Thinking Spring while looking at Winter

SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE

   Seems like a game we used to play with our children "something is wrong with this picture" March 1st is tomorrow and more snow is coming.  I had a landlord that told me he had moved his equipment from one farm to another 7 times in his life on march 1st and it was never frozen to the ground.  That is so far from this year.  Typically February provides our winter thaw and the ground begins to warm up.  The moisture from snow and ice makes the field a muddy mess and March allows our drainage to work and get the fields ready for equipment. April is the beginning of field preparations for the seeds to be planted.

  As you see we have been delayed from normal with snow still covering the field.  Many fields have not had the normal deep tillage done last fall because of delayed harvest and a quick start to winter.  This leaves many of us with extra field days needed before planting and a possible late start also.  

   There is a new Farm Bill passed in congress and signed.  I am pleased that the Crop insurance program is left intact as it gives the farmer choices as to the coverage they need to cover weather risk and how much premiums they pay for this coverage.  There were changes in the commodity programs and we will have to decide what options we will chose for at least the next 5 years and maybe longer.  The details will not be completely available until after we are all planted this spring.

  Expectations are high that we can produce another huge crop of all grains.  While I am trying to show you the challenges to this spring; the American farmers are the best in the world to solve these and produce a crop.  We thank God for the climate we are provided and although we felt stressed by last years weather almost all farmers were surprised by the final yields.  We ask for Gods' blessings again this year.

                                              Serving together;  Dean Lundeen