Sunday, June 21, 2015

Today, we will relax and celebrate Fathers’ Day.  I can’t recall when it has been a day of rest, and not an afternoon of wheat harvest.

Tomorrow, we will begin to evaluate the damage that has occurred to our soybean crop as a result of the torrential rains associated with Hurricane Bill.  We would have made out okay if the rains had stopped Thursday.  But Friday was the clincher, and pushed the totals ‘way over the top.  In one 20-minute period Friday afternoon, we received 1.5″.  (38 mm).  For the 3 days our total was just shy of 6″ (150 mm)!   We will do a drive-by of every flat soybean field.  For those fields that are larger, our drone and camera will provide an eye to view what we cannot see from the road.  It’s not certain how long it will take for the flooded areas to dry again.  If they become dry enough to be workable before July 10, I can see the soybean planter being put back to use.  It remains attached to the JD 9330, just for a situation like this one in which we find ourselves.

White River’s flood level has been raised to 19.3 feet, 4.3 feet above flood stage.  This will cause significant flooding on our Nellie, Grubb, Commer, Freddie, and Huey farms.  That crest is coming tomorrow, June 22, and should return back in its banks on the 28th.

The damage to our corn crop will likely be insignificant.  It is planted (almost all) on upland fields, not prone to flooding.  Some has been blown over by the strong winds, but should grow back mostly upright again.

After tomorrow’s assessment, we will develop our strategy for replanting.  The pleasure of planting a soybean crop is significantly reduced when it has to be re-planted.   And because this is so late in the growing season, the potential yield is dramatically reduced too.  We won’t be able to begin corrective measures tomorrow, but we will get our minds wrapped around the situation, and figure what can be done to minimize the ‘hit’ our crops have taken.

It is commonplace that after one of these weather-caused problems to see only the damage and what is ‘gone’.  We need to remember that it may be possible to plant again.  But most of all, we need to remember that we have much for which to be thankful.  There are so many who face stiffer challenges than that of a damaged crop.

The things that matter forever are still A-OK.