The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings to ever one in Western Illinois and all readers of The Quill.
We are in the last week of August already, and the heat this past week shore reminds us of what August is known fer.
Until now, this summer has been rather cool, it seems, but that has probably slowed down the growth and ultimate time'n of the maturity fer corn.
Crop Condition
I see several fields scattered around here and there what has lost their color and the ears are droop'n. Not sure if'n they planted early with a short season variety or if'n disease has shortened their plant life.
Some fellers didn't spray for disease in their corn this summer because of the low market price fer the commodity. Now I've overheard several individuals a wish'n they had sprayed. Farm'n is a gamble with choose'n the correct strategy. Ya don't know until its too late what was right!
Sudden Death
I've been hear'n stories of sudden death syndrome in the soybeans around these parts. Be'n the curious type I talked a pilot into take'n me up in the air fer a look see.
I was shore surprised by what I saw. It was clear from the air that sudden death was quite prevalent in most fields over a wide area. It was not show'n in small patches here and there, either. Actually large areas and huge percentages of any particular field showed obvious signs of the problem. It don't look good at this point in time.
Also, it was noticed numerous fields of corn with various spots of nitrogen deficiency. I "spect those spots will pull the field average down a bit. However, that problem fer the corn don't seem as serious as the "Sudden Death Syndrome" appeared fer the soybeans.
The recent rains we've had should help out, but not as much as they would if'n sufficient nitrogen were there in the corn and "Sudden Death" weren't there in the soybeans.
Rain
I'm a hope'n them winds and hail that came thru with the recent thunderstorm didn't do much harm fer anyone. I did see a machine shed blown down over around Cameron and crop hail damage on both corn and soybean fields further yet ta the east.
Sale Bargains
I was at a sale recently that had a large old turn of the century Henderson/Mercer County plat book that was auctioned off. After runn'n the bid up to $150 only one feller decided it was worth it. He was a reseller so I wonder what he will end up ask'n fer it?
I also saw a "Hudson Bay" three bar blanket of the vintage around the turn of the century. It brought $85!
I was wowed by that high priced sale as well until I got home and found on the internet they normally sell fer $300 to $650 dollars and sometimes over $1,000.
I reckon the purchaser of that blanket knew what he was do'n and will make some money offa that buy. Probably more than the purchaser of the plat book will make, but then what does I know about those type of things.
Farm Progress Show is go'n on this week and I wonder if'n their crops are far enough along ta properly demonstrate the various harvest'n machines.
With crop prices off, I reckon farmers are a keep'n their pocket books fairly tightly closed, at least that's what conventional wisdom would tell ya. Anyways, John Deere supposedly has laid off 600 workers and I wonder if'n that is in anticipation of less machinery be'n sold, a come'n up?
Poker
Pro-farmer folks has had their crop predict'n tours and are do'n their part in hold'n prices down by predict'n big yields.
Fer you fellers that play poker, did ya ever know any one who let the other card player know what cards he was ahold'n as part of his bett'n process? It seems that's what's happen'n with all these predictions. They are beneficial fer the processor, but the poor snook grow'n the crop takes it in the pocketbook by show'n his cards (crop size) early on ta the benefit of the other players.
Fall Events of Reunions and Cheerfulness
Old Threshers Reunion is a come'n up soon after the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. I always think it unique ta have the opposite end of the spectrum, in farm'n advances, so close together in the same month. Lots of folk attend both events and it just goes to show- "different strokes for different folks".
A lot of folks have their family reunions over by now. A "young whipper snapper" questioned the value of such goin's on, in all his foolishness. Well, there's an old Chinese proverb which sez, "Ta forget one's ancestors is ta be a book without a source, a tree without a root".
That's it fer this week. Stay cool and remember, "The Cheerful live longest in years, and afterwards in our regards. Cheerfulness is the off-shoot of Goodness" (Christian Nestael Bovee)
Hope'n ta see ya in church this week. Where ever ya is, what ever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
BARNYARD BRUKE