Conundrum

The definition of the word Conundrum is: something that is puzzling or confusing.

Here are six Conundrums of socialism in the United States of America:

1. America is capitalist and greedy – yet half of the population is subsidized.

2. Half of the population is subsidized – yet they think they are victims.

3. They think they are victims – yet their representatives run the government.

4. Their representatives run the government – yet the poor keep getting poorer.

5. The poor keep getting poorer – yet they have things that people in other countries only dream about.

6. They have things that people in other countries only dream about -yet they want America to be more like those other countries.

Think about it! And that, my friends, pretty much sums up the USA in the 21st Century.

Makes you wonder who is doing the math.

These three, short sentences tell you a lot about the direction of our current government and cultural environment:

1. We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works.

And here’s another one worth considering…

2. Seems we constantly hear about how Social Security is going to run out of money. How come we never hear about welfare or food stamps running out of money? What’s interesting is the first group “worked for” their money, but the second didn’t. Think about it…..

and Last but not least,

3. Why are we cutting benefits for our veterans, no pay raises for our military and cutting our army to a level lower than before WWII, but we are not stopping the payments or benefits to illegal aliens?

 

All you Need to Know About American Government Bureaucracy:
• Pythagorean Theorem……………………………………………………….24 words.

• Lord’s Prayer…………………………………………………………………66 words.
• Archimedes Principle…………………………………………..……………67 words.
• 10 Commandments…………………………………………..…………….179 words.
• Gettysburg Address…………………………………………………………286 words.
• Declaration of Independence……………………….……………………1,300 words.
• US Constitution with all 27 Amendments…………………….…………7,818 words.
• US Government regulations on sale of cabbage……………………..26,911 words.
• US Government Affordable Care Act (Obama Care)…………..…1,147,271 words.

Our tip of the day, don't be in a Conundrum, but it is pretty difficult not to be in this life on earth today!

Ed 

Gypsum Tips

I have been spending some time talking to farmers about the benefits of gypsum.  Our smallish wheat harvest in southwest Ohio is an opportunity to get more fields covered before fall harvest.

 

Gypsum is used by farmers to add sulfur and calcium to soils and improve overall soil quality.  We are about to spread gypsum on our wheat stubble in southwest Ohio.  Here are some tips to make spreading go easier:

Ron Chamberlain, founder and agronomist at Gypsoil, offered advice on how to store, load and apply gypsum for optimal results.

* Choose the best fertilizer, lime or litter spreader
The spreader should have a stainless steel box with slick, steep sides, twin spinners and a wide delivery chain or belt.

* Use soil tests to determine gypsum rates
The Cation Exchange Capacity levels dictate gypsum rates as a soil amendment, Chamberlain said. Rates vary from half a ton per acre on lighter soils to two tons per acre on heavy soils, applied once every one to two years.

* Apply gypsum in any tillage system
Gypsum can be applied to till or no till systems. Avoid applying on snow-covered or frozen ground, to prevent loss to wind and water, Chamberlain said.

* Apply gypsum any time that is appropriate to be in the field without physically damaging the soil or crop
“Ideal application periods include before planting, after summer wheat harvest, fall harvest and after any alfalfa cutting once the crop is removed.

* After several applications, growers may be able to use variable rate applications
Rates may vary from 300 to 500 pounds per acre in lighter soils and 1,000 pounds per acre in heavier soils

* Allow for small adjustments in equipment and application practices when you begin
Applicators will find techniques that work best for them and their equipment.

* If possible, store gypsum under covers
This protects it from rainfall to prevent moisture accumulation.

* Be careful when loading
Feather gypsum into the spreader bed with the loader to prevent bridging.

* Adjust door height, spinner speed and belt speed
The goal is to have the material flow uniformly onto the spinners to consistently deliver the proper rate.

* Make adjustments to the spinner assembly to improve distribution pattern
Remove any unnecessary accessories from the rear of the spreader. Then adjust the spinner so that the gypsum drops from the belt and contacts the spinner early in its rotation to help ensure a uniform spread pattern.

I know these are common sense but they are easily overlooked!

Ed

Comment On The Clean Water Act

The ditch rule interpretation under the federal Clean Water Act is open to comments by we the people until October 20, 2014.  I intend to comment and encourage my readers to do the same.  Click on the link above and follow the instructions.  If you need help, please email me and I will help you word your comments and get them to the proper address.  The How To Comment link looks quite complicated but you and I can do it.

"EPA officials announced Tuesday, June 10, that farmers, ranchers, rural property owners and other interested stakeholders will be allowed additional time to comment on its proposed water rules. The date for comment, that was set to expire July 21, has been extended until Oct. 20, 2014, an additional 91 days.

In addition, comment on the interpretive rule governing agricultural exemptions that was part of the Waters of the U.S. rule has been extended from June 5 until July 7.

On March 25, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a joint statement that would "clarify the definition of waters of the United States" under rules of the Clean Water Act. The announced drew fire from individual farmers, ranchers and farm and livestock support groups who contend such a change in the rules would expand EPA's authority to regulate water run-off ditches on private property, infringing on individual property rights.

EPA argued the proposed rule would not protect any new types of waters that have not historically been covered under the Clean Water Act and is consistent with the Supreme Court's definition of power granted EPA by the Clean Water Act."

I work hard to keep my soil in place and keep my water clean that ends up in the Ohio River pictured above and eventually to the Gulf of Mexico.  I think everybody should.

The ditch interpretation is very problematic for farmers and landowners.  I highly encourage you to comment.

Will you take time to voice your opinion?

Ed Winkle

 

Global Cooling

I got an interesting World Weather article from my friend Rick in Illinois.  I will send it to you if you are interested but I sent it to Dr. Elwynn Taylor and here is the short version of it:
Hi Ed
   It means do not expect the Ohio river valley to be a moist this coming winter as during the past 4 winters.
Also do not expect temperature to be as extreme (at the high or the low end).
   Since all 6 indicators of El Nino do point toward El Nino by August sometime (the attachment talks about 2 of the 6 and it takes more than those 2 to make an El Nino).  We can expect a mild harvest time in the Midwest.  Normal soil moisture recharge in the fall (and good last cutting of hay).  And an above trend Corn and soy crop for 2015.
   Elwynn

Where Does the Carbon Dioxide Really Come From?

Ian Rutherford Plimer is an Australian geologist, professor emeritus of earth sciences at the University of Melbourne, professor of mining geology at the University of Adelaide, and the director of multiple mineral exploration and mining companies.   He has published 130 scientific papers, six books and edited the Encyclopedia of Geology.

PLIMER: “Okay, here’s the bombshell.   The volcanic eruption in Iceland a few years ago ,

… Since its first spewing of volcanic ash has, in just FOUR DAYS, NEGATED EVERY SINGLE EFFORT you have made in the past five years to control CO2 emissions on our planet – all of you.

Of course, you know about this evil carbon dioxide that we are trying to suppress – it’s that vital chemical compound that every plant requires to live and grow and to synthesize into oxygen for us humans and all animal life.

I know….it’s very disheartening to realize that all of the carbon emission savings you have accomplished while suffering the inconvenience and expense of driving Prius hybrids, buying fabric grocery bags, sitting up till midnight to finish your kids’  “The Green Revolution” science project, throwing out all of your non-green cleaning supplies, using only two squares of toilet paper, putting a brick in your toilet tank reservoir, selling your SUV and speedboat, vacationing at home instead of abroad, nearly getting hit every day on your bicycle, replacing all of your 50 cent light bulbs with $10.00 light bulbs…..well, all of those things you have done have all gone down the tubes in just four days.

The volcanic ash emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere in just four days – yes, FOUR DAYS – by that volcano in Iceland has totally erased every single effort you have made to reduce the evil beast, carbon.   And there are around 200 active volcanoes on the planet spewing out this crud at any one time – EVERY DAY.

I don’t really want to rain on your parade too much, but I should mention that when the volcano Mt. Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it spewed out more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the entire human race had emitted in all its years on earth.

Yes, folks, Mt Pinatubo was active for over one year – think about it.

Of course, I shouldn’t spoil this ‘touchy-feely tree-hugging’ moment and mention the effect of solar and cosmic activity and the well-recognized 800-year global heating and cooling cycle, which keeps happening despite our completely insignificant efforts to affect climate change.

And I do wish I had a silver lining to this volcanic ash cloud, but the fact of the matter is that the bush fire season across the western USA and Australia this year alone will negate your efforts to reduce carbon in our world for the next two to three years.   And it happens every year.

Just remember that your government just tried to impose a whopping carbon tax on you, on the basis of the bogus ‘human-caused’ climate-change scenario.

Hey, isn’t it interesting how they don’t mention ‘Global Warming’
Anymore, but just ‘Climate Change’ -  you know why?

It’s because the planet has COOLED by 0.7 degrees in the past century and these global warming bull artists got caught with their pants down.

And, just keep in mind that you might yet have an Emissions Trading Scheme – that whopping new tax – imposed on you that will achieve absolutely nothing except make you poorer.

It won’t stop any volcanoes from erupting, that’s for sure.

But, hey, relax……give the world a hug and have a nice day!”

Ed Winkle

Read Kiddo Read!

I heard Raymond Arroyo interview James Patterson this morning.  He said something that really caught my attention.  He said if we could get our kids to become proficient readers we would solve 60% of the problems we have now.

"A few years ago, I realized my son, Jack, didn't exactly love books. We'd always read to him as a baby, and he was beginning to read for school. When he got home, him going to the shelf and picking up a book was about as likely as his pulling out a notebook and solving quantum physics problems. Actually, the latter was more likely. He's a smart kid.

So Sue and I took it on ourselves to fix the problem if we could.  Starting that summer, and every summer since, we went out and found books that I was pretty sure he'd not just read, but would love to read. That was a big part of the inspiration for READKIDDOREAD.

But, more than that, the experience with Jack got me writing books that I hoped he and other kids would love to read. Before then, I'd always written books just for grown-ups.

In fact, one of my proudest moments as a writer was when I passed him the manuscript of The Dangerous Days of Daniel X. Not only did he like it, he told me it was his favorite."

Patterson has sold over 10 million eBooks and most of us have never heard of him.  I think he is doing a great thing in getting kids to read more.  Most of our grand children are readers and I hope they all do to the extent they can enjoy it.  Reading should be fun.  It was for me, it took me places off the farm I could have never have visited otherwise and stimulated my travels in later years.

I hope programs like Read Kiddo Read stimulate the youth of our country to become better and bigger readers.  I think nothing but good can come from that.

Ed Winkle

FFA, The Next Crop!

MEMBERSHIP​

Today, there are 579,678 FFA members, aged 12‒21, in 7,570 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• 44% of FFA members are female; women hold approximately 50% of state leadership positions.
• 67% of our membership is White; 22% is Hispanic/Latino; 8% is Black/African-American or American Indian; and 3% Asian, Pacific Islander or two or more races.
• 5% of FFA members are currently enrolled in grades 7-8; 91% of FFA members are currently enrolled in grades 9-12; 4% have already graduated from high school and may be engaged in postsecondary studies.
• FFA chapters are in 18 of the 20 largest U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.
• The top five membership states are Texas, California, Georgia, Missouri and Oklahoma.
• The 2012 National FFA Convention was host to 56,167 members, FFA advisors and FFA supporters.
• 2012-13 National FFA Organization membership by states: (English) (Spanish)

EDUCATION

More than 11,000 FFA advisors and agriculture teachers deliver an integrated model of agricultural education providing students with innovative and leading-edge education, enabling them to grow into competent leaders.

• 92% offer agriscience; 71% offer advanced agriscience and biotechnology; 59% offer agricultural mechanics; 49% offer horticulture; 43% offer animal science; and 24% offer environment-related
• 23% of teachers have five or fewer years of teaching experience
• The shortage of qualified agriculture teachers is the greatest challenge facing FFA and agricultural education

CAREER EXPLORATION

FFA classroom activities include math and science as well as hands-on work experience and the development of life skills, helping members discover their career path and realize success.

• Collectively, FFA members earn more than $4 billion annually through their hands-on work experience.
• Members participate and learn advanced career skills in 49 national proficiency areas based on their hands-on work experiences ranging from agricultural communications and food science and technology to turf grass management and wildlife production and management.
• According to the student magazine readership study, 87% of our students are interested in learning about career exploration, 81% about college preparation and 81% about technology.
• Through 24 national career development events and one activity, FFA members are challenged to real-life, hands-on tests of skills used to prepare them for more than 300 careers in the agriculture industry.

FFA got good publicity this week on RFD Rural TV and radio thanks to Dodge Trucks.  Chrysler has donated $1.5 million to the National FFA since October. 

FFA is "the next crop" of agriculturalists and HyMark High Spots salutes the FFA!

Thank you Becky and the Peter's family for my father's day gift of The Farmer In All Of Us!

Ed Winkle

The Power In Producing Food

"The future of the nations will depend on the manner of how they feed themselves, wrote the French epicurean Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin in 1826. Almost 200 years later, how nations feed themselves has gotten a lot more complicated. That’s particularly true in the US, where food insecurity coexists with an obesity crisis, where fast food is everywhere and farmer’s markets are spreading, where foodies have never had more power and McDonald’s has never had more locations, and where the possibility of a barbecue-based civil war is always near. So here are 40 maps, charts, and graphs that show where our food comes from and how we eat it, with some drinking thrown in for good measure."

Because of our land mass quality and location, we in the U.S. have been the leaders of food production.  "New data from the Department of Agriculture shows that, as world demand for food continues to be relatively high, price increases will moderate or even fall. This is in contrast to several years of sharp increases in the cost of agricultural commodities. Much of the reason for the mitigation is a rise in American crop production. America has become, once again, the bread basket of the world. That should help the world economy and could help feed people who are desperate."

One reason U.S. farmers will help hold food prices down is that in 2012 the level of exports of agricultural commodities will be at their second highest level ever, the Agriculture Department reported. There have been problems with supply in a number of the world’s largest nations because of drought and inclement weather. The weather in the U.S. has been relatively good for crop productions over the past year.

While the USDA expects demand for food crops to be strong again this year, “planted acres” in the U.S. will increase 4.2% from last year. Wheat and corn production will increase very substantially. This, in turn, should cause a drop in prices, in a range of 14% to 19% in the price of those two commodities. And, this likely will cause a reversal in food price inflation that began in early 2010.

While the drop in prices and increases in supply will help curb inflation in large countries, particularly China, the most important effect will be in the third world. A recent survey in India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru and Bangladesh conducted by charity Save the Children showed more than 30% of parents said their children did not have enough to eat. The primary cause, they said, was food prices."

It is amazing to me what transpired before my birth.  I know that the hybridization of corn had something to do with that but the resources we have to produce food in this nation is incredible.

I pray we do not squander it.

Ed Winkle