America's War On Weeds

Next Sunday CBS will have a segment on "America's War on Weeds" on CBS Sunday Morning.  The clip looked like a farmer trying to shovel out a giant palmer pigweed.  Our redroots are that big in the garden, been pulling after every rain, which we are now getting.

We have got to plant more cover crops and spray a residual at every planting and control these weeds before they get 4 inches tall.  We all know that but I still see failures every day and everywhere.  There is so much volunteer corn in soybeans you would think the guy is trying to raise succotash.  Do you young people know what that is?

I have one clean field of corn and the rest are dirty.  They have weeds in them and some places it is heavy.  I tried my best to get ahead of them but this wild year I did not get it done.  I pledge to do better next year.  I have always been in the war on weeds because they rob yield and ragweeds and others make me sick.  I will never forget my allergy test when my biggest dot looked like a rash on my whole back and it was from cockleburr!  I have found a few this year and I quickly waged war on them.

Most are still suffering from the drought though, now the worst since 1936 according to some reports.  Our crops are better than 1988 but some of my friends crops not far away are as bad or worse.  We have been in a fairly happy little micro climate here in southern Clinton County.

Will is trying to get better and Katherine is home now so we count our blessings.  We do have a crop to sell that is better than thousands of farmers.  I got my well by the house going thanks to electrician Jim.  Wouldn't you know that darn thing was wired wrong at installation.  No wonder it wouldn't work.  It worked poorly for awhile then quit.  It is lucky it didn't burn the motor up in it and I don't see how it didn't.  I run both wells now quite often just to get my aquifer going again.  I know I have silt or sand at the well head and the more I use it the better it works.

I have a busy day tomorrow and a busy week ahead.  I am sure you do also so here's hoping you get the rain you need and trouble free work.

Ed