Picking Cotton and Looking Ahead

Well, we are picking. Here's the view from the driver's seat.
   Mechanically things are going well and the guys are working heard. There is just not much lint out there. We had a cool, wet Spring and we never really caught up. We are about half a day behind because last night's rain. The cotton is still green so we are picking slowly to let things open up.

Here's the real question. While we are picking we are also preparing for next year already. Now, here is what farmers have to decide- what do we plant next year? I can forward contract Wheat t $240 per ton and Pima cotton at $1.50 per pound. So we now those are good prices. How many acres of each shall we plant? It is tempting to go all cotton with high prices like that, but we need the wheat as a rotation crop. Also, how much water will we get next year? Does anyone know how much rainfall we will get this winter? Oh, and the clock is ticking. I want to have the wheat planted by the first of December so we can start irrigating it up.
   Do you get the picture? I have to figure out the best crop mix based on things that haven't happened yet like next year's weather and next year's markets. Does it make sense why going to Vegas has no real appeal to me?

I hope you all have a great week. I am going to enjoy my day off, Monday morning we will be right back at it and try to get that crop in before the rains start up.

All the best.

P

Cotton Pickin' Time

Well, it's'cotton picking time-finally.

G. Gordon Liddy, former Marine and ex-Watergate co-conspiritor, has said that a
helicopter is ten thousand nuts and bolts all trying to go different directions at the
same time. That could also describe a cotton picker. Part of my job during harvest is to
keep the pickers glued together until the crop is out.

It's'cold and clear out here. The weather has definitely changed. Now we have the race to
get the cotton in before the rains hit.

Yeilds are down, we expected that. The cool Spring is a little rough on young cotton
plants. Prices are up. We didn't expect that. I know global cotton supplies are down.
But, prices are set by supply and demand-where is the demand coming from? Our cotton is
the high quality Pima for fancy shirts and sheet. Who is buying that in a soft global
economy? Oh well, I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. Witht the bills I have we need
every penny we can round up.

Remember to vote next week. Ben Franklin is quoted as saying, "The Revolution was
not fought for freedom, but self-government." There is an important difference. I
know many of your are frustrated with government and sick of the political ads. ( I enjoy
politics and even I switch stations when I hear political ads.) But, we have an amazing
system where we are invited to participate in our own government. Pretty amazing. It has
been a rare state of affairs in the history of the world. We tend to take it for
granted.

So, please take the time, pull out your sample ballot, and let them know how you want
'the government of the people, for the people and by the people' to operate.



Next week we'll talk about deciding what to plant next year. Can anyone tell me what the
rainfall this winter will be and what the global economy will be like next year?

I hope y'all have a great week.

P

Waiting for the cotton to open

No, that is not what our cotton looks like-yet. Hopefully in another week. For now we just wait, work on equipment and pray. This is the time of year with the greatest uncertainty. I am broke. I owe everybody money and we don't know how things will turn out until we start picking, and we have to wait. There is really no rushing things. We had a late Spring so planting was late and here we are on the other end waiting to harvest before it start raining.In the meantime life is good. The weather is cooling off, which feels better. Of course, the heat the last week really helped the cotton mature.

We had a nice weekend. Visited with the kids and friends. Got some writing done. 

 Ready to go back at it tomorrow.

I hope all is well with you.

P

The Beginning of Fall is in the Air

Not much new on the farm this week. Working in the shop. Waiting for the cotton leaves to fall off. Does anyone know what the weather will be like in November. If I knew it wasn't going to rain until after Thanksgiving I could sleep better at night.
   I do love the Fall colors.

I think the prettiest farm fields for Fall colors are the peach orchards. They can really light up. We may not be in the great Northeast, but we can still see and feel Fall coming.

Hmmm. I mentioned BBQ last week. Just a few more weeks and BBQ weather will be gone. Last night I made Cajun shrimp. Here's the mix.

Cajun Seasoning Salt
1 TBS garlic salt
1 TBS onion salt
2 TBS thyme
2 TBS crushed bay leaves
2 TBS parsley flakes
1 tsp basil leaves
2 TBS black pepper
1 TBS cayenne pepper
1 tsp Accent
1/2 cup salt

Mix together, sprinkle on the shrimp and on to the grill. I served it with Jasmine rice and roast red peppers. Mmmmmm. We served it with some local white wine. Great light meal for a warm day.

I hope all is well with you.

P

OK, we pulled the trigger and started defoliating cotton. Won't know until next month if that was a good idea. Last week's warm weather really helped the crop mature. Of course this week's cool weather will slow things down. Not that I am complaining- this is the weather of heaven, or at least England. Feels like a nice summer day in my beloved southern Sweden. Ahhhhh.

Busy in the shop. We have rebuilt on disc and will rebuild another one next week. The steam cleaner blew up last week. I could have done without that. Really don't need any more expenses right now.

We are putting a little fertilizer on the almonds. Give them a little snack before they take their winter nap. That way they wake up next Spring ready to go.

Found some great new wines up in Madera last weekend. Frank and Alice Saviez have a fabulous Zinfandel and a white wine blend called the French Kiss. Mmmmm, We'll be having some of that with grilled shrimp this weekend. Sunfire Winery in Fresno has an excellent Tempranillo and port also.

Only a little more BBQ weather left for this year. We should make the most of it.

I hope y'all are having a great week.