From the Bottom Up
March 13th, 2008 by Northern FarmerThings are changing since my last post, its finally above zero, in fact it been above freezing these last few days too. Talk about a change of weather! The snow that we do have is starting to melt on the hillsides and knobs, so the world ain’t all white anymore. Heard my first Red Wing Blackbird today, so that’s the official spring bird I heard and seen. The killdeers and robins should be showing up shortly, they always seem to show up within a few days of each other in these parts. The local Mississippi River geese did a low flyover this morning, that’s a first this year as they scout their spring nesting grounds down in our home pasture. So life is changing even when it didn’t appear that it would ever do so a few days ago.
And input prices are also skyrocketing in farming as with everything else I guess. But in farming a person really feels them, I suppose because it takes so much more than the average person. In the comments of the last post this was touched on a bit. But it has me dwelling more and more. What will the future bring out in the rural areas? The one for sure thing is that it will be totally different than what a person is used to now. And I for one am glad! I don’t care, when a person looks at things from every angle there is no way that life as we have known it out here will continue. No matter how much a person puts their head in the sand it won’t change what will be happening in the years to come. And I was also thinking today about this area we live in. Now this area is not a heavy crop production area. Even though the whole area is farms the cash cropping has never been the dominant way of farming. But there are a few around doing that. It dawned on me today though how many cash croppers around here have gotten big and collapsed later. Its amazing how they just don’t seem to last like the family farms. Which is OK with me. But just thinking about it, its no better than any city factory job, cash cropping that is. It seems like folks burn out and collapse, families fall apart, all the modern stuff that society considers normal and good.
Because when farming becomes a business first a person gave up the “life” of it. The industry of agriculture almost froths at the mouth when family farming is mentioned, in fact they’ve been trying to change the definition to cover industrial farmers that have a family and do factory livestock, or are serfs to Monsanto and the rest of us are just a bunch of heretics according to them. The jokes on them though, cause they’re gonna lose whether anyone believes it or not. Because the facts all point to a collapse of the farming system. The soils are mined out, they’re just holding agents for the crops that the animals get sick eating, (we’re talking GMO’s here), the cheap input era is swiftly coming to a close for crops and livestock farming. A person would have to be blind not to see it coming. But surprisingly there’s allot of blind folks out there!
Things are starting to shake. But the news still denies that there’s much wrong with the economy. Cause if they told the truth there’d be allot of people changing some spending habits and we can’t have that now can we! People might start getting careful and that’s “bad” for the economy you know. But the wool can’t be pulled over the eyes of everyone. There’s allot of people waking up. Things will change from the bottom up, not the top down. The top is rotten to the core, no matter who’s in power. Its all the same agenda, world government, globalism. Nothing less. Years ago I’da said that’s a little far fetched but no more. Its happening everyday, at a roar!
Nope, it ain’t going to come from the top, change will never come from there. Its gotta be at the bottom. And that’s where its coming from. There’s millions of dollars being spent, or perhaps billions to try and take over this movement, this awakening of the simple people. But I believe that no matter how much is spent on propaganda against the small rural homesteaders and farmers and their families the lies will not hold water. Because God is on the move, and He will not be mocked! If anyone were to ask me why there’s an awakening amongst the folks in the country side and many in the city all I can say is its from God. Just like industrialism is not from God.
So when the inputs get so high that it’ll be what’s considered impossible today what will happen? Talk about a great awakening, there will be no heads in the sand at that point! Its been almost three years on this old blog and I believe more now than I ever did that its going to hit the fan! Three years ago they said the housing boom would go forever, yup, sure did eh. “They” say allot of things, but what been being said on all these various blogs have been deadly accurate in comparison. Are we just a bunch of malcontents or is there truth being spoken out? The way it looks to me, there’s been allot of truth issuing forth from all these different blogs these last few years. And something tells me that’s going to continue even as hard as blogging can sometimes be on people.
No matter what all happens the old fashioned Bible believing Christians are going to survive and even thrive. Like it was once said. The enemy is on our left, the enemy is on our right, the enemy is behind us and the enemy is in front of us, THEY CAN”T GET AWAY NOW! It sometimes seems like this is such a big battle coming, with a world going down the tubes in every direction. But God will be with His people through it all. That’s a promise and He don’t break promises! No matter how dim things look there’s always those promises for those that believe! Can society be changed from the simple folks that fear God out here in the countryside? I believe that this will be where change comes form, a good change! Christian families taking care of their own, and acting like Christians, helping each other out and helping the stranger too. Like I said, it won’t come from the top of society, it’ll be coming from the God fearing families that dot the countryside.
March 13th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
You’re right Tom, let the changes come, it’s about time! Snow is melting here too, but I woke up to fresh snow this morning, I guess we set some sort of snow record here this year! This evening the roads are clear and the sound of dripping is everywhere. Diesel is $4.10 here, they filled our propane tank this morning, $2.40 a gallon! Yessir, that’s change! A question for you, trying to pick between E-95 or Minn13 corn from Albert Lea seeds, any thoughts?
March 13th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Hey Brent,
I never planted E-95 so I can’t say there. But with the MN 13 I was less than satisfied with the strain from Albert Lea Seeds. The Mn 13 I plant from Wisconsin clearly out preformed it. More of a farmers corn. Where there was any moister at all it was awesome to say the least. Plus the Wisconsin seed is 85 day and can be used for some good picking corn on years when there’s more than enough around here. I’ll be planting 25 or 30 acres of MN 13 this year. But the field close to home that I want to be the main silage field, (if it rains), will be planted with the OP variety Goliath. I’m going for broke and I want silage and lots of it. Tired of these lean years and am hoping the Goliath will at least grow in the lower lands. See, I’m deep in drought mentality yet
Anyway, all I can say is I won’t plant the Albert Lea variety of MN 13 ever again.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Hello Tom
I just finished seeding the pasture, and planted Sugar Ann peas in the garden. Spring is off and running here in Kentucky, upper 60’s and calves are hitting the ground (Praise The Lord!!).I am confident warm weather is headed your way soon. Concerning this black gold hitting the fan, I believe it is hitting it now.( Funny thing my grandfather use to say about the smell of manure, when others said Tom them hogs stink, He’d stick his nose in the air and say smells like money to me.) I was planning for the year’s expenses and took a look at diesel prices E-GAD seems to me my beef should be $2 per pound to cover these fuel prices. We have got to find other fuel sources here on the farm. I remember you mentioned on an interview one time (Plain Talk) that you were thinking of brewing white lightning as we call it. You mentioned a corn variety you were experimenting with, but failed to give the name. I would like to know the variety if it’s no secret. I understand there are secrets to the recipe as the Baldwin sisters used to say (I’m telling my age here). Some of my ancestors were pretty good at this art and I am considering giving it a try. I like the idea of no waste feed the hogs and chickens the distiller’s grain higher protein than we started with. I might even pull off some corn syrup to feed my Honey Bees in the early spring. I really believe we out here in the country have to figure out how to make it with out relying on the industrialist and bankers of this country. Wait a minute; we did that a long time ago before the War of Northern Aggression! Hey Tom do ya think history could be repeating itself?
May Jesus bless you and your family!
Allen
March 14th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Hey Allen!
Here spring is just trying to put a dent into winter. But it sure beats 20 below I tell you. Since that Plain Talk thingy a couple years ago we never had a crop where I could do any of what I wanted to do. Complete and total disaster here as far as crops and such these last two years, especially last year. But I have that feeling in my bones that things are changing around here and we’ll again see 12 foot high corn and lush hay fields, green pastures and creeks a running.
Sounds like you folks have it pretty nice compared to over tis way
So when the day comes back when we have cribs full of corn there will be some cookin around here. Those corn cribs full of OP corn will sure be different than cribs full of industrial corn. That old MN 13 made the best shine there was and now when I look at full corn cribs a fella can go out, shell some ears and grind up some durn good corn meal for the family! Glory! And there was none of that with industrial ag. There’s blessings to those that follow the ways that God created this land for!
Got me thinking today, yup, we are blessed when we do things right!
Thanks!
March 14th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Hi Tom
I was just wondering whether your Goliath corn is white or yellow?
Thanks
John
March 14th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Hey John,
Its a white corn and the only reason I’m planting it is for a silage bunker filler. I won’t be able to save the seed from it, but the OP traits of much higher feed value and protein are in the corn so I’m satisfied. The corn is a hundred and twenty day and will not mature around here to dry down. No big deal because its for silage.
I also am planting Reids Yellow dent, they say its 90 day but I rather doubt it, although its from Michigan so you never know. That could probably be used for either silage or pickin corn depending on our season here. Again I purchased this for volume and for the OP advantage of feed value and protein.
Now if’n it’ll only rain this year………
March 16th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Hey Tom, it’s spring here for sure now! This morning while unloading a truckload of haylege for the heifers I heard the call of the Sandhill Cranes! They seem to show up about a week or so before the big melt starts, so I know it’s time now to get working on my plow. By the way, if you don’t mind my asking, where do you get your MN 13 corn seed from? Thanks!
March 16th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Evening Brent,
Busy day with church and chores and Bible stuff. Hmm, I’ll have to keep a lookout and an ear open for them Sandhills, didn’t see or hear anything yet. Was just watching three deer about a quarter mile away just before dark, they’re coming back from the tamarack swamps as the snow slowly melts. I’m ready for spring let me tell you.
I get my MN 13 from Wisconsin, just east of the Twin Cities. The farmer’s name is Rich Holman. I don’t know his prices or anything yet this year, I’d better call him within the next couple of days. he also sells Wapsie Valley and I believe both are certified organic. Phone number is 715-684-2488. He’s the one who raises the MN13 and Wapsie Valley for Green Haven OP Seed Group. I’ve boughten direct from him the last couple of years. Although there’s really no price difference.