We used to hope for “knee high by the 4th of July” but back in the fifties, it seldom was. With the new hybrids, not only is it waist high by then but the yields have increased by many multiples. I grew up just off the northwest corner of the corn belt and 35 bushel per acre corn was the norm unless we dried out (quite common there). Now, 200 bushels an acre is the minimum expected. Because of hybrids, drought rarely causes crop failures and the Corn Belt has expanded.
When it doesn’t rain on the Plains, the kids don’t get new clothes for school in the fall. The first 2 years after my folks bought the farm, they experienced “hail outs”. The third year “dried out”. The farm payment was $3,000 a year and they struggled mightily to come up with it the first several years. We had no indoor plumbing and used an “outhouse” until I was 9. First TV at 10. And, like many young farmers of the time, we were sharecroppers until they bought that farm when I was 13. I have little sympathy for people who won’t work as much as it takes to support themselves.
I get very worried about the movement to do away with farms now. And the absolute dislike of farmers and farming. People really don’t understand where they get their food.
The USA has lots of regulations on food products that foreign countries do not—so to say ‘we will just get them at the store–who buys from whomever” well you understand
Many many many years ago, my father in law at the time had a farm in Iowa. We went back to visit a couple of times to visit during harvest time, and one of the things I got to do was drive the 3 row corn picker he had. It was not the easiest thing in the world for me to do at the time, and I got off the rows a couple of times, but it was one of the best times I ever had. I had thought about being a farmer, but they talked me out of it, as I had just started a good job with AT&T, not a bad company to work for back then. Worked for them for 40 years, but always wondered what it would have been like to be a farmer. I kind of live some of that thru some of your writings. Please keep on keeping on.
One more thing, I had to go back and hand pick all of the corn I ran over when I got off the rows. They didn’t waste anything as that was their living.
I planted late as it is warm and mine is almost knee high here in NH.
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YAY!
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Looking good! 😀
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So far so good! YAY
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We used to hope for “knee high by the 4th of July” but back in the fifties, it seldom was. With the new hybrids, not only is it waist high by then but the yields have increased by many multiples. I grew up just off the northwest corner of the corn belt and 35 bushel per acre corn was the norm unless we dried out (quite common there). Now, 200 bushels an acre is the minimum expected. Because of hybrids, drought rarely causes crop failures and the Corn Belt has expanded.
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Terry and I always wonder what the stress is when you don’t irrigate. Just waiting on rainfall. We both think we would not make it. 🙂
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When it doesn’t rain on the Plains, the kids don’t get new clothes for school in the fall. The first 2 years after my folks bought the farm, they experienced “hail outs”. The third year “dried out”. The farm payment was $3,000 a year and they struggled mightily to come up with it the first several years. We had no indoor plumbing and used an “outhouse” until I was 9. First TV at 10. And, like many young farmers of the time, we were sharecroppers until they bought that farm when I was 13. I have little sympathy for people who won’t work as much as it takes to support themselves.
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I get very worried about the movement to do away with farms now. And the absolute dislike of farmers and farming. People really don’t understand where they get their food.
The USA has lots of regulations on food products that foreign countries do not—so to say ‘we will just get them at the store–who buys from whomever” well you understand
LikeLike
Many many many years ago, my father in law at the time had a farm in Iowa. We went back to visit a couple of times to visit during harvest time, and one of the things I got to do was drive the 3 row corn picker he had. It was not the easiest thing in the world for me to do at the time, and I got off the rows a couple of times, but it was one of the best times I ever had. I had thought about being a farmer, but they talked me out of it, as I had just started a good job with AT&T, not a bad company to work for back then. Worked for them for 40 years, but always wondered what it would have been like to be a farmer. I kind of live some of that thru some of your writings. Please keep on keeping on.
One more thing, I had to go back and hand pick all of the corn I ran over when I got off the rows. They didn’t waste anything as that was their living.
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Yep— you don’t waste anything. Each ear is the part of the money to operate and live on.
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Lulu: “Knee high and then some!”
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YAY!!! Anyway, that is what Mom and Dad say…Me…it’s easy to get lost in it! Boo Berry
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We never had corn that high by the fourth of July when I was growing up!
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We were concerned, but the rains came and then the sun and it shot up!
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Yea!
Great looking corn! Very special family!
Luv you guys!
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Love you back!!!
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Much higher than Knee High. Great job!
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Yes! YAY!
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What a great photo!
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Thank you 🙂
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Fabulous! What a great shot 😊
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🙂
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