Erik's Cloud 9

A NEW LINK

In a perfect world (for some) our weathercasts would be 14 minutes long and include agricultural forecasts and outlooks. Well,,, can't do it. But, in the info age the savvy farmer needs only a laptop to take into the combine cab and get all the info he could ever need - especially about the weather. A new Minnesota Ag site is up and running and can be found at http://www.linderfarmnetwork.com . In fact, I found a few  interesting tidbits there this morning.

1) From Mike Palmerino (DTN Senior Ag Meteorologist)

An Observation Of Note

Latest crop reports show significant drying of the topsoils in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. What may this mean for the Midwest.

In looking at the latest crop reports, I have noticed a significant drying out of the topsoils in parts of the Southeast states in the past couple of weeks specifically in Georgia, South Carlolina and Florida. This certainly is of growing concern in Georgia, which suffered through a terrible drought last year. However, this would also have implications for the Midwest. If this tendency for drier weather persists in the Southeast, then the tendency for wet weather will continue in the Midwest states. At this point, the upper level pattern to promote dryness is not very well established over the Southeast, so that trend may not continue. However, I feel it is worth noting and monitoring, for it could be giving us a hint of where the weather pattern may be heading this summer.

Mike

And, 2) Corn planting is much-delayed this season. Only 27 percent of the U.S. corn crop is in the ground as of this past weekend, compared with the five-year average of 59 percent.

It sure seems that the weather of late (Cold, and or wet with occasional snow not too long ago) is really impacting the field work. Less than half of the planting that has normally taken place at this point has been done.

Best of luck to you Mr. and Mrs. Minnesota Farmer. We're pulling for you!!!

BACK TO THE POLE - BUT WHICH ONE???

So, last time we cleared the "penguin-free"air about our flightless friend the penguin. You find them at the SOUTH pole. When asked last evening ( in downright parental pop-quiz fashion ) about  where one would find the tuxedo-clad swimmers, our 13 year old daughter Taylor - after a long pause - said "The Zoo". Surely a political or public relations career in her future as she's proven to be quite the diplomat - and a smart one, at that!

By the way, the "20" reference goes back to my CB radio days (yes, I had those) in the 70s. "10-20", or "20" is the code for "location". Dad bought me a base station for Christmas and from my Bloomington bedroom I monitored and occasionally stabbed the airwaves as "Captain Fantastic" (my "handle"). Maybe this love of hearing my own voice (ha, ha) got the broadcasting bug firmly implanted in my brain. By the way, all apologies to Elton John. It's just that "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" was my favorite album (and still is) just out at the time and I fealt that a little title-theft was in order. I know upon reading this my wife will sustain an injury from laughter. Poor her. But perhaps The Captain has struck, again. 10-4 good buddy!!!