Farmers Not to Blame For Daylight Savings Time

This is the weekend that we turn back the clock one hour in observance of Daylight Saving Time. Daylight hours will be extended into the evening– a welcome change in the clock for many people tired of the dark, gray days of winter. But it’s a myth that Daylight Saving Time was created to benefit agriculture. Stephanie Page of the Oregon Department of Agriculture shares

 

Page:  “That’s not true. In fact, a lot of farm groups across the country were opposed to daylight saving time when it was reconsidered and proposed in the early 1900s.” 

Page says whether Daylight Saving Time is a good thing or a bad thing for individual operators depends on what they do and their own circumstances:

 

Page:  “A lot of our mid to small farms, the folks that operate those farms have day jobs. So they might appreciate the extra hour of light in the evening to be able to do more chores on their farm.”  

 

In general, good or bad, a time change really doesn’t alter what a farmer or rancher needs to do on a daily basis. There are only so many hours in a day to get the work done whether the clock springs forward or falls back one hour.

 Page: “Farmers operate during daylight. So regardless of what time of day it is, when there is sunlight, they have particular activities that they need to do. Some folks actually prefer to do some of their activities at night to minimize disruption on their neighbors. Some of those things are going to happen regardless of what the clock says.”