Corn and Soybeans!

      Corn and soybeans are the primary crops here. They ripen very differently. Through the genius of hybridizing, seed corn is sold with a specific period from sprout to maturity. Years ago corn planted in this area was typically 96 to 110 days to maturity.  Likely that's different now, I'll ask a farmer.

    Soybeans ripen based on the decline of sunlight. As the length of sunlight per day lessens beans ripen. Consequently, fields which may have been planted at different dates now ripen simultaneously. The ripening is noticeable over a day or two.

    The Minneapolis paper had an article about soybeans, and specifically, soybean markets, today. China, previously the major purchaser of American soybeans, isn't buying in response to the administration's trade war. Soybean markets have never recovered since the trade was 4 years ago. China turned to South America for soybeans. Locally the soybean price is propped up because there is a soybean crush plant in Volga, turning beans into oil.

   Some areas of agriculture are dependent on immigrant labor; dairy and vegetable farming. In a few years industrialized countries will be competing for immigrants because of declining birth rates. America's response? demonize and deport.

Takk for alt

Al

"Puritanism...the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy." H. L. Mencken  

In a previous blog I wrote about restoring big bluestem grass in a pasture. Since the 90's livestock have been grazed in this pasture until July 4. They graze down the invasive bromegrass allowing the late season bluestem to emerge. This picture shows the growth of that bluestem.