These views are very frustrating to this farmer. It is April 25th, 2008 and the tractors are still at a standstill, the fields are muddy from another 1/2" of rain and the worst part is it is 37 degrees as I write this. More rain on the way and temps aren't promising to be above 60 for a couple of days.To begin planting we will need the soil to dry and then we will begin. The soil temperature which is measured at a depth of 4" is about 10 degrees below normal and won't support corn germination until it reaches 55 degrees.
By this date we should be at least 50% planted. We hope to begin next week.
I need to get done with planting so I can begin with putting more time in to getting ready for Blogstock. There are lawns to mow, weeds to spray, berms to rejuvenate, paint to slap on, and of course the main thing, golf.
If we aren't planted by the time you get here for Blogstock, don't get too friendly with us or we may follow you home. We'll be looking for a new home if we don't raise a crop.
It's been mentioned before but please begin getting a couple of pages of info to Ralph. These won't be put on the net but a booklet will be handed out. My couple of pages will include 2 of my favorite posts I've written, a pic of my family or two and a short write up telling you about who I am.
19 comments:
It's getting so you can't count on the weather anymore. I'm hoping a new administration will introduce legislation to set the weather straight. Meanwhile, I'll keep the Morrow's in my prayers, Cliff. I hope you can get that crop planted and germinating soon!
Cliff
I’d offer to come out and “help” but it sounds like you already have enough to worry about.
Ralph
The more I learn about farming, the more stressful it seems! Hope you get some sun soon!
I am sorry Mile, but no one is going to tell "Ole Mother Nature" what to do. Al Gore would tell you that it is Global Warming...
I hope things dry out soon Cliff and that you get your crop planted. Farming is one of the oldest professions and probably one of the most stressful. I hope you have a good year. If your crop is not in by blogstock, you really do have a problem.
Mike, thanks for the help. I'm not going to panic for about two weeks yet. Yeah the weather is you know who's fault. Now take that tongue out of your cheek.
It's been warm here Cliff (in the 80's). I even have the A/C on as we speak. I had to turn it on for a little while yesterday evening as well. I'll go outside and see if I can fan some of that hot air your way.
Thank you for the reminder about getting our stuff to Ralph. I will work on that!!
I feel your pain. We also were behind in the corn planting because of the wetness around here. But it is finally finished, although since it was planted late it will probably effect my vacation now in August. :(
We need you to get that corn planted, Cliff. People who don't live near farmland and think it all comes from the supermarket don't realize how much they depend on you guys.
I'll try to do a no-more-rain-dance.
Not to rub it in, but my brother finished the corn yesterday. We've been having very nice weather, but now have hit a cold spell that's supposed to last until Wednesday with near freezing temps at night.
Hope you get a break in the weather soon, Cliff!
We're way behind here in Tennessee, too...mainly because of flood water.
Ill get my boots on and come help u..
rain rain go away
Cliff needs to plant
so he can play on Blogstock days.
It's nice and warm down here in AR. Too bad our warmth hasn't made it up north to you yet.
Blogstock '08 is just around the corner.
Yippeeee!!!!
If you haven't finished planting by July 5th, I'll be happy to run a tractor for you. I've never driven one, but I'm sure that's no problem.
I hope Mike (ex scientia, veritas) will be coming to Blogstock. It would be nice to meet this fellow conservative that we've known for so long.
Cliff ~ So this is the reason that corn futures are so high? Cliff's not planting yet and the commodities folks are watching? I was thinking about changing over from corn tortillas to whole wheat bread anyway! I am assuming that the beans germinate at a lower temp and that wheat will germinate in Alaska? Now you see why I don't farm, I am just trying to get my grass green! (And) I even need a lawn guy to do that. But I know that spring is just around the corner. Where is Al Gore's ”Global Warming” when a farmer really needs it anyway? ~ Later bud! ~ jb///
Well, Cliff I'm sorry about the weather but I can't do much about it for you. Al Gore can't either.
We are cool this week too, but our crops are up and growing already around here.
Guess I was behind the door or in Ireland when the booklet think came up. I'll search for the rules.
[Or was it to submit a couple of favorite blogs? I don't have any real favorite ones, Mrs. Jim made me take them all off.]
..
I could show you photos of a similar problem but in reverse, here at Fosters Farm we are waiting for rain to commence sowing wheat, after a shower or two produced 17 mm they are sowing Oats at present but only 300 acres.... the wheat planting will be about 15,000 acres.
Just shows how dependent we are on rain everywhere.
cliff,
sorry about the weather, but I think you have sentit on to us. We had torrential downpours yesterday, and looks like more is on the way today. Perhaps we will dry out too. I hope you do though, enough to get that corn in the ground, I wouldn't want a grumpy farmer hanging around!
Can't help with your weather woes, but I do have to say that the farm looks great to me! NO TOURISTS!
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