Well, it’s Wednesday, and the temperature this morning is better than a few days ago when I saw 12 degrees during the night with a wind blowing. I watched the weather man last week predict the chance of a tornado headed towards Rushville. That’s where granddaughter Leigh and family live. After they lifted the alarm I called Leigh, and she said they were fine. The storm had passed by with no damage.
Looked at the farm news this morning, and beans were up 5 cents and corn was up 1 cent. It’s a see-saw market with beans tipping one end higher. Corn price pretty much barely moves. Prediction of allowing extended use of E15 fuel (made from corn) has the market believing it would have a good impact on corn prices. Corn at Beardstown is $4.27 a bushel now and $4.33 for October. Beans are $11.39 now and $10.91 for October. All the prices do not reflect trucking costs.
Just read where Argentina beans are in a drought. Brazil is to get some rain today for their 2nd crop of corn and their beans. Wild fires are burning pastures in parts of Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas which will impact ranchers. One of my favorite lines from the TV series Cheers was when Norm said something like, “It’s a dog eat dog world, and I feel like I’m running around with dog food in my back pocket!”
I know farmers in this area are concerned about the dry soil with spring on its way. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if it changes all at once, and we’ll be complaining about too much rain.
Speaking of water, I read where the city will be digging water wells in the field across from Patton Park and the water treatment plant. I believe I read where there is a deep aquifer there as a supply.
Years ago, maybe over 60, a neighbor gave me a picture her family had taken when Macomb did test boring in the pasture south of our house. There was supposedly a deep aquifer there that they were considering as an alternate water supply for Macomb. Could it be the same one?
I’m In the process of shredding a lot of old farm papers. Yesterday I was up to 1992. It’s a slow process because I stop and read what prices were, what machinery cost that we had purchased, and sometimes there is a written page with what happened that year on the farm.
Hope you all stay well. I know there is a lot of “stuff” going around. It’s a toss up between covid, influenza B, RSV, or sinus infection. Take your pick! Stay well.
Along that line of staying well, A visitor asked a cattleman, “Is it true that a mad bull won’t hurt you if you carry a flashlight?” “Yep, I guess so,” replied the cattleman. “If you carry it fast enough.”
Sharon Chenoweth is a resident and farmer of McDonough County. Her column focuses on rural life and will be featured every other week in the Community News Brief Friday Edition.
