Minor Challenges
It's been a cool wet spring. April temps have averaged 8-10 degrees below normal most days. The forecast for the rest of the month looks like more of the same.
We have been getting rainfall regularly, a couple inches or so a week the last few weeks. Even though this has kept us from getting work done, it is good to see water levels recover in the streams and rivers. The weather systems have been fast moving without heavy downpours. Erosion has been minimal and infiltration high. We will start the growing season with a full soil moisture profile.
The NWS verified four tornadoes that occurred within a twenty-mile radius of McIntire on the evening of April 12th. One severely damaged the town of Taopi while numerous farmsteads also suffered major structural damage. Despite the high number of grain facilities and hog sites we have scattered through the area, we completely avoided any harm.
Less than ideal weather is not the only headwind at Pinicon this spring. Due to personnel issues at the South African consulate, half of our H2A workers will not arrive till after planting.
Even though we find ways to keep our Team busy year-round, our staffing needs are determined by the peak seasons of planting and harvest. This is when the value of every able body is greatest.
Bert is developing an alternate Spring Assignment plan. He's engaging his network to outsource operations where possible, find part time replacements, or reassign duties within the Team. Seven months pregnant Morgen hasn't agreed to run the fuel truck between entering bills and making lunches, but she's open to it with Josh's permission.
It is doubtful there will be any planting progress before May 1st. One might be inclined to compare this year with last year when we finished planting on May 8th and be concerned. As much as we prefer to have more work done, the current situation is not dire. We are confident we can achieve good yields on fields planted prior to the last week of May. The next twenty-eight days will decide.
As it looks to me from 301 First St, the challenges we face in North Iowa are minor on the scale of global hardships. Dirk won't be dodging landmines and mortar rounds as he applies fertilizer. When considering the big picture, we can only be grateful.
“How a Minnesota Ag Firm is Helping Ukrainian Farmers Plant in War-Scarred Fields”
Jim