The weather last week was just like a magician at work “Poof,” away went the cold weather. “Poof,” there was the warm weather. Then another “poof” and up came the wind. I woke up to 7 C and a brisk wind Thursday morning. Sure got that hoar frost off the trees. This weather is nice, but anybody that knows anything knows we are in for more cold weather. This is Saskatchewan.
For those who believe in the hoar frost, there is none to report. I can tell you that when I grew Polish canola, I used to write down whenever there was a wind, especially in the fall. Polish canola swaths were bad for blowing away. I can tell you with a good deal of certainty that on June 11, 2015 there will be a wind. Spraying will have to stop for June 11. Write it down, see if I am wrong. I know I won’t be.
Sitting in a doctor’s office in Lloydminster the other day I started talking to a fellow about my age and he was telling me his favourite day of the year was coming up. I thought maybe he was starting his second childhood and he was looking forward to Christmas. He knew he had me, so with a smirk on his face he said Dec. 21 was his favorite day of the year. It is the shortest day of the year and every day after that, the days got longer and more sun will be shining. I had to agree with him. I think I will claim I like Dec. 21 best, too. I like sunshine.
In farm news, son Ron has been checking on prices of wheat. The elevator companies are at it again. The price of wheat varies by over a dollar a bushel from the bottom to the top between elevators. If you think the prices are all the same, you are wrong. The price varies between elevators. Delivery opportunities also vary. Some will take the wheat right now and others are playing that “book it in now game” and “maybe we will call you in a month or two.” The same ones who will not let you deliver until later also have the poorest price. Would you shop your samples around to gain a dollar a bushel more? I know I would.
Check on the protein in your wheat at the same time. That varies up to a point between companies. There is a lot of money lost to farmers because companies are not paying for the protein. Some testers are set below what the wheat actually is. The protein is regulated by the Canadian Grain Commission and every company has test samples provided by the Grain Commission to check on the accuracy of their testers. Try and get them to take the test samples out of the drawer to test their tester. Good luck with that.
At a big ag conference in Saskatoon an expert was expanding on how there was this big surplus of soybeans in the world and how the Americans were going to plant a whole bunch more soybeans. This would lead to an oversupply of soybeans and force the price of oilseeds lower. He thought planting canola was a poor choice. This, my friends, is the best news I have heard about planting canola this year. Every time you see an “expert” not recommending seeding a particular crop before the crop is even in the ground, seed’er wall to wall. Nothing is better than going against the crowd. It’s a long time until harvest, many a thing can change.
We filled up the car with gas yesterday in Lloydminster. It was $53. Normally there is just enough change to get a pop and chocolate bar out of $100 if you don’t let it get too low. Where was this price when I was filling up my gas pot swathers? We can enjoy this price while we can because just as sure as God made little green apples, this sucker is going up again. Oil company executives in Calgary are wringing their hands as the price of oil drops below $60 a barrel. They are nervously looking at cutbacks and hope it is not their jobs that are on the cut-back list. Government finance ministers are holding their breaths hoping this drop in oil price ends soon. A great deal of government spending is revenue coming from the taxes on oil to provide money to run the government. The rest of us are not wasting our time worrying about the oil executive’s job or government finances. We are just blissfully going along, enjoying finally getting a small break, our tank is full of gas, we have a little money left in our jeans and we’re a driving. Thank you Big Guy. I know, I know. We are not worthy, we are not worthy. Thanks anyway, but just let us keep on driving.
I would like to send condolences to Joyce Jeffrey and family on the passing of her husband Alex. He was 88. They were our neighbours only a mile away cross country for many years. Alex was a self-taught, gifted accordion player. He could play any song anybody would ask for and you could tell by the smile on his face and twinkle in his eye that he had a love for music like no other. Alex had many talents — music, welding, helping Joyce for many years at farmers’ markets and just plain gardening. After he retired from farming he truly enjoyed watching the plants grow in the huge garden that the two of them planted, weeded, watered and reaped. The garden was always filled from end to end and side to side so therefore every year they grew tons more produce than one family could ever use. Many, many families in the area were recipients of the bountiful harvest of veggies. There was nothing wasted. Alex will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
My condolences go to the family of Eleanor Donald. Her funeral was Dec. 8. She will be sadly missed by her husband Gordon and sons Calvin, Randy and Ross and families.
My condolences also to the many friends and family of Barb Gravelle from Maidstone. Barb was one of those people who never had a harsh word to say about anyone and was a friend to many. My wife Bev says that this Earth has lost a wonderful lady and heaven has gained a fantastic angel. She will be sadly missed.
We have just heard news that another long time friend, Wally Lambert, passed away. He was the local backhoe operator for the surrounding area for as many years as I can remember. He lived just two miles down the road until he moved into the Pine Island Suites in Maidstone.
I don’t have a joke of the week this week since there is just too much sadness in our little area of Waseca and Maidstone with so many of our friends and neighbours passing away. Maybe next week things will be looking up and we will get back on track. In the mean time, take care everyone.
