This is a great prank...
OK, so I felt like I had to post *something* because I haven't been here for so long...
http://www.wimp.com/disappearingprank/
::)
Too much corn? What are the crops like Heather? I heard a lake supplying Austin was 50ft down in water level, would that be right?
There is very little corn grown in Kansas, though, with it priced as high as it is, it is increasing. Until there is a type of corn that does well in dryland conditions, it isn't a good crop for most of this area. And MonSatan is working to get that done in the next few years...in addition to buying up all the little seed companies so we all have to buy our seed from ONLY them.
We got a new seed cleaner, and just finished wheat harvest a week ago. Mom is cracking the whip on fixing up the website for the business and Dad wants the movie made of the seed cleaner delivery -- complete with curtain unveil -- to have the 2001 theme song in the background. (I'm trying to find it played by a band of Kazoos....) Between the daily duties of working out at the seed house to get this new cleaner up and running, learning Final Cut, working my early morning gig for overseas and trying to keep the few clients I have happy, I'm a busy little bee.
Not sure if the lake in Austin is down that much, but I don't doubt it: we've had one of the driest years since the mid 90's.
Our wheat was surprisingly decent because we no-till and that tends to save what little moisture was in the ground, but most people saw their yields down by half. I saw one field of wheat that was ankle high all across the field. Our highest yield was 83 bushels to the acre on a small 7 acre patch. This is very very high: 60 is the norm) but most of our wheat was only 40 to 50 bushels to the acre. I think the county average was something like 35 bushels to the acre. Sad.
One guy who attends my church dug down 3 feet and found no moisture. Unless we get rain, all the fall crops won't make it. And, the last couple of weeks have been unusually hot: well over 100. 103, 107, 101...craziness. This puts my father in a really foul mood, so each day is like working with an angry bear. I say little, jump when he barks and try to keep up.
And yet, the Mississippi river is flooding like crazy.
Wow, sounds like you have been doing well in tough times. I hope you get rain soon.
And busy... the joys of working with family, and on a farm I guess. Farmers can never turn off.
Over this side of the pond, we have had normal weather. That means I am expecting to get blown off the campsite when we go camping soon, and my sun tan is about as deep as it will ever get. (A little rusty).
I keep wishing we had a longer, warmer summer, but when I hear how it is in a hot country I am quite glad.
Good news! We had an inch and a half of rain last night...Dad was actually in a decent mood this morning. :)
Wow! thats great news! ... we just got hailed on... in July!
You can have our rain - we get shedloads in the highlands of Scotland. :)
But only if we can have some of your sun ...
Btw, nice prank in the OP. :)
Hail is quite common in the summer here. Actually, we fear hail more than we fear a tornado: you won't lose an entire crop with a tornado.
I always laugh when people say that "Farmers are conservative"...that couldn't be further from the truth: they gamble every single day.