Spraying, haying and praying

Good morning, dear reader.  And welcome to SUMMER!!!  Yep, June 21 is the Summer Solstice, the day with the largest amount of time between sunrise and sunset.  It is rather difficult for most people to grasp, but after today, every day will be shorter in daylight duration until nearly Christmas.

Here in the Greater Bippus Area (GBA) your farm products are proceeding to develop well. Last week I passed a field of corn on Highway 24 between Huntington and Roanoke that was at least shoulder height.  I don’t recall seeing that ever before.

The main activities observed in the GBA have been spraying, and haying.  I hope to have some photos of these activities to share with you this week, if I can get out in between the forecasted thunderstorms. One of the unobserved activities in the GBA and other farm communities,  once the hay has been cut, but not yet baled, is praying.  Here is why: the hay is the main food supply for cattle during the dark season (winter) and once it is cut, it must be properly dried to store safely and efficiently.  If rain falls on it before baling, it may either mold, or get baled and generate so much heat as to catch on fire. Yeah, No Kidding.  So between the cutting and the storing, there is a whole lotta praying.

And then some more praying, after the hay has been put up. Prayers of thanks. The cattle will have food during the winter months.