Up close and personal, these girls are beginning to worry a little about the corn crisis that's going on right now. They don't get to see the headlines, but they hear the farmers talking about shortages and forecasts and none of it is good news. It's been a pretty long summer in their hot henhouse!
Corn from a McHenry county, IL. farm shows that the ears are severely stunted from the drought. A normal year produces 200 bushels an acre, this year they will be lucky to get 70.
One thing for sure, this summer's poor production of grain is going to hit us all where it hurts the most, our pocketbooks. Even if you don't listen to the farm reports, it's now front page news...corn and soybean production affect ethanol production, which in turn affects the world. As bad as it hurts now, down the line a year or even two years it's still going to be stinging at the grocery store or gas pump.
There's lots of meetings going on in Washington right now with the 2012 drought causing severe repercussions with crops, lifestock and energy industries. A recent CNBC segment laid it out in black and white... it takes 5 pounds of corn to put 1 pound of gain on a cow, yet it takes 5 times as much to make a gallon of ethanol. There's an increasing demand to do something about ethanol production.
One of the few things that thrives in hot dry conditions like we've had this summer are grasshoppers.
They are a threat to any plant that's survived the drought and hard to get rid of. This year they got an early start because of a warm spring, and the mild winter allowed an even greater hatch. They only live for two months after they reach adulthood, but with the great numbers you probably have seen their ugly little faces in your yard!
Mr. Squirrel wants to remind you that summer is winding down and to take advantage of each and every single summer day because when they're gone, they're gone...
Take the time to set and watch the sun come up or go down...
Listen closely for kids laughing and having a good ol' time...
Drink plenty of sweet tea...
Try to find someone with a new litter of kittens to pet...
Go visit Grandma and Grandpa and set out on the porch after supper...
Cause it doesn't get any better than this!
The days of summer are fading fast. Went to town yesterday, and a few of the maple branches have that fall look to them, orangish-red! Like the squirrel saving nuts, we need to save at least some of our income for those high price days to come.
ReplyDeleteYep, the saved nuts may be lean picking this year! We have our freezers stocked, meat is going to skyrocket and you know gasoline follows corn prices too. The writing is on the wall, seems like it's nothing but bad news... I try not to dwell on that but we can't hide our head in the sand. Even the chickens are worried!
DeleteTrying not to worry myself and enjoy the good things of life that we have. Every day. Especially I like: Listen closely for kids laughing and having a good ol' time...
ReplyDeleteThat's the way to be, wish I could be more like that. We are an agri family so I hear this discussed on a daily basis, it's never put "on the back burner." The nation has faced some very hard times the last few years, the economy and the weather!
DeleteI loved your post, thanks for the smiles and reminder to pray.
ReplyDeleteSo much to be grateful for, I always say I can't count all our blessings!
DeleteGreat post Joy- I think everyone and everything is suffering from this extreme drought.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to the farmers, they struggle in a good year to make a profit and the last few have been nothing but disaster. It's a hard profession to love, but they do.
DeleteGreat post. Brings back many memories. I have been enjoying some time with my daughter while she is off from college. That will end after next week.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vivian! I do love summer and normally we are outside enjoying it. This year has been impossible, over 100 degree days since May and I just can't stand being in the house all the time. It's cabin fever, in reverse!!!
DeleteLike you our freezers (3) are well stocked. My Iowa BIL told me that small square bales of alfalfa are going for $15! Unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteMy poor milk cow won't be getting a lot of grain when she freshens....means less milk but so be it.
Wow, $15 a bale... when we were feeding alfalfa it was $5 a bale and I thought that was high! They talk about the price in Monday morning meetings at Tyson, it's coming so we better brace ourselves!
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