This has been a stressful year for farmers!

      What a stressful year for farmers!  Springtime was so wet that it looked like for awhile they weren't even going to be able to plant the fields.  They have to be planted early enough to allow them to mature before the first frost. Mid to late April into early May is the optimum planting time.  This year most of the corn was planted in June, and then just as they finished planting the rains virtually stopped.  Those in the know figure a percentage drop in yields based on later planting dates.  We have had over 2 months of extremely dry weather with only a few showers scattered over that time and temperatures sometimes in the high 90's.  Needless to say, there was much concern voiced by every farmer I know about the crops' ability to "hang on."  The jury is still out on what the yields will be like.  But now a new problem has arisen.  The moistureless corn has no strength and is falling down in the fields before it is dry enough to harvest.  This certainly hasn't been a summer to enjoy.  Don't you wonder why anyone would choose to be a farmer?
       I took this picture of a field that I pass as I drive into town.   (As always, if you click on the picture it will enlarge.)