The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.


The Wisdom Of Barnyard Bruke: Asparagus, Price Forecast'n, Skullduggery, Importations, and Graduations

Greetings to everyone in western Illinois. I'm a hope'n no one stashed their warm clothe'n too far back in the closet for summer storage such that they were unable to retrieve the necessary protection for the cooler weather we've been a have'n.

Frost forecasts, prior to yer read'n this column, hustled everyone on top of the situation to provide cover for vulnerable plants.

Previously, I warned ya about the danger of eat'n frosted rhubarb. Be sure to keep that warn'n in mind.

How's ever one doin' with asparagus thus far? Records prove asparagus was one of the first vegetables humans ever cultivated.

Ancient Greeks and Romans used it fer medicinal purposes, and believed it was a cure-all for almost any ailment.

It spread throughout Europe when the conquering Romans brought it to other countries. In Europe it was first popular as an ornamental because of it's ferny foliage. From Europe, asparagus was brought to American colonies and since then it has become a part of spring in our country, grow'n both in gardens and in the wild.

It is a significant cash crop in some parts of the United States. In other areas it grows wild and is picked by folk who frequently have mapped and await its arrival.

Asparagus is considered a powerhouse among vegetables because it's packed with a more complete balance of nutrients than any other.

It's full of vitamins and minerals, iron, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, and folic acid. High in fiber and low in calories and carbohydrates, asparagus is definitely a must fer my home garden.

If'n you partake in asparagus and a recommended daily dose of two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with a glass of water, you will definitely be in tune with ancient remedies for a healthier life.

With much of the corn planted or replanted and sprout'n thru the ground with last week's warmer weather, many folk are a feel'n much better than before the warm weather came.

Even the USDA and other fortune tellers with their supposedly infallible crystal balls and other remarkable fortune cookies, are predict'n a good crop come this fall and invariably lower prices.

I like'n them early forecast'n -price break'n demons against decent prices for the farmer-to a NASCAR race.

Those folk who race fer NASCAR, or Indy, or even over in West Burlington, put together the best car they can afford and make it ready to win the next race.

But what do ya know, the best car is only part of the equation to win a race. Oft times, the best care does not come in first.

A lot of winnin' a race, after ya have a good car, depends on other factors. Races can be determined by pit crew performances, the competition of other drives, the weather, the track, etc, etc.

Well, my friends, a similar comparison can be made of a timely planted crop. How much of it was planted when the soil was less than ideal, for example to wet, to cloddy, too compacted, etc, etc?

The weather from here on out, affects crop size for sure. All the future unknowns of too hot, too cold, too dry, too wet, affects yields as summer develops.

Extreme heat at pollination time affects yields. Not everyone chooses the same high yield'n hybrid seed, fertilizer program, or weed control program, which all can affect yields.

Strong winds, early frost, and early snow at harvest time can affect yields and combine harvest performance. The list could go on further but I think ya should have gotten my point by now.

Those early forecasters are more certain to be used as a tool to negatively affect prices and/or put huge profits in speculators pockets than they are any propensity fer accuracy at this early stage of the game.

Have'n the best race car and timely plant'n is only a piece of a complex puzzle future success. Don't get suckered by those price minipulations.

Ladder up yer sales and take yer profits in stages. Greedy marketers have no more assurance for a good race than those who only have a good car tied to a bad driver and strong competition.

Write'n about such skullduggery reminds me of another warn'n around these parts.

There is yet be'in reported home break ins whilst folks are away even for short period of time.

I reckon we'll have to think about lock'n our doors but even that don't work in some of the cases.

Be on the lookout for strangers in yer community and what they might be up to.

For sure if'n they aren't aim'in to scout yer place out for future robbery then they's in all probability up to no good for other reasons.

Likely as not, if'n they aren't check'n yer'n house out for future theft, they is probably check'n yer rented land out to determine how high a cash rent to offer yer land owner to put ya outa work.

One theft or the other, both moral thieves are up to no good for sure enough. Chances are, as it is reflected on a bit, that same farmer scout'n out yer land and a try'n to find out yer landlords address may not be a stranger at all, but yer next door farm'n neighbor. Of course, that don't happen in western Illinois, but folk in other parts of the country and across the river should bewares, I've been told.

There's a graduate student do-n studies on badgers in western Illinois and will be place'n scent stations and cameras in various places along road sides. Did ya ever wonder where them badgers has come from?

My neighbor caught a fox in a live trap the other day. Now this neighbor is elderly and been around foxes around these parts all of his life. In recent years the fox population was way low, kinda like coyotes, and turkeys. All of a sudden they shows up in recognizable large numbers.

And, these new fox has a different look to them. Their head, neck, body, and ears is shaped differently than the fox of old was. Many folks around these parts are a wonder'n where the DNR may have imported them from and was it the same territory they brought the coyote and turkey from?

Congratulations to all of this year's graduates. The boys and I wish the best for all of you'ns.

Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke