A walk out into an area corn field this morning made me realize how good this spring and summer has been. The crops belie all the health and economic difficulties we’ve been facing in our rural countryside.
The standard “knee high by the Fourth of July” already has been met for much of the region’s corn crop, the planting season having mostly gone smoothly and the growing season also to a good start. Crop progress reports this week echoed what people of the soil already have known: The crops are moving right along.
The vast majority of the first-crop hay has been harvested in these parts, and some timely rains have started the second-crop on its way; the soybeans, oats, potatoes and other crops also are looking good.
It’s good that those crops are where they are. This season of cancelled fairs, field-days and exhibitions have been tough to take on top of all of those aforementioned health and financial worries.
We needed the land to give us something to smile about and it’s come through, so far. We’ll heed its message and keep the hope alive.
— Scott Schultz
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