A pretty decent year

From all reports, the crops are tremendous considering the fourth year of severe drought in Northwest Iowa. “No complaints,” said our farmer friend from Cherokee. So that’s saying something. It is a wonder of technology, a testament to our rich soils, and a stroke of uncanny luck that we got the rain we needed just in the nick of time, in each of the past four years.

Farmers across the Corn Belt are being pleasantly surprised by their yields after frightening drought. Of course, that means that corn prices are at three-year lows and U.S. farm income is expected to be off about a quarter from last year’s record high. Lower feed costs will bring some relief to a troubled pork industry.

There’s a reason land around here is so frightfully expensive. It has an amazing capacity to produce, so long as we can preserve it.