Four O’clock Dust Storm

 

A storm cell showed up and did it ever kick the dust up.

The dust turned afternoon into evening in a few minutes.  Sky obliterated, animals scrambling, birds scurrying for cover and man, well life goes on.

From, what I’ve seen, this is about as close to dust bowl it has been.  If this continues on through the summer, it is going to be rough.  The ground is so dry, that when it does rain, the moisture just rolls off and down the creek.  It would take a nice slow week long rain to abate the drought.

According to some long range forecasters, the drought is expected for a few more years.  If so it will become ugly.  Weather like this, tends to make people edgy. 

Hopefully some of this dust ends up in D.C.,shower the politicians.

Is There Oil Down There?

 

 

With the expanded use of fracing, there is a mini oil boom in the area.  Keep in mind, a drilling rig is a boom around here and there are usually 2-4 rigs drilling. 

The oil companies have been approaching people about going on their land for seismology testing,   Lots of the people have been turning them down, well been wanting money for them to drive on their land.

It is so dry that any travel on grassland destroys it.  The ranchers/landowners are wanting compensation fro damage to their land.

These big ole thumpers can cause lots of damage as they drive over the land shaking it.  Where they drove on some CRP land, one can still see the tracks where they drove, two years ago.  At existing wells thee is a big scar, for the plot and the access road.  If the hole is dry and they leave, the land heals real slow and is worthless for some years unless in a government program.

It is interesting, greed does overrule common business sense.  Some of the oil prospectors are kind of dumbfounded in being turned down.

For the rancher, it is his land for income.  Without the land, the rancher earns no money.  With the drought, the land is at about 20% usability.  Any damage adds to the loss for the rancher. 

Oh….. expect the big mac to jump in price, except they are usually milk cows not prime beeves.

Have a good weekend.

Dust Bowl Returns

We are in the worse drought sine the 30’s.  Pastures are becoming barren and fields have very little growth.  This past week we got some moisture but all it did was help to make spit balls. The farmers and ranchers care for the land but there is very little they can do to control mother nature.  When it dries up and the wind blows, the dust will roll.

I have seen dirty brown snow and black muddy drifts out across the land.  Dust has boiled off fields, reaching sky ward, farmers have been plowing fields to stop the dirt from leaving and ranchers are selling off their stock.

Yet the relentless wind boils over the land.

Blow dirt drifts along the fence lines, covering the land in a fine grit.  Water rolls off the dirt, draining away.  Fields do not recover from the damage in a year or two.  Tumble weeds will sprout, sucking more moisture from the earth.  It will be a barren land for a time to come.

Yet like their ancestors, many will hang on and go about business, trying to get a living from the land.

In the middle of these howling dust storms are small oasis.  Water ponds that help wildlife survive.

How Dry I Am

 

During the days of Prohibition that was the title of a ditty that would be sung.  Today it refers to the weather.

There have been dabs of snow but seldom more the nan inch.  We need a good snow, measured with a yardstick.  Without the moisture there will not be many crops or grass for livestock.

When the front came trough last week the wind kick up pretty good and it was blowing dust.  There was more dirt in the air then there was snow.  It is getting pretty ugly dry around here and I read that we are not alone.  The drought stretches from the gulf up to Canada.  This is the major bread basket for the country.  This is the land of grains and cows.  Big Mac’s, wieners, pasta and cereals. 

If moisture does not show up, the price of food will be going up.  Add inflation and it will be more expensive to live in the upcoming months.  Then add the tax hikes in for the different programs, there are going to be some poor people running around crying.

The grasses should be covered with snow, not tufts sticking out.  Here the cattle graze, well used to but if there is no grass.  Many ranchers are selling off their cattle for they have no food for them.  Less cattle for market, the price of meat will go up.  It also places a larger demand on feed for livestock which takes away form other grain production.

Drive out across the country, the furrows of fields are empty where there should be strips of green in the furrows.  Farmers planted crops last fall in hopes of moisture.  They also planted knowing that even if the crop fails they will get money from the government.

People like the farmers will not suffer much from the drought because of the government money but boy will they complain and cry over no moisture.

Who will hurt are the poor people for they seldom have surplus income, and that includes the people on welfare.  The seniors will also be penalized because of food price increases.

Like it or not, Mother Nature, plays a major role in our lives.  For some it is not man that influences nature, it is nature that influences man.

If moisture does not show up this spring, there will be lots of changes and it won’t be from the government. 

Lots of our food production goes to exports.  With the drought, domestic food prices may jump enough where it will be better so sell in the domestic market.  We do get some of our food from imports.

It will be interesting to see how the drought influences our lifestyles over the next couple of years.  If I remember right, drought cycles last 3-5 years.

Gonna have to dust off that old prohibition dry song, How Dry I Am.  Maybe make a top 10 tune….. heheheh

Winter Time

The drought has mellowed out winter.  It has been cold but no icy blasts so far.  The cold does not bother me much.  Get the parka out n flannel/wool shirts and I shall venture forth. 

It also makes a nice time to capture a few pixels.  The trees are barren, the weeds are shuttered and the grasses dormant.  It is when nature goes for a nap getting ready for spring.

I like the abstract pattern of the trees, the limbs, branches and their twists and turns.  It is amazing the patterns a tree has under all those leaves.  Oh yes fall colors are great but I like the nude tree also.

Then there are the sunsets of winter.  Biting icy fingers crawl over the face, standing facing the setting sun.  Sunsets are a dime a dozen but the hand of man makes it different.

It is amazing how we clutter up the country side with technology.  A cellphone tower sits in the middle of somewhere.  High power utility towers race over the horizon.  Interrupted  by a tree.  On far horizon is the shallow outline of the Rocky Mountain foothills.

All the latest gadgets.  Surrounded in our homes, our cars and in the office. 

To truly escape technology is almost impossible.  An escape in the mind;s eye.

Have a good week and may the Lord bless your travails.

Sacrifice

What is it to sacrifice?  To give something up.  During the recession so many have lost their jobs, many of no fault of their own.  Layoffs were a common occurrence, companies closing.  Onto the government dole went many people,

So how many government workers did you hear of getting laid off?  In our area it was teachers who got the pink slips.  Other government employees, none got  laid off that I know of.  One of the more critical jobs we pay taxes for took the brunt of the economy.

Look at what the politicians are saying about the economy.  Are any talking about cut backs in pay for government employees and or layoffs?  What kind of sacrifice is forthcoming from the bureaucrats and politicians to help the taxpayer?

When there is a downturn in the economy it is the everyday worker that takes it in the drawers.  The government workers just keep on drawing their check.  Who do the politicians say should help?  The people on the dole, welfare, food stamps… etc.  Government layoffs are not even mentioned.

Why is it the work a day Joe has to sacrifice the job and the taxes do not stop being paid to the bureaucrats.

The average government worker makes 20-25% more then their counterpart in the private sector.  So the public employee could take a pay cut and still make a nice wage, better then average. 

The public sector has become bloated but do the politicians talk about the wages they pay?  Government sacrifice is not in their lexicon. 

Bet that if there was an across the board pay cut of 10% that the national debt could be reduced by 50% or better.  Low level government administrators make 6 figure incomes into the 200-300,000.00 dollar range.  What government job is so critical and pressurized to warrant that kind of pay?  Most government jobs are cookie cutter work.  I don’t even want to talk about incompetence.

One of the things one can do is to bug their congressman and ask them what kind of sacrifice their agencies are going to make to help the country?  In this day and age of electronics it is easy to send your Representative an e-mail, they all have one.

Why should the private sector take the brunt of the bad times. 

Politicians gripe about welfare, but what really is welfare?  Look at all of the people that get government checks.  When we send tax dollars to DC….. what do you want in return?  Let the politico’s know.

We’ve had some rain but it won’t last long.  We could use some more buckets of wet stuff.  Cost of living is going to climb, not only at the food store, also the gas pumps and other places.  The government wants to throw more money out to those dealing with the drought, farmers.  This will push prices up even higher for it will be more taxes floating across the desks of bureaucrats.

Side Bar.

Been having problems with WordPress.  Posts have been showing up two to three days old or older.  Some completely disappear, so I have been missing some posts by those I follow, my apologies.

 

Crisp Fall Approaching

 

The heat is subsiding and the days are shorter.  The dog days of summer have departed.  Nights are almost cold, mid 40’s.  Time to explore the roadside stands.  The fruits of summer are on stands in the Valley.

No longer is the produce hauled by the rick.  The stand has been by the road for over a half century.  The family still goes out and digs in the dirt and bring their goods to market.  There are some things that will always remain the same.  Dig in the dirt, put some seeds in, add some water, pull the weeds, harvest and there are rewards for hard work.

Ever since recorded time man has tilled the soil for his livelihood.

The colors of fall are very distinctive.

Whether they harvest is for decoration or function.  Fall is the theme of cool crisp air.  No longer is there the fresh smell of burning leaves.  Store the fruits of summer away in a cool place and the fruits will last through the winter. 

Man is at the basic with nature.  No aspirations of control for nature has the rhythm one has to follow.  The pulse of life moves at its pace

The drought continues.  The ground is parched.  The pocket book feeling pinched.  weeds are brown.  Dirt is powder.  Dust swirls into the air.  Prayers for a snowy winter.

Bills…. Grocery and Taxes

Next few months going to be interesting.  Politicians will be spewing deep do do all over and spending money galore.  to  tell us how to spend out money they are spending more money…. For what?

Then there are other things going on the politicians have no control over, the weather.

The drought is going to have a major impact on our lives and the politicos’ will think they have the power to change things.  Weather is driven by hot air that is not from our nations capitol.

Living in farm and ranch country the weather is very important as is the markets.  Both are closely watched and the most complaints are about the weather then the politicos’ garbage.

Lots of the corn crop around here  is withering and drying up into nothing.  Moisture in the ground for winter wheat crops is minuscule.  this problem stretches across the land, right through the heart of the grain belt.

There are pockets that have moisture and there is irrigation water. These two factors are going to make some farmers very rich.  It will also take a bigger chunk out of our paychecks.

 

The price if corn is headed out of the roof and wheat is following and that will pressure other crop prices to climb.  Domestic prices may climb enough to slow down exports.  Then it becomes a world wide problem.

Grocery prices have climbed steadily these past 4-5 years and are now about double over those years.  Things will push the prices into the stratosphere.  One will have to take out a loan just to buy food.

One interesting thing I read was about the requirement of ethanol.  That is being lifted and or allowed to float.  The mandate of ethanol for fuel is being floated.  I find that interesting.  Maybe the bureaucrats have felt the grocery bill in their pocket. 

Now one of the other things we are facing is tax hikes.  A choice… pay more taxes or buy food?  Will it get to that point?  Lots of discretionary spending will change.  Those out of work will even have it rougher.

Some of these problems come from politicians meddling in social lifestyles, social engineering.  Laws that dictate a certain behavior are a type of engineering, quite often is under the guise of safety or health.  They have become known as mandates.  What do they really do….. they take one’s freedoms of choice away.

As more and more laws are passed, more and more freedoms are lost.

This farmer will soon have enough money to buy some new tractors to add to his collection.  Farming is no longer a tough life.  It has become very lucrative, plus the government sends them a nice check occasionally.  Farmers have been getting a type of welfare for decades called farm subsidy and price supports.

I run into farmers here and there that would like to discontinue lots of the government programs for farmers.  They feel they could make more money in an open market. 

Ranchers have no government support programs unless they raise a crop of some kind, like hay or feed grain.   They roll along and make a good living ranching and the meat market varies very little.  Now that will change for most beef goes to feed lots before they go to the slaughter house. 

Cattle feed prices are going up also as the grain prices go up.  The drought has also pushed the hay market up in the areas where pastures have dried up.

It is a very complex situation but also simple….. prices are going up. 

Have a good weekend.

Bits Here and There

Nature is my neighbor, sometimes not enjoyable when it is mice and spiders.  Then when Mr 10 point shows up.

He spent the afternoon there, relaxing in the shade under the semi trailer.  Later that afternoon I saw why he was lounging there.  As he grazed, he hobbled.  He had injured a leg and was not up to speed.  That evening some of hos does showed up for the evening meal.

Better then any television show.

A few days later on the way to the clinic I spotted this guy in the bar ditch.  When I went past, it just watched me.  Making a U turn and going back slowly it did not like.  To wing it took and landed in the pasture to watch me.  Make another U turn and as I’m leaving it flies back to the ditch to finish its meal.

One of many reasons why I like to avoid driving on the main highways.

We finally got some nice showers in the area.  The brown pasture above should show some green spots shortly.  Lots of lightening rolls in with the storms.  As long as there is no damage, lightening is spectacular to watch.

I hope other dry spots in the country get moisture.  We are right on the edge of the dust bowl and dry land makes the old timers nervous.

Drought makes for some spectacular Dust Devils.  This one was close to 300 feet in the air, about 10 miles away.  Hoping this area got some showers also.  Knock the dusty devils down.

Nature has its own rhythm, it’s just that sometimes we don’t want to dance to the tune.