Harvest just days away

  Harvest will be a few short days away in our area.  The Soybeans are maturing fast with the warm weather we are having and the corn is nearing maturity also.  I expect to begin my beans about September 17th and that will be a week earlier than I have ever started before.  If bean harvest goes well I should be into the cornfields before October.  As we have been talking all year the fields will be erratic with some continuous corn and some corn varieties that did not have tolerance for the dry weather being absolutely terrible. Also the days that the pollination occurred with high heat having a huge effect.  I continue to think that those fields are under evaluated in crop totals.  The latest estimates are about 10.5 billion bu for corn @ 120 bu. per acre and 2.6 billion bu. soybeans @ 34.8 bu. per acre. 
   We have begun to get some rain to replenish some soil moisture and that will certainly help any wheat seeding this fall for the summer crop next year.  It is also encouraging that it can actually rain again.  The temperatures are still remaining above normal.
  A big event in the area is the local fair.  I hear that there are record numbers of entries and those people will soon learn if their cooking, sewing, gardening,woodworking, or animals win the eye of the judges and receive the blue ribbon.  Good luck to all that have worked so hard on their projects.
  Farmers are being as optimistic as possible and I have heard a few jokes about the drought: 
   What do you do when the corn yields are this low when you combine?
   You put a pig in the combine grain tank in the morning and change pigs at noon.

    What do you call a bottle cap on a fence post?
     A rain gauge.
                                                                      
Planning of the harvest celebration is nearing completion and looks to be the best ever.  If you wish to help that day contact your participating church.  Most of all come and enjoy the company of  your fellow Christians as we celebrate our harvest with the knowledge that although it is reduced this year it is still a great bounty from God.  With our bounty we will be able to aid those abroad that deal with droughts worse than we are experiencing this year on a regular basis. 
                                                                             Serving together, Dean Lundeen
                      PICTURE OF DROUGHT DAMAGED CORN