It’s Wednesday, and I’m running late again. We had rain overnight along with lightning and thunder, but I don’t know of any damage. Now, we are to get COLD temperatures again after yesterday’s 80 degree weather.
The ongoing conflict with Iran has taken a toll on spring fertilizer movement with shipping routes closed. One farmer in South Dakota said he was able to buy urea that he needed, but it cost 22% more than last year.
The corn price fell this morning following the lower price for crude oil. I’m sure the predicted yield of Brazil and Argentina’s second corn crops had a great deal to do with the lower price this morning for corn.
I received a phone message yesterday from WGM’s shuttle office stating they would be full of corn and awaiting a train to load this week. I feel there is still a lot of grain stored in grain bins on farms.
I find myself going to the basement for some specific thing and then I get sidetracked, set it down, go back upstairs and wonder what I did with what I went after. I’ve already lost two Easter rabbits (not real ones).
However, I am still learning little things like when I boil potatoes or spaghetti I lay a wooden spoon across the top of the pan to prevent the water from boiling over. Then, I found if I use a washable marker pen, I can label the lids of my many Cool Whip bowls to tell me what I’ve stored. Then, it is so easy to wash off the writing and use the lid again. Don’t use a permanent marker, because it really means permanent.
Was at the Dollar Tree store the other day and it seemed everything I picked up was “made in China.” No wonder we have a trade imbalance.
I see many, many signs on country roads that say, “No windmill traffic...$5,000 fine.” The ground is being prepared to put up either solar panels or windmills in the area. I know two fields south of Laverdiere’s building west of town will be solar panels. If you drive as far as you can on West Grant St., the field beside the road I believe is a “staging” area for power. If you drive towards Pennington Point, there are dozers moving dirt for a staging area there, and I believe I heard that the Industry area is doing work to erect windmills.
Times, they are a-changing! Me, I’m still trying to remember where I put things.
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.
