Queen Sugar

I've just started watching the second season of Queen Sugar. I like the show but I have two critical observations. The first is that the whole idea seems very similar to the Australian drama McLeod's Daughters.

McLeod's Daughters started as a TV movie in 1996. It was about two half-sisters inheriting their father's farm in outback Australia. They decide to keep it and run the place themselves. It became a television series in 2001. Doesn't this sound like Queen Sugar? In that show two daughters along with a brother (who is never able to do anything right), decide to take on their father's sugar cane farm after he suddenly dies. That's kind of the same framework isn't it?

The second criticism is the kind of farming decisions they make. It's not at all like farming. Now I guess the farm is just the backdrop but they could at least make an attempt. In the first episode of season 2, Ralph Angel is wrestling with his tractor and gets a lesson in depreciation from his well-heeled sister. Suitably put down, Ralph Angel sulks some more. Except neither are right. That's right, you would not go and shell out for a flash tractor for only 800 acres. Likewise you don't go throwing money down a hole on some old worn-out wreck.

What they'd do is set about finding a bargain, how many hours a week would the tractor do and what kind of tractor is best suited, with the hours in it to at least get through two seasons. Then go and find that tractor, scouring the state and neighbouring states as well. Never going to auctions as you'll only find junk there, only dealing with dealers of sound reputation, or buy privately from those who can produce the maintenance receipts. Do the oil checks, engine, transmission etc., then buy at the right price. Their father brought them up on a farm, right? Why do they not know how to buy the right kind of tractor?

Anyway I'm still watching it, even though they have it on near midnight. It's probably all this tractor stuff they get wrong explains why so late. I'm in New Zealand and we take tractors seriously.