Everything is moderate for the scurs and the Weather Eye. They predicted a moderate chance of rain last Saturday night after all. Will it be moderation in all things or will we overdose on nice weather? Starting Wednesday, mostly sunny with highs in the low 80’s and lows in the upper 50’s. Thursday, sunny with highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the mid-50’s. Sunny Friday with highs in the low 80’s and lows in the upper 50’s. Saturday, mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 80’s with lows in the upper 50’s. Sunny on Sunday with highs in the low 80’s with lows in the mid-50’s. Monday, sunny becoming cloudy with a fair chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70’s with lows in the mid-50’s. Partly cloudy for Tuesday with a modest chance of rain. Highs in the upper 70’s with lows in the mid-60’s. Breaking it to you softly, on August 3rd we’ve lost roughly an hour of daylight since the summer solstice. It also happens to be the Full Moon for the month this time around. The normal high for August 3rd is 81 and the normal low is 61. The scurs will be looking for an excuse to howl.
The Full Moon is indeed on the 3rd and goes by many names. The most common of them is the Full Sturgeon Moon, so named as the tribes of the northeast and the Great Lakes could catch these large fish most easily during this moon. It has also been known as the Full Barley, Fruit, Grain, Red, and Green Corn Moon. The Ojibwe called it The Berry Moon and the Sioux knew it as The Moon when Cherries Turn Black. At the ranch we used to know this as The Fair Moon for the county and state fairs that the sheep would attend. This year after working our tails off, all we can do is look at the lambs in the barn and wonder what might’ve been.
Hopefully the crop gives us something to be proud of. The recent rains arrived in an unexpectedly timely fashion. After several swing and miss forecasts it was beginning to look like time was starting to slip away from us. Soils were cracking and tile was ceasing to flow. Then in the wee hours of Sunday morning much of the area received what in some years could’ve been considered excessive rain. However, if there was ever a time in the stage of development the crop could handle 3”- 4” of rainfall this was it. Corn pollinated very well and is using large amounts of water to run the factory producing the kernels. Likewise soybeans were racing along with all the heat becoming thirstier and given a drink of water were poised to set some of the impressive clusters of flowers they’d developed. The color of the soybeans in particular is almost bluish-green. Fortunately this rain fell over a seven hour period of time. Sure, at times it rained hard and tapered off only to rain hard again. Across the border into IA very little rain fell. If the sun, the moon and the stars align we may be in for a very special crop.
Some of the small grain crops have started to come off and reports have been surprisingly positive both from a yield and quality perspective. Given the heat one might not have guessed that but getting the crop sown early with small grain is almost always a positive. The only complaint heard was the straw was shorter than some years. Pea yields have also been relatively decent with reports of up to 6000 lbs. Some of the later peas have suffered of course but again earlier planting is usually better. Some are heading into third cutting hay while some of us have felt fortunate to get our second cutting put up. No complaints on the tonnage or quality on the ranch hay crop. At nearly two ton per acre of some wicked looking green orchardgrass hay, the Cheviots should be well fed this winter.
The TRP (toad relocation project) at the ranch has been a success so far. There has been no more evidence of their digging and burying themselves in Mrs. Cheviot’s flower pots. Both toads found suitable new homes. After seeing how many insects they’re capable of eating firsthand it only made sense not to harm them. Granted there are untold dozens of smaller ones from this year’s hatch hopping around but combined they probably can’t consume nearly the amount of pests the larger models do. While I’ve never shed a tear or felt one iota of remorse over any flies or mosquitoes I’ve swatted, I’d just as soon something else was taking care of them for me.
The orioles and their pals continue to devour grape jelly at a breakneck pace. Last check they’re consuming not just a couple quarts a week but more like four quarts. According to my farmer math that makes a gallon. The extra feeder has made a difference allowing them more opportunity. The orioles and catbirds seem to be more apt to hang around in the trees, waiting until the coast is clear to gobble down as much jelly as they can. I was amused when a blue jay was picking on some of the smaller birds at the feeders and ran afoul of a kingbird’s territory. The larger jay suffered the consequences. With the kingbird in hot pursuit he vacated the backyard at least for the time being. That’ll teach him to be a bully!
Area gardens and other plantings have really flourished after the rain as well. The ranch is no exception. The rain was a blessing and kept us from having to water. No small feat with all the pots and planters not to mention garden areas. Everything has shot up and taken off since then. The fruit trees have held onto most of their burgeoning apple and pear crop. There are also plenty of nannyberries and aronia berries that the birds share with us. Our gardens on the hillside are not unlike the area crops, lush and deep forest green. The only downside is the grass in the lawn has been rekindled and the mosquitoes that appeared to be waning will likely catch a second wind. Hopefully we keep getting some wind or they’ll carry us off.
See you next week…real good then.