Brace Roots

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 make a difference. Early this week we were adding more nitrogen to our corn fields. Corn can't thrive and produce without N. We want our fields to finish strong. It is not a pretty site to see a corn field turn yellow (run out of nutrients) about State Fair time. And by then there is nothing you can do. Below Alex and Kurt dry spread N all night wanting to get it applied before the rains. N takes rain to get down to the roots. The roots then uptake N to the plant. Our lives also take showers of blessings (grace) in order to grow and be effective. No State Fair is a whole nother blog visit.

Have you ever wondered how our rural counties get our old bridges back in shape? They hire a contractor to cut holes in the bridge deck (floor) and then drive down I-beams into solid footing. Kind of like brace roots in a corn plant.

Then a frame network is welded just underneath the deck to resupport the traffic. Finally the I-beam tops are cut off and the holes in the bridge deck are filled back in with concrete. It's looking good Jerry.

We had around 4 inches of rain earlier this past week. Rivers and creeks came out of their banks. However just for a little while and most crops on bottoms survived.

We used the wet weather to get caught up. We took down the seed treater and organized the machine shed.

We got some help in jetting out some tile lines that had gotten plugged with tree roots looking for moisture.

I was able to get a fair amount of fencerows and road ditches sprayed. The herbicide we use kills little trees and noxious weeds while leaving the grass. I notice and like to see clean fencerows. I also think it shows our landlords we care about the appearance and stewardship of their farm.

We had a fun time Friday evening. We celebrated Gideon graduating from high school, John from 8th grade, and Rachel's birthday. It was fun to get together with family and friends for good food and fellowship.

Do you remember in early May when we visited about Tiffany coming and writing an article about farming and how it all fit together with faith and family? Well Tiffany is just recovering from a serious brain surgery. Please keep her in your prayers.

Thank you Paula for keeping us up to date on Tiffany. And thank you for all you do for our community. Thank you Pablo for your help. And most of all thank you both for your friendship.

We heard a lot these past weeks about social justice and white guilt. I oppose racism. Especially the real kind. However I also oppose being collectively and categorically being made to feel guilty just because God chose to create me white. This blog isn't big enough for all the good relationships I have with folks of a different skin color. Including all my wonderful friends in Malawi, Africa. I don't measure a person by the color of their skin. However I do measure folks by the content of their character. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Brother Doug took our parents to cousin Bill's funeral visitation and then Gideon's grad party. They enjoyed getting out. I appreciate the roots my parents instilled in me as I was growing up.

 What do brace roots in our personal life look like? Pushing deeper and further. Not superficial. Authentic and real. Overflowing with thankfulness. Expressing goodness. A work ethic. Embracing responsibility. Just like a corn field, not standing alone but supporting, helping, and teaching others. Thanks for the buffalo picture from your lot Kasey.

 Sometimes a cornfield can get a disease. Brace roots help the plant push back against the attack. I realize Covid-19 is real. However we had some corrupt politicians use a health emergency to assert power. With the help of the media they first used arguments. Then scare tactics. Then lies and deceit. And finally force, by making folks stay home. How did that happen in America? We let them. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Summer is racing by. It won't be long and going on the hill to pray and watch the sun come up will be uncomfortable. It won't be long and the birds will no longer be singing at 5am. It won't be long and there will be a chill in the air as evening comes. In a corn field we value staygreen as a quality trait. However eventually our corn plants will die. But guess what. Our end goal is not to raise corn stalks. It's to raise ears of corn with grain quality and test weight. The brace roots that helped produce grain will have fulfilled their purpose. The summertime of our lives is also racing by. Yes, we all want to finish strong (staygreen). We use braceroot qualities to grow deeper. But guess what. Our end goal is not to live forever. Yes, it's about having a relationship with Christ (Love God with everything you got). It's also about the fruit we produce (Love your neighbor as much or more than yourself). Take opportunities to use your braceroots while summer is still here. Winter will be here before we know it. Sorry for too many words this morning. Thanks for the visit.