4th of July Crop Markers #grow13

There are many wive's tales in farming, but one of the keys is "Knee high by the 4th of July" for the corn.  Last year it was taller than me on the 4th of July, but knee high is the bare minimum.  This year we are above the knee high marker, but still below the waist.  

We also hope the sugarbeets will be closing the rows by the 4th of July.  That's a little questionable right now, but if you ask an optimist, you'll hear how the new varieties are more upright, and they don't close the rows as fast.  If you ask a pessimist, he'll say we're in trouble because the rows aren't closed. 

Either way, the crops are behind, but I feel fortunate they look as good as they do.  We have been dodging most of the rain bullets.  With the amount of heavy showers coming through, a few miles in either direction has made a huge difference this year.  

It's the 4th of July, but the crops don't know any better.  They don't know we want to be on vacation, so the weeds keep growing, the bugs keep infesting, and we keep checking for disease.  I'm a little jealous of all the families who are packing up for a trip to Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, or the Wisconsin Dells.  We stay pretty close the farm throughout the summer, but somewhere out there I hear a boat with my name on it.  This is Minnesota, so a lake is just a hop, skip and a jump away.  May you enjoy a good fireworks show, a grill loaded with hamburgers or brats, and some good memories with friends and family.  I'll keep growing the wheat for your hamburger bun, the barley for your beer and the sugar for your cupcakes.