30 Days

Thirty days hath September, April, June and November. Do you use that old rhyme? I still do and realized tomorrow is the first of October, not Sunday like I had been thinking all week! In 30 days, I hope we are well into harvest but the crop is still green. It's showing the fall browns but the fields by the house are still pretty green as one is double crop soybeans.

A lady LuAnn met yesterday has a novel idea for service. She said our election system has become such a farce, we should have elections like the jury system.

When your name comes up for a jury trial, you serve with a group of strangers that determines the fate of a trial that usually determines the fate of the people involved. If people can be found to be competent enough for such a big decision, why couldn't they serve for a public office?

It makes good sense from county commissioner to congressman. You serve the four years or whatever term is appropriate and go back to your old job with no punishment or gain except for the service to your country.

I know it will never happen but it sounds like a novel idea for today. I was so interested in the idea I proposed it on NewAgTalk's Boiler room where farmers tear ideas down to their core. It has gained a lot of readership in a few short hours.

I for one would be willing to serve my country this way. It would take away all the monotonous campaigns and all the fraud and lies that go with them.

I guess it just makes too much sense, aye?

Ed Winkle

Thursday

A poster asked this morning on Crop Talk whether or not the CCA is worth keeping? That is a good question.

The Certified Crop Advisor Program was initiated in the early 90's to certify those of us who serve farmers or farm ourselves. It's a way to track and prove education, something always valuable, especially if a lawsuit arises involving such parties in the industry.

It is quite a task to take and keep track of the classes and categories although the American Society of Agronomy does a good job of administering the program. The burden of proof is on us, the license holders to take the classes we need and record them in the four categories of requirements.

Today I have no idea where I stand in renewal but I have participated in many classes this summer. It takes a lot of time and diligence to document the classes by those who put them on and those who take them.

As I teach some of the classes, I get credit for the class as well as though who listen so I get wrapped up in the presentation versus the recording of them.

I think the program is worth it and I use my certification to keep myself upsated and share with others but I can see where it is a pain for all involved. Is it really worth it?

I see another poster found that GMO corn did not pay over his non GMO corn on his farm. I never found GMO corn to be advantageous to me. The LL trait has helped my soybean production though.

Ed

Fall

Fall is falling apart around home. It is damp and wet and gloomy, not the pretty fall days like I showed in the picture Autumnal.

To Bobby, thanks for the comment. Feedback keeps me thinking and and keeps me going. Blogging gets boring for me without feedback. I am writing my response here because I have tried three times to make a comment under your comment.

I am not very happy with blogspot as they have tried to keep spam out. It has become very user unfriendly. I think Budde is right, we should have went Word Press or bought our own sight. I never dreamed I would want to do this every day nearly three years ago.

Sable has a birthday Sunday that coincides with a very important date for me too. Lots has happened since that day and Sable and LuAnn and I have seen a lot of change since that day, mostly for the good and mostly how we look at them.

The markets have been falling too and I wonder who is manipulating these crop and stock markets. They are so volatile you don't know when to buy or sell.

It is selling time for us as we don't do much buying except for next year's input. What I sell is down and what I buy is up. I can't do a thing about it today.

The weather feels like it is falling apart although I can't see the trend for October and November, it looks wet or more like winter.

I will just have to take it one day at a time.

Ed

Glory

Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, Almighty God and Father, we worship you and give you thanks and praise your for your Glory.

That's what I am thinking right now. I just wrote a letter to one of my friends and that is what we are working on today. Maybe it's the joy of another new grandchild, maybe it is the wonderful weekend we had enjoying Nature as our crop finishes up for the year but I see God's Glory everywhere. I see it in you and me if we just let it.

I am very thankful for another day on this earth putting God's Will first, not mine. I know He wants us both to be happy and I am. When I catch myself thinking of things not so good I quickly admit it and let His Will take over while go through life's daily tasks.

Some of my family and friends are working at the Brown County or Little State Fair and others are at work. I have time to give Thanks and write this blog.

One farmer on Crop Talk this morning asked how much high calcium lime he should put on? I answered from my soils and my Midwest soil test that if my base saturation is below 70%, one ton, closer to 60% two tons and below 60%, which some still are, three tons.

Three tons is most economical to spread as we don't often get a chance to lime and I doubt if we will this fall as wet as it is looking here. We will be lucky to get the crop out without too much compaction as it is but that is my thumbrule that works for my soil with my soil test, here.

That's it for today but don't forget the Glory and how we need to work for it and with it.

Ed

No. 10

We had the best start to our day today. Becky called and they are expecting another child, grandchild number 10! Madison, Liam, Brynn, Corbin, Claire, Tyler, Caoilin, Finn and ? And, two of our children don't even have children yet! I even have ten little apple trees growing, one for each grandchild.

They also got their house sold here, which will be a big worry gone from their daily routine. They are all very blessed in their careers, families and business. Thank you, Lord.

I was talking to a lady today and she asked me how farming was. After about 3 if's and's and but's I threw out she said her dad was a farmer and asked me what 4 farmers talking in one of their basements were? I didn't know so she quickly told me it's a wine cellar, and that is whine cellar!

I guess we whine about the weather, the crop. the prices, the land prices and rent, the banker and everything else. We are fortunate to farm under one of the lowest interest rates in my lifetime, though.

Trump is talking about his discussions with Romney and Perry. He is right, China has sucked our jobs right our of our country and we let them do it. We stopped at a leather goods store and I looked at a belt and it had China stamped on it in RED. I couldn't get out of that store quick enough.

Well, I am going to be a grandpa again, what do you think about that?

Ed

Sunday

It's a beautiful Sunday morning after a nice Saturday. It was so beautiful the Apple Fest nearly shut down the town of Lebanon. The Amish were making fresh pretzels and the line was backed up a block for them.

The beans need every degree of heat they can to maximize their size. I can clearly see what I have done this year and in the past to make them as beautiful as they are. I know what I need to do this fall, too, if I can get it all done. It will be what it will be.

One friend said he could easily tackle 1000 acres of corn with a one row picker in the past but in our present years we doubt what we can get done. We have to keep the faith and work in God's time. It will all work out in the end, one day at a time. Yes, I am speaking to you but especially myself.

CBS had a piece on Rin Tin Tin, the famous German Shephard who was on TV when I was a child. We think Sable is from very similar bloodlines as she acts like he does in the movies.

The word is harvest is moving very slowly out west with no lines at the elevator yet. I don't know what we will run into but we are prepared as we can be for when that day comes.

Our Gospel readings were from Phillipians 2:1 and Matthew today about the son who said NO to his father and went and did the work anyway. The second son said yes, sure, and never did it.

Which are we?

Have a great day and week,

Ed Winkle

Pork

Last night I had a new pork dish for dinner, new to me at least. It was pork medallions wrapped in bacon, grilled to perfection. The pork was a tad pink inside which is a no no the way I was raised but it had the most delicious flavor you can imagine. Then I dipped it in the barbeque sauce provided and wow, it made it even better!

I had LuAnn dipped her grilled chicken in that sauce and she agreed, it was one of the best we ever tasted. Maybe even better than our favorite at Werner's Pork House near Washington Court House! I will find out what that sauce is and get some to my friend near Filley, Nebraska who is a pork specialist.

LuAnn also got a cup of baked potato soup which would make a meal by itself with bread. I will share the recipe with you when I get time. We are going to make a pot the first chance we get to cook when the cold weather sets in. It had Colby cheese in with the cream, little red potatoes that tasted baked, bacon, green onions, celery and a big yellow onion chopped so fine you could barely see it.

I also had one of the best fish sandwiches at Werners this week you ever tasted and one night he cooked me an 8 ounce sirloin steak to perfection.

With my subject of pork today I could go into a rampage about pork spending and a whole rash of subjects related to pork but today we are resting and enjoying life and food.

We are eating well down on the farm.

How about you?

Ed