drought

Once again the one-half to one inch of rain the weather service predicted for the weekend turned into a dust settler-a bare tenth of an inch if that.  As unpredictable as the weather trends can be, it is wise to begin planning for drier than normal circumstances.  An extra tillage trip bleeds hard to spare spring/snow melt moisture away.  The hay crops will be short, which has to do with carrying capacity.  A more immediate concern is that cool season grass pastures will not carry much more than half as many animals in drought as in wet conditions.  If the dry conditions are widespread enough, corn prices will begin to rise.  This has to do with stocking rate, which for the farm is not quickly or easily adjusted.  However, if done early enough, the impact can be minimized.   

The crop insurance program, as corrupt and wasteful as it is, provides some protection.  But no farmer of the older type is ever satisfied to rely on it as a substitute for good heads up farming

Jim.