TR: Wheats in/River holding

Just back from a short week out on the River. A mixed trip with mixed
purposes. First off trying to shake off the sadness of a nephew's
death. So one of the things I did was crawl into the camper and sleep
lots. Best drug in the world next to a glass of fresh water.

Next was fishing. Lots of little caddis come evening and lite hatches
of little blond flies. I always first go to Kaufman Stimulators, color
and size depending on what is about. That was grasshoppers in
abundance. But for reasons i cannot fathom they would not go for my
matching stimulators or any other hopper pattern in my boxes. My
stubbornness finally was overcome and I went to light mayfly pattern
size 18 down to 22. That worked and i stuck with it. Mixed results. ie
lots of tiny cutts and white fish minnows, but enough decent rainbows
to make it worthwhile. There had been a little rain that had made it
over the Cascades to dampen the ground until 3-4 hours of sun burned
it off, but i think the river temp was up. Need to get a thermometer.
The river level surprised me. It was higher than this time last year.
It was a wet Spring so my guess is the upstream springs and maybe less
irrigation demand was the cause. Ill be back in a week or so and plan
to fish the steelhead season beginning to end on this river and the
Tucannon.

I do most of my fishing mid morning and evening till dark. Mid-day on
this river is just too hot. Yeah it's a "dry-heat' but it is hotter
than hell. So in a perfectly logical response I a., nap in the shade,
or B. haul water to my trees. Trees doing surprisingly well.(After my
fiasco with the chestnuts Giles entrusted to me, my nurturing avatar
needs some success.) With other stuff and funeral etc my trees had
gone a month+ without watering. I was worried. But on examination only
2 were looking stressed and the rest were settling in fine. I expect
there is some kind of genetic selection evident in the ponderosa that
conserves water in the Western dry season. I also wanted to weed-whack
around the trees and do some mowing control of Star Thistle but the
fire danger was just too high. Maybe next time after a little rain.

Then there is the wheat. My farmer left me a garbage can of wheat.
beautiful stuff this. Hard Red Winter wheat. Near as I can tell most
of the crop here on the Southern Palouse is in and I am told that as
of Friday 65% of the crop is sold and the price continues to rise
above $7 a bushel. Too late for Obama but the economic boost this
year's wheat crop will give to the country will be substantial. The
quality is great and the US has stocks to sell. Already I can see more
new Dodge 3500s and F350 dualies on the road. Wish I had some Cat or
Deere stock. Fat times in farm country. They deserve a good year. Corn
and rice prices should also rise.

My little field is beautiful. No tally yet but I am guessing 80-85
bushels per acre. (Texas/OKL ave is about 36-40). Washington ave this
year i think will go to 65. Take all this with a big grain of salt
because i am no farmer or ag economist. (My field was labor econ)
Standing out in the middle of that field feeds my soul.

Dave

"DaveS" wrote in message
...
Too late for Obama but the economic boost this
year's wheat crop will give to the country will be substantial.

agreed. The folks farming our land in VA put wheat in this year before
following that crop with soybeans. The dry weather seems to be hurting the
soybean yield, but apparently the wheat harvest was good and the prices have
been climbing steadily.
Tom

On 2010-09-05 18:01:57 -0400, DaveS said:

Standing out in the middle of that field feeds my soul.

Feeds your soul? Bull****. Try helping someone besides David.
Helping others will feed your soul and give it all the nourishment it
needs.

Dave of the Asphalt Jungle

On Sep 5, 3:43*pm, "Tom Littleton" wrote:
"DaveS" wrote in message

...
*Too late for Obama but the economic boost this

year's wheat crop will give to the country will be substantial.

agreed. The folks farming our land in VA put wheat in this year before
following that crop with soybeans. The dry weather seems to be hurting the
soybean yield, but apparently the wheat harvest was good and the prices have
been climbing steadily.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Tom

I should have bought my place years ago. This is a great time to buy
land. My dad was a frustrated farmer. His Grandfather had lost their
potato land after farming for 11 generations in central Jersey and my
father's attempts at chicken farming suffered from zero land. The ag
connection is just good for my head. With so many people counting the
US out and the ideologues screaming their nonsense. it is very
reassuring to see the basic strength of the land. These people's
"conservatism' is based on work, fairness and natural processes, not
on what some screaming rightard radio jackal makes up. It is the kind
of conservatism I can respect and discuss with an open mind.

Roughly where is your place in VA? I always coveted those beautiful
farms in the Shenandoah, and i still have a little spot over the line
in WVA near Rio. Apple country that.

Dave

On Sep 5, 4:11*pm, D. LaCourse wrote:
On 2010-09-05 18:01:57 -0400, DaveS said:

Standing out in the middle of that field feeds my soul.

Feeds your soul? *Bull****. *Try helping someone besides David. *
Helping others will feed your soul and give it all the nourishment it
needs.

Dave of the Asphalt Jungle

Work it all out of your system Loretta, that a girl.
Dave

On Sep 5, 10:47*pm, Todd wrote:
On 09/05/2010 10:28 PM, DaveS wrote:
.

Well it sounds like you are into the life cycles of the invertibrates
more than i am at present. Thats a good thing. Stick with it.

Dave

"DaveS" wrote in message
...
Roughly where is your place in VA? I always coveted those beautiful
farms in the Shenandoah, and i still have a little spot over the line
in WVA near Rio. Apple country that.

we are far to the East, over Chesapeake Bay in Accomack county. My
great(x8)grandfather landed there in 1668, and Littletons have been there
ever since.
Tom