The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill."
PRACTICE'N PATIENCE
I'm a hope'n ever one is practicin' patience as far as wait'n for this crop ta mature and gett'n on with fall work.
We have been spoiled in the past with good fall weather, with the exception somewhat of the fall of "08".
Now we get a chance ta experience one of those wet late falls the "old timers" oft talked about.
Think of the stories we'll be able ta tell the followin' generations with a few "whopper exaggerations" thrown in just ta let them know how tough we were back in '19"!
REMAIN CIVIL
With some sufferin' from the late plantin' and wet condition's and corn prices, one thing about farmin' that my father always taught me, and I have taught my children and grandchildren-it's a plain simple truth on how ta handle hardship and disaster.
Ta be a farmer you have ta be able ta take a good solid kick to the teeth and afterwards pick yerself up and smile with whatever snaggle tooth ya have left. If'n ya are not able ta approach it in that manner, ya might be better off locatin' a union job in town somewhere.
Most farmers after a few years experience of farmin', know that by and by, hardship is gonna come their way. The important thing is how do ya handle it and what's yer attitude. Ya gotta remain civil.
TRUMP- The REST OF THE STORY
As Paul Harvey always said in his famous columns, there's always more ta the story than ya been read'n or hear'n on the news. Trent Loos, a 53 year old 6th generation Nebraska farmer, host of a daily radio show, reported in the High Plains Journal Sept. 23rd, of President Trump's stand-off with China:
"China had no idea that anybody would be this stubborn with them"
Loos reminded folks that "Trump policies are more important to farmers than simply trade agreements". Then Loos gave a list of what really matters that main stream media even ag commodity and ag media groups isn't report'n.
He contacted Sonny Perdue to send a list of the Trump accomplishments fer the food producers in his first term and the list was sooo long he couldn't put it all in in column.
Loos singled out the top ones that he thought were most important from Perdue's list:
1-The WOTUS rule is regularly singled out as particularly egregious as it impedes the use of their own land and stifles productivity. Farmers and ranchers are exceptional stewards of the environment, and states have their own standards as well. The welcome action from the EPA and Army Corps to repeal the old WOTUS brings clarity to the Clean Water Act regulations and help farmers know where federal jurisdiction begins and ends.
2-While President Donald Trump signed an executive order that requires agencies to revoke two regulations for every new rule they want to issue, under Secretary Perdue's leadership, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has completed 24 deregulatory items for every three regulatory items added for a total regulatory savings of $157,791,000.00.
3-President Trump has removed a historic number of burdensome and unnecessary regulations: In 2018, federal agencies issued 12 deregulatory actions for every new significant regulatory action, saving $23 billion in regulatory costs.
4-The president's deregulatory actions are estimated to increase annual household income by $3,100.Combined with the president's historic tax cuts, the average household will receive an increase of more than $6,600 per year.
5-President Trump signed the agreement with Mexico and Canada at the G20 summit in Argentina. In June, nearly 1,000 American food and agriculture associations and companies announced their support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. In June, 28 governors signed a letter to congressional leadership urging them to take up and pass USMCA. A renewed USMCA, a new U.S.-Korea Free Trade agreement, and the continued progress with Japan, can lead to further deals with other trading partners like the European Union and China.
6-Japan is one of our strongest economic relationships, our fourth largest goods export market and our third largest agricultural export market. The U.S. is securing market access for U.S. ag goods such as beef, pork, wheat, dairy products, wine, ethanol and a variety of other products. The agreement will lead to a substantial reduction in tariffs and non-tariff barriers, helping U.S. producers compete more effectively with Trans-Pacific Partnership countries and Europe.
Loos said, "While China is important, China is not all that matters. It is also worth pointing out that China has lost at least 50% of their pig population and when 200 million plus pigs are no longer eating feed, the demand for feedstocks globally suffers greatly."
"If we don't battle through this rough time and use the leverage that he has worked so hard to achieve to solidify global markets and ensure the future of sound regulatory practices, then we will all be in trouble. Furthermore, if the next generation of prospective ag leaders doesn't ever hear a positive message about the potential for this industry, why would they choose to come back to the farm? Let's get the real message of progress out to the people."
HERITAGE TRAILS
Jasper Jenks took Cornelius Farkwad and their wives fer a real nice weekend in the northern part of Henderson County ta see the activities of their Heritage Trails.
The ladies were enjoy'n the good bakeware and food along Oquawka's main street and said there were crafts and furniture and paint'ns and a lot of tents set up ta wonder through. The hard rains from the night before didn't seem to stay around for Saturday's fun.
The men said they wondered through the car show, then seen how the buttons had been made in the button factory in the early years in Oquawka. A display was set up in the museum there.
They enjoyed hearin' the great stories told by re-enactors of General Ulysses S. Grant and General Robert E. Lee who told of their parts in the Civil War, things they hadn't heard of before.
They saw the camps set up of Grant's northern Yankees, and tents set up of Lee's Southern rebels re-enactin' those tough days with their families, and the gruesome battle which was re-enacted with loud cannons and guns. Cornelius said there were interest'n items brought in by the Southeast Iowa Civil War Roundtable reenactors under their tents.
They also stopped by the Turnbull Funeral Home museum at Biggsville ta look at the old ways of do'in things and enjoyed a very good meal next door at the Biggsville United Presbyterian Church of homemade chicken and noodles. Cornelius said Jasper couldn't get enough of that great home cook'n and I guess they are already plannin' on go'in next year.
Mrs. Bruke said Mrs. Jenks is always glad ta get out of the job of try'n ta keep Jasper full plus have'n a day ta enjoy herself with friends and neighbors is a big treat.
Mrs. Bruke and I have been try'n ta keep up with cutt'n the grass inbetween rains and with all the farm chores and prepare'n fer the eventual harvest.
Well, that's it fer this week. Hope'n ta see ya in church this weekend.
Remember, where ever ya is, what ever ya be a do'n,
BE A GOOD ONE!
Keep on smile'n,
Catch ya later,
BARNYARD BRUKE