Long Row To Hoe Meaning

(idiomatic) A difficult, arduous task or set of tasks; a lengthy, demanding project.

Example: 1907, William Dean Howells, Between the Dark and the Daylight, ch. 5:
  â€œDon’t you suppose I know all that you’ve been through. . . ? I’ve followed you every step. . . .”
  â€œWell, you’ve had a long row to hoe.”
1997 Nov. 29, "Dollar Nears 5-Year High Against the Yen," New York Times (retrieved 23 July 2014):
  Japan's six-year economic slump is far from over. “They have a long row to hoe for recovery,” said Richard Koss.
2009 April 11, Hanif Kureishi, "Margaret Thatcher: Acceptable in the 80s?," The Guardian (UK) (retrieved 23 July 2014):
  Labour has begun to redress the balance, but there is still a long row to hoe.