View from the Cab: Shade? Yes please
By: Kent Casson
Weather is something we all like to talk about and I have always had a fascination with Mother Nature.
It seems we either love it or hate it. When temperatures climb above 90 degrees with 90 percent humidity, we like to complain. But, when humidity levels drop and a cool breeze blows out of the north in June, we are happy. This was the case at last week’s Ford County Fair as they had beautiful weather for the return of fair season here in Central Illinois.
We found a shady spot under a big tree and it was almost chilly at the Melvin fairgrounds – but I’m not complaining, especially since it was the middle of June. Most fairs around here tend to bring on the sweat with unpleasant temperatures and a downpour of rain at some point.
Weather is the name of the game currently for the markets as everybody watches to see where the rain does or does not fall in the various growing regions of the United States this summer. All eyes are especially on the Midwest and our part of the world as we grow the most corn and soybeans. Rumors of a cooler and possibly wetter trend for late June caused corn and soybean prices to tumble last week, but any hint at a large drought would cause prices to skyrocket.
Market volatility is in the full swing this summer as any little bit of news with weather or other world events seems to sway crop prices one way or another. I do know that if we have a cooler July or even August, our crops will be made – especially the corn. Corn plants like when it is cooler as they are less stressed and can produce big ears. A large soybean crop can be created with a few timely last-minute rains in August.
One fellow farmer told me the other day that he didn’t mind too much if prices fell back to lower levels since higher prices aren’t always the best. This usually results in the various ag input prices increasing as well. I think he felt this way since he already sold much of his new crop inventory for the coming fall before prices really skyrocketed in the past couple of months.
Our family enjoyed hosting the second annual longest Friday of the year celebration last week on the farm complete with radio broadcasts out on the front porch, music, family, friends and fun. The kids cooled off with water activities in the yard while the grown-ups sat around and visited while enjoying plenty of food. This has become a day we all look forward to each June.
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