Albin News Readers,
Winter continued this week with a few more inches of snow and a return to sub zero temperatures. The only difference this week was that the snow and cold came with very little wind. We are now into the coldest weeks of the year, the time of year when 20 degrees seems almost tropical. Remember a few months ago when 50 degrees felt down right chilly? It's amazing how quickly we just adapt to the changing of the seasons.
Winter is so completely different from summer here that when we're in one season, it's difficult for me to even picture what the other is like! It's like being in a completely different world. I've noticed that learning to prepare for it and adapt to it affects us in ways we don't realize sometimes. One time I spent several months in Ecuador where there are no seasonal changes. They call Quito the land of eternal springtime because it is 75 some degrees all year with almost no wind and just a few rain showers now and again. I really enjoyed it there but noticed that they have little reason think about the future. They never have to stare down the frozen barrel of old man winter's artic blaster and know it's time to get going before they freeze up like pop sickles.
The days are getting noticeably longer now and there is just a dim comprehension in the back of my mind that spring is coming. We've seen the miracle of spring so many times. In this world of frozen gravel and drifting snow it still takes a little faith to believe that it will happen again.
In community news, Bette Lu is recovering nicely from her recent surgery. Daughter Koral Peck stayed home for an extra two weeks to help out during her recovery. Koral's two sons Lincoln and Jasper are keeping things entertaining around the Lerwick homestead in the mean time.
Cordell Willert just got back from a trip to the Vaughan farm in upstate New York. The trip was a lot of firsts for Cord: first time on an airplane, first time to be in New York, first time to go further East than Cabela's, and first time to go snow skiing. Cord went to New York to visit Cody Vaughan, who he worked with quite a bit this summer. The two had plans to be in Time's Square to see the ball drop but Cord's connecting flight was delayed. Despite this setback, Cordell said he thoroughly enjoyed the trip and wants to do some more traveling should the opportunity present itself.
In ag news, the 2011 acre war is in full swing and so far corn is winning. I'm a little disapointed that the dry beans folks haven't decided to come out with some competitive grower contracts to maintain their acres. I hope they remember that corn can follow just about any crop in a rotation and has established itself as a viable money making crop even in our colder part of the country. If this corn market keeps going up, local farmers can and will plant more corn. If we have another fall like this one, it's even possible to plant winter wheat behind corn!
There is another important NASS report out this week. The 2011 winter wheat seedings report is due out Wed morning at the market open. This is the report that sparked the big wheat spike in 2008. Wheat supplies were tight and planted acres came in lower than expected. This caused a chain reaction that ended in euphoric wheat buying.
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