The scurs were right again about rain and also right about not guaranteeing an amount. With .02” measured at the ranch, there was barely enough for a mosquito’s bath. Will we see enough for two mosquitoes this week?
Starting Wednesday, mostly clear with a high of 80 – 85 and a low of 65. Thursday, partly cloudy with an increasing chance for a shower or thunderstorm by evening. Highs near 85 and lows near 65. Partly cloudy and slightly cooler on Friday with a moderate chance of rain. High near 80 and lows around 65.
Saturday and Sunday, partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs of 80 and lows near 60. Monday and Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a chance of shows and thunderstorms. Highs of 80 – 85 and lows of 55 – 60.
On August 26th, we will see the sun set at 8 p.m. The normal high for the 26th is 79. The normal low is 56. The scurs will be sharpening their Crayolas in all 64 colors.
Crops largely went without rain this past week, but maturity was slowed by cooler temperatures. Most soybeans are now R6 or very close to it. Some corn will have reached black layer by the time this reaches print.
The threat of soybean aphids and spider mites has largely been put to rest as the maturity of both crops is simply too advanced with some minor exceptions. Soybean aphids will likely still build enough of a presence.
So, they will move back to buckthorn as the soybeans reach maturity. But, as the Boy Entomologist points out, the aphid days necessary for them to cause economic damage is higher than they are capable of.
This somewhat abridged version of Fencelines is coming to you from the road while I’m on the Midwest Pro Farmer Crop Tour. For those receiving this column via e-mail, follow us on Ag Web and on Twitter, #pftour12.
This trip has become my annual departure from the land of road kill sweet corn and raccoons. It’s my ninth tour of duty and the worst of it is, I think I’m beginning to get the hang of it.
Maybe it’s because I’m starting to know what to expect and maybe it’s because of all the familiar faces, as we gather for the first night in Columbus OH. It is a long and arduous week however and with State Fair in Minnesota right on its heels, there’s not much left of me by the time Sunday rolls around. Thank goodness Byron Jones’ wife bakes all those cookies so I can maintain my stamina.
How does the crop look? From the road, some of it doesn’t look as bad as advertised. However, a windshield survey is very frequently deceiving.
That’s why getting out in the fields and looking at the crop is so important. We had an opportunity to look at some graphic examples of this from some Iowa fields.
And, if the results there are any indication, we’ll be in for a long week of looking at some pretty disappointing crops relative to what we’re used to seeing. We have the distinction in Minnesota of being in a garden spot.
While things aren’t perfect, they are far from the ugliness we’ve seen up to this point. We have much to be thankful for, even though we seem to enjoy complaining about what could’ve been. Some need to be reminded that as bad as they think they have it, someone usually has it much, much worse.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t things to look forward to however. Fortunately, we have kind friends and neighbors who look after things while we’re gone, doing chores and keeping the garden produce harvested.
Speaking of looking forward to things, the lettuce and additional winter radishes were emerging already when I left. The snap peas had sprouted, but as of Saturday morning, hadn’t made the soil surface.
The light watering I gave them may have helped so I’m curious to see their progress. The cucumbers registered their complaint about the dry conditions by wilting under some warmer temps. They were also rewarded with another drink of well water.
The bird feeders were filled too, but it’s likely that they will have emptied everything out by the time I return home. That’s okay.
There are plenty of flowering plants to keep the hummingbirds occupied and, the number of thistle patches around the countryside will no doubt have the goldfinch’s attention. Even the orioles who have been on a tear lately consuming jelly like no tomorrow are likely getting about ready to move on.
It’s always sad to see them go, but it’s the natural order of things. That and some other dummy can buy them jelly as they make their way south for the winter.
The lawn is definitely up for a shave when I return. It looks like some teenage boy’s patchy attempt at growing a beard.
The weeds have done rather nicely on the sparse rainfall, although some of the bluegrass appears to have received enough so that it needs to be evened up. Even though it will be dusty and dirty, waiting for a rain is not an option. One is only able to look at something that ugly and weedy about so long.
See you next week…real good then.