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I've written many times about the joys and charms of living in the rural upper Midwest. Booming plant growth after healthy rains and warm temperatures, as was the case this spring in my neck of the plains, is a good example.

But there are some serious downsides, too. Let's take a quick look at some of the annoyances and dangers that plague this part of the world. There's nothing profound about the list, but it may remind agriculturists of our commonalities and help people outside of ag better understand our challenges.

Back in the day, when I handled maintenance fencing on our family farm, I learned to loathe what for some reason we called wood ticks but were mostly found in grass. The awful (expletive deleteds) get on clothes, then on skin and finally into the skin, where they pose serious health risks. After one long-ago fencing session, I pulled 27 ticks off me; that was a personal record for me, but not unusually high.

I've been told ticks provide some environmental benefits, apparently serving as a food source for some other creatures. Maybe so, but, my goodness, the world would be better for humans without those accursed ticks.

In this part of the world, we treasure spring, summer and fall. Sadly, our joyous seasons come with mosquitoes. Sometimes the little monsters attack individually, sometimes in masses. Sure, spray and electric zappers can help, but mosquitoes usually win. And besides being a major-league nuisance, they pose serious health risks.

Like ticks, mosquitoes are a food source to some species. But humans would be far better off without them.

They keep coming back, even what looks like successful chemical applications. Weeds adjust, they resist, they find new ways to compete against crops. And powerful, virulent weed species not native to this part of the world continue to expand and assault our crops.

Most of us in this part of the world live here voluntarily. Farmers and ranchers, most of all, know drought is just part of the deal. Even so, watching it wither crops and feeling it suck our souls is painful. No matter how prudent and proactive agriculturalists are, they can never fully cope with drought.

These villains often go hand in hand, so let's consider them together. Like drought, they're part of the deal. If you live here, you need to accept them — and to take proper precautions. I'm told, and it seems true, that the rise of cell phones and four-wheel-drive vehicles makes some drivers overconfident in their abilities to cope with extreme winter weather. C'mon folks. Be smart, be safe.

People in this part of the world usually have limited opportunities for "fun." Fewer restaurants are an example. Given our relatively small population, that's inevitable. But many small communities offer amenities that can brighten our lives, especially when we keep open minds. Rather than complain, how 'bout finding ways to offer more "fun" for our communities? Kudos to the people already doing it.

Well, that's my list of the major woes in this part of the country; space limits how many I can mention. Drop me a line if you have candidates of your own.

And please remember that whatever its weaknesses — I surely could do with fewer ticks — this remains a great place to live.

Jonathan Knutson is a former Agweek reporter. He grew up on a farm and spent his career covering agriculture. He can be reached at packerfanknutson@gmail.com.