I get a magazine free each month -- about farming mostly. I guess I bought something like weed killer or fertilizer and they got my name and address. I am not a good farmer and never want to be because it would never fit me. Sorta like milking cows, I just ain't built that way! But the magazine's sure worth reading and I usually do learn something every month.
The folks write to the editor and some of the letters are printed. This month one was a picture of cotton being picked by a machine and the person commented that the short cotton would certainly be difficult to pick. The picture was taken in country that seldom has a still day, and some days are a little windy!
The editor of the magazine thanked the person for the picture and proceeded to explain the stature of the cotton crop. Height does not make much difference for the equipment used, and the shorter plants have stronger stalks and aren't blown over by the wind, well not as badly blown over. He went on to say that science has also developed shorter wheat for the same purpose. The energy to produce taller stalks is used to produce more wheat seeds. Wow!
So, there it is, the short and tall of it all! Remember when we could find bulls who were seven feet tall at the shoulders? The judges kept telling us that you had to have more leg under that steer to make him grade prime. Now think back to the little bitty short Herefords and Angus. I know, it is painful to remember such a sorry mess, but that would make us wonder who or what influenced producers to try for that physique in their breeding program. At the same time, do not forget the gains among bovine just a few short years ago. What influenced producers to desire legs that looked like stilts and so many followed that advice?
I don't know the answer, I just know learned scientists march on, giving their entire working lives to make things better. If we had to pick short cotton, we would have to crawl along. And too tall or too short cattle don't make anything work for us beef producers. I suspect we just gotta keep on trying.
My close relative has a chest cold, so I have been trying to be kind and eat at the coffee emporium. I take home soup and keep the vaporizer full of water. The doctor gave her some cough syrup and I think it helps. She is improving and informed me she did not want to find ketchup on any more of my shirts -- sure sign of French fries! I like to eat with the fellers once in a while, but two or three days is plenty!
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, we sometimes think something else would be better -- like the grass might be greener over there -- but most of the time it isn't. I'd just as soon have a darned old salad at home than have to eat away from her kitchen more than a couple of days. Do not repeat that statement!
Put your straw hats away! It is now time for felt hats and I do mean it looks bad for a feller to be seen in straw!
Bill is the pen name used by the Gravette area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 12/13/2017