From the Fields: Jason Maloney

Jason Maloney For Agri-View

July proved correct the old adage that if one wishes different weather in Wisconsin, just wait a couple of days. In the far north the month started off cool and dry. Rains later came along with flash-flood and tornado warnings. Hay already cut was soaked. Hot and humid days flowed in. There was intermittent smoke; some days had air-quality warnings. And by the end of the month we hit a spell of good haying weather. The weather forecasters are talking about a dry August and the possibility of what they call a flash drought. But because weather forecasting, like sports prognostication, is steady work, we will just need to wait and see.

In far-northern Wisconsin as July melted into August about a third of the corn was silking out. Almost all hay was cut for the second time, with a few fields for the third time. Most oats were coloring and most soybeans were setting pods. Most fields and pastures had adequate moisture with a few still over-saturated from the July rainstorms.

The bad news is that army worms are being reported in some northern fields. True army worms have been spotted in several Wisconsin counties. The worms can strip a field of leaves in days; they attack corn and small grain as well as hay and pasture. The University of Wisconsin-Division of Extension is urging farmers to scout fields for infestations. Visit cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu for more information.

In far-north farm markets, farm stores, community-sponsored-agriculture subscriptions and REKO rings are all providing a veritable cornucopia of produce to happy customers. Sweet corn stands are appearing on some roads. A sampling showed salad greens, garlic, onions, new potatoes, beets, carrots, chard, cabbage, kale and more. Baked goods, fiber, soaps and all manner of craft work fill shelves. Local pasture-raised beef, lamb, pork and chicken are available. Some laying hens are taking time off to molt, but fresh eggs can still be found. Locally crafted beer, wine, cider and spirits are available. Local milk, ice cream and sheep cheese are rounding out summer meals.

In the Bayfield Fruit Loop, and surrounding orchards and berry farms on Wisconsin’s Lake Superior coast, the berry season is booming with blueberries, raspberries and gooseberries available. Some farm stores offer fresh-baked goods, ciders and more treats than one can shake a stick at. And why not? Bayfield is the berry capitol of Wisconsin. Call ahead to confirm availability. Visit www.bayfield.org/things-to-do/farms-orchards/berry-farm-orchard-report/ for more information.

County fairs and festivals were in full swing as August began. Besides the funnel cake and cotton candy, many were looking for 4-H booths with sandwiches made of locally produced beef or pork. A lot of hard-working farm children, and adults, were taking home ribbons for animals, produce and projects proudly displayed for all to see.

Foragers in the far north are picking wild blueberries, Juneberries and thimbleberries. There are reports of fruit flies damaging some wild berries, especially Juneberries. The insects turn beautiful berries to mush. July rains brought out many mushrooms; lucky mushroom hunters were finding the best crop of chanterelle mushrooms in years. Some were gathering and drying by the pound. Others were finding black trumpets and boletes. Rain had stimulated leaf growth on many plants harvested for winter tea and medicine.

In the midst of the work and pleasures of summer in the north it’s difficult not to notice some of the alarming trends in the world. We see pictures of starving children in the Middle East, but forget that children are starving all around the world every day. Masked men are abducting people off city streets around the world, and also in the United States. Smoking wildfires rage on every continent except Antarctica. Leaders speak of making peace while they threaten more war. Human suffering seems to be widespread and getting worse. And many of us working in forests and fields wonder what we can do. Many feel powerless.

The Beatitudes provide us with specific instructions on how to solve problems in our own life, and in the world. They seem easy when we read them, but few of us successfully put them into practice. Maybe it’s time for us to take a deep breath, reread the instructions and start treating each other – and the rest of the world – the way we are instructed, the way we would like to be treated. If we can start living that way ourselves, we can insist our leaders around the world do the same.

This is an original article written for Agri-View, a Lee Enterprises agricultural publication based in Madison, Wisconsin. Visit AgriView.com for more information.