will be of great quality, if not quantity. We shall see if this superior wine materializes!

Today, October 4, we had more gentle rain and our hopes are rising a little more with it, although all that moisture did some damage to the railroad embankments. The farmers must to go out and volunteer their time and teams to repair the damage. Is it the same in America? (* Editor: Not yet. A person who works gets paid and railroad workers make excellent wages.)

It's slowly getting colder and winter is coming. We are a little worried because our past several winters were mild, so a harsh one is overdue.

We are still working on the church proposal. Nothing has actually been done yet, just talk and meetings.

Many farmers already hauled much straw for bricks last year. It is now spoiling and the bricks are not materializing as they should, and neither is the church. Another meeting is scheduled for next week. Maybe this will settle the affair and set up a brick-making schedule to get the church going.

If only our former Emmentaler buddies could donate some of their nice straw from their great harvest for bricks. Our Emmental back here would then be greatly improved.

Greetings to all Emmentalers, friends, relatives and readers.

Theodor Gross