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Deere 4440 cab tractor racked up $18,000 at farm retirement auction
Indiana legislature passes bills for ag land purchases, broadband grants
Make spring planting safety plans early to avoid injuries
Michigan soybean grower visits Dubai to showcase U.S. products
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Ohioan travels to Malta as part of US Grains Council trade mission
FFA members learn about Australian culture, agriculture during trip
Timing of Dicamba ruling may cause issues for 2024 planting
   
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Rain often heavier as final front of month approaches
May 22-28, 2017
Perchance the beginning of summer may be dated from the fully formed leaves, when dense shade begins. I will see.
 
-Henry David Thoreau, Journal, May 20, 1852

Almanac horoscope

Moon time: The Mock Orange Moon becomes the new Strawberry and Raspberry Moon at 2:44 p.m. on May 25. One day later, lunar perigee (when the moon is closest to Earth) occurs. Rising after dawn and setting around midnight, the new moon is overhead in the middle of the day.

Sun time: The sun reaches a declination of 21 degrees, 54 minutes by the end of May, a little more than 90 percent of the way to solstice.

Planet time: Find Mars close to the new crescent moon on May 27.

Star time: At 10 p.m., Virgo will be due south, and bright Arcturus, the largest star in the central sky, will be almost overhead. When you do morning chores, you’ll see the Milky Way above you and the Great Square moving in from the East, fertile Pisces right behind it. To the far west, the spring planting star, Arcturus, is the brightest setting star.

Weather time

Mild temperatures often occur several days after the May 24 front moves toward the Atlantic Ocean, but new moon on May 25 and perigee on May 26 increase the chances for frost in the North and for chilly weather in the South. The May 29 front: Rain is often heavy as the final front of May approaches. When this high moves away, however, it usually leaves sunny, dry conditions. Summer warmth typically begins several days later.

Zeitgebers (events in nature that tell the time of year): When flea beetles are feeding in the vegetable garden, cedar waxwings will be migrating through your land and fiddler crabs will be emerging from their tunnels in the estuaries of the South.

When you see the first brown “June” bug clinging to your screen door, look for young fireflies glowing in the night grass, and when you smell the locust flowers opening, the first mulberries will be ready for mulberry pie. In the wetlands, wild iris will be in bloom.

When you see cottonwood cotton floating in the wind, then deer will be giving birth, and pollen from grasses will be reaching its peak.

Field and garden time

Blackberries are blooming along roadsides of the lower Midwest. That is when sunflowers are in full bloom in California, and spring wheat and oats are just about all planted in the North. When you see nettles waist-high, then check the garden for cutworms. And when Canadian thistles start to bud, it’s safe to plant your peppers, cantaloupes and cucumbers.

But check for armyworms and corn borers in the fields. When you hear spring crickets sing, look for leafhoppers in the garden and snapping turtle eggs along the rivers. Then when you see the first elderberries blooming, check for bean leaf beetles and alfalfa weevils in your field and garden. Heat stress can slow the rate of gain in livestock. Protection from the weather, plenty of water and adequate feed and supplements may help reduce weight loss.

Marketing time: Memorial Day brings opportunities to sell spring flowers and bedding plants. And plan ahead to meet the demand for halal meat as Ramadan ends on June 25.

Mind and body time

Studies have shown that more events people consider miraculous occur between May and September than in the other months.

May through September are also the months during which the greatest weight loss in humans typically occurs. If you are going to diet in 2017, now is the time to start (even though if you lose weight, it may be a miracle).

Your body will seek to put on more pounds once harvest is over and the leaves come down.

Creature time: The middle of the day offers the best lunar conditions for fishing as the week begins. When the barometer drops in advance of the May 29 and June 2 cool fronts, expect even more angling success in the mornings.

But birders may find slim pickings this week: Most warblers have flown north by this time of the month, and almost all other spring migrants have either arrived or have passed through the area.

Spring turkey hunting closes throughout much of the region; update your turkey journal, noting which dates and weather conditions were the most successful.

Almanac literature

Ode to Fuzzy: Do Dogs Go to Heaven?

By Angela C. Iott Fowler, Ind.
Fifteen years ago, two puppies were abandoned down our country farm lane. These dogs became part of our family and were named Fuzzy and Suzzy. Later, Fuzzy wasn’t feeling well. He wouldn’t eat or drink and was very weak. We took him to the veterinarian and after several tests, it was determined that Fuzzy had cancer and wouldn’t live long. Fuzzy died beside me in my rocking chair.

There are no words to describe how deeply he was missed.
 
Recently on the news, Pope Francis was seen consoling a little girl who had lost her puppy.

The little girl asked him, “Do dogs go to Heaven?”

Pope Francis replied: “I believe God has a place in Heaven for your puppy dog.” I believe that everything, and I mean everything – seen and unseen – has a spirit or soul, and that all are one like droplet in a vast ocean. Some call this ocean God; some call it Love. 
5/18/2017