StillwatersIowa

Good morning. In southern Iowa June 28 reminds us of a storm day. Back in the 1960s wind and hail storms seemed to hit on this date. We watch the wind direction and predict our weather. Over the past couple of weeks we have been monitoring the wind speed and direction in order to know when and where to spray soybeans. Most things go smoother with a tailwind. It seems we have help. Travel and jobs take much less effort. Monday Adi helped Grandma with the smaller grandkids. They enjoyed picking cherries because they got to stand up high on the Ranger. It's always fun to take a break. Thanks to Jan for coming by with waters and brownies. Wednesday was my 64th birthday so Jan and I celebrated by going out for supper. We went to Liberty Street Kitchen in Pella and both had excellent meals. BJ and John loaded up equipment and went to do a small tiling project for Becky and Brian. I enjoyed this snap last Sunday showing a Father's Day arm wrestling contest between...

An essential part of life is a good root system. As we go through summer (growing) we continue to add roots. A corn plant will add about 2 3/4 inches of roots for every leaf stage it goes through. Along with growth and maturity comes brace roots. Sometimes our environment or our decisions hinder our root growth. We are often too unable, too weary, or too unwilling to put the effort into brace roots. Roots keep one standing during storms. We like to see a good stand (population) this time of year. We also like to see a picket fence (an even stand every 6 to 7 inches). Social distancing is not a good thing in a corn field. It's not a good thing in life either. Just like corn plants we need interaction with each other. So many things are happening in a corn field this time of year like determining girth and length potential of the ear (yield). The growth period of a corn plant between 3 collared (V3) and 5 collared (V5) leaves is when we as farmers have the opportunity to mak...

A landmark can be an object that's easily recognized but often no longer used. We have a field we call the 4 silos. Everyone that sees the silos knows where the field is. However these landmarks don't always last. Have you ever been given directions from someone who says? "Just go to the crossroads where Hubert used to live. Then after you've driven to where the railroad tracks used to be turn right and drive to that oak tree that was struck by lightning back in 1960". If you don't remember Hubert, the railroad, or the old tree, you're going to get lost. Jan and I went on a long Ranger ride last Sunday afternoon. We drove through 7 communities including Given, Eddyville, Cedar, Wright, Keomah Village, University Park, and Oskaloosa where we stopped at Caseys and picked up a pizza for supper. We stopped at the old Lake Keomah bath house and both remembered swimming there as kids. A landmark can also be an event that marks a turning point, a discove...