Remembering the Past

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Partners and friends,

I attended The Half Century of Progress Show in Rantoul at the old Air Force base this past week. There were acres and acres of equipment from over 50 years ago and over 5,000 UTV's on the grounds to look things over. My friend Chuck and I watched over 30 corn pickers in action and 5 corn shellers at work and numerous tractors and moldboard plows turn soil over. There was no carbon saved at that show. :) I give a big hats-off to the dedication and effort of the organization that puts on that show every other year. In observing all the events going on I am reminded of those who have gone before me and the sweat and innovation and development and refinement of the machines to make agriculture more productive and efficient. I can remember picking ear corn and 2,000 bushels was a big day—now we do that in less than an hour! I felt proud to think of those who have gone before and created the agriculture system we have in the world today, and how if there is food shortage in the world it is not because of supply, but is a distribution issue.

We are finishing up summer projects--tile repair, equipment maintenance, end of crop year bookkeeping, waterway repair, mowing, and tiling where crops are not in the way. The crop is rapidly maturing and from the looks of it, this corn crop will be one of the best ever. Beans are benefiting from some of the spotty showers this past week and are filling nicely. We are targeting a start date of mid-September. We have picked up a few part-time high school and college team members to round out the staff. Our annual fall safety meeting is on the schedule for September 8th. The bin project for corn drying is mostly complete. We have been told the new storage bin we ordered might not be delivered till late October. Will it get erected in time to use this harvest? Stay tuned.

Globally, grain supply is tightening up a bit. We foresee commodity prices staying elevated for a year or two. Brazil is preparing to plant more acres of soybeans than ever before. Weather concerns are popping up all around the globe—too wet or too dry. Climate change has been going on since the earth was created. Mankind now thinks he can control it by throwing money at it.

Family is well. Kennett is growing quite well. Show season is over. School is starting for everyone except Ali, who does not go back till late September. Phyllis and I had a nice getaway weekend on our anniversary.

Fall Prices:

Corn 5.44

SB 13.13


Keep in touch! Comments always welcomed.

Steve

What Was It Like?

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Partners,

Something that strikes me often is the amount of sweat, tears, and love that has been poured into this land we are caretakers of today. As we cross fields with equipment that can harvest 4000 bushels/hour I try to imagine what it was like for the first family members here to break out the sod. The prairie grass was probably over 10 feet tall and the soil wet and sticky, and there was no air conditioned house to retreat to for a good night’s sleep after all the toil of the day. Our family’s oral history tells us that the first settler who stayed the first summer on our land (mid-1800s) used an upside down wagon box for shelter as he prepared the farm for his family. He must have had his bravery tested with the coyotes howling at night, and the darkness (without any mercury yard lights), and the rainstorms that are bound to have occurred. What was it like digging post holes by hand for the livestock fence, planning how big of a barn to build (and make it easy to enlarge as the farm grew), and caring for the horses each day (unlike the tractors we use that sit dormant in the shed)? What were the thoughts and conversations that went on around the supper table and in bed at night, where the board of directors slept together?

We have a weather delay right now. 2 inches of snow yesterday and 3 inches this morning (Thursday). Beans are 85% complete and corn is about 70% done. The last corn is not going to dry down much more in the field—testing in the middle 20s. We ran hard Monday and Tuesday to get the wet bin filled up so we could dry during this weather delay. Seed bean harvest is complete so no more combine cleanings. :) Plenty of details to attend to with equipment and office work.

The trade dilemma is getting a bit tiring. Who blinks first is going to tell the story of how the resolution is going to be. Personally, I wish Congress would work on something that will move this country forward instead of chasing what the President said in a phone call. Anyone who has studied history or seen Hamilton or Lincoln knows that politics have been a part of our governance and I am thankful we live in a country where we can discuss them freely.

Our house remodeling project is finally in the last stage. We’re hoping to celebrate family Thanksgiving here. It’s hard to believe first quarter is already over and report cards issued. It seems this whole year will be one we will easily remember. Interesting how the challenging times are the ones we recollect and reach back to for wisdom.

Fall prices:

Corn 3.85

Soybeans 9.16

Comments welcome.

Steve