stave off (prevent from happening)
"There's not much I can do to stave off killing frosts, hail, drought, hurricanes, fires, tornadoes or floods." (page 17)
vagaries (erratic or unexpected changes)
wreak havoc (cause destruction)
"Vagaries of the marketplace can wreck havoc on our minds as well." (page 17)
eminent domain (the right of a government to acquire private property for public use)
"There are also the pressures of development, the out-of-control costs of land and the increasing use of eminent domain, which takes farmers' land out from under them." (page 17)
incredulousness (state of skepticism or disbelief)
"In some circles, announcing that your husband—or, worse yet, you—are a farmer is often met with looks of incredulousness." (page 17)
lucrative (profitable or well-paid)
"I've had a number of people ask why I choose to farm rather than do something more lucrative and be able to have a few vacations a year." (page 17)