Values

RFV-(Relative feed value) is an equation measuring the quality of a bale of hay. An RFV in a clean pre-bloom field of alfalfa can run from 150 to 180. A good baling moisture is around 15%. BJ's baler automatically adds a curing agent if the moisture gets too high.

The cow-calf farmers generally like a little grass in their hay. Some like all grass. BJ generally round bales and net wraps grass hay. Below John is calling Dean to figure out how to fix a net wrap problem. BJ and his son John baled well over 100 acres on Thursday.

Jan and I are double cropping our alfalfa field around our house. I no-tilled soybeans directly into the alfalfa stubble yesterday. Our planting season is complete except for the flooded acres and a farm we are tiling.

We had around 800 acres of wet bottoms after the heavy rains a week ago. Some have already been replanted. Others are still under water.

We also had a customer south of Attica with heavy hail. Our job as a seed dealer seed dealer is to help folks decide if the value of replant would be greater than the value of the damaged crop. And whether there is an option to switch to soybeans since it's June already.

Karl went to Colfax this past week to get a semi load of replant seed. We, and Becks, do not charge for replant seed. Troubles lead to opportunities. And in our case it has little to do with business, and everything to do with the relationships and friendships we have with those we work with and sell to. It's not just a business value for satisfied customers. We want our customers and friends to succeed.

Values are moral principles that help us all decide right from wrong. It's been such a blessing the last few years to work with a seed company that not only shares our goals of honestly, integrity, and serving, but courage and confidence of what we believe in the field as well as in life.

I continued to spread extra dry nitrogen on our and others corn acres last week during the dry days. Many corn fields have yellowing areas in the field. Yellow corn is looking for nitrogen. The plants in the field are currently switching from their baby seed roots to the more permanent nodal stalk roots. As those stalk roots grow deeper they will probably eventually find nitrogen which is deeper in the soil because of lots of water.

Life in the seed shed is an important job. Sometimes it's grab and go as folks come for extra seed to finish up. Sometimes it's crop conversations with customers and friends. This past week we were able to help three different farmers as they needed planter parts, and were able to borrow the parts off of one of our planters we weren't using at the time. Often there are conversations about the struggles and blessings of life in general.

Our country today is struggling with spiritual and moral disease. Over time a lack of values can lead to questioning what our meaning and purpose is. Then folks start looking for meaning and purpose in all the wrong places. Kind of like yellow corn that has lost it's roots.

I hope this NBC News poll isn't correct. However I'm concerned it is. It shows the change in values of what's important by generation. In my opinion this points out we are on a steep slippery slope downhill.

Sadly, our churches are not exempt. Matt and Jenny came to Doug and Ginger's Memorial Day campout last Sunday morning where Matt gave the church service message. Matt talked about believing unbelievers. It's not a new problem. Read John 2:23-25. Folks believe there is a God. They may even believe He came to save us from our sins. But it hasn't gone from their heads to their hearts. Our hearts determine we will not just believe, but live a value system that effects others, and makes a difference. Blessings.