By Dan Dauw
Geneseo Current
Where Art Thou?
Some fishing buddies and I were talking the other day about where has some insects seem to have vanished? Butterflies, lightning bugs, and grasshoppers, to name a few. Even gnats and mosquitoes seem to be far and few between. That’s okay, though!
Moisture
So far, so good! Mother Nature has been kind to our local farmers and we gardeners. She seems to unload her rains at the right time. Other than fighting weeds, our tomatoes, onions and radishes are doing great. As to beans, we planted those is containers and so far they have kept cottontails and squirrels at bay.
Eminent Domain
According to an article in Iowa Farmer Today, the Summit Carbon Solutions has proposed a 2,500 mile CO2 pipeline through five states to capture greenhouse gas from ethanol plants. Iowa is one of those states where the pipeline would run through farmland. Many farmers oppose the right of a state like Iowa to take away their land through eminent domain.
Sort of related, but thousands of acres of farmland has already been purchased by foreign countries. While you might think China is the biggest owner of American soil, that would be incorrect. As of now, they are far down the list.
There recently was a bill passed in Iowa to curtail the “Red Giant” from buying more land. In my humble opinion, hit the delete key on eminent domain. We are an AG country and we must be careful on allowing so many large, cemented parking lots, housing additions, and so on. Farmland is priceless!
U.S. Army 250 Years
I enjoyed the parade celebrating the Army’s 250th year anniversary. I hope the U.S. Navy/Marines does something for their anniversary on October 13, 1775. Somehow, I don’t think too many submarines and aircraft carriers will make it down Constitution Ave as in the U.S. Army parade.
Still, a gala flotilla of some Navy ships and aircraft would be neat to see maybe in Boston harbor, Norfolk, New York or someplace the public could view. Betcha the Fox network would cover the event. There will be a 250th Navy/Marine Commemoration at Independence Hall on October 13th.
Poison Ivy
Well, it’s no wonder Lorna and I came in contact with the toxic plant. We do a lot of trimming and pulling weeds. Fortunately, neither of us got it bad. In fact, we had zero itching.
Fishing Report
It continues to be good. Last week Tom Simpson tangled with a really big bass. It ended up breaking the ball baring part of his leader. He was too far away from his brother, Gary and myself to get the landing net.
Tom swears it would have been a world record. That might have been a stretch, but who knows?! Someone has to catch a world record bass. Later in the morning his brother, Gary, caught a 4 lb plus channel cat and had to be netted. He released it to grow bigger.
As for me, I ended up with about 20 bluegills. Had them for supper last Sunday. Sooooo, good to the taste!
Humor
Last week Dale Collis of Galva was in a shark attack on the canal. He said the shark took out his whole “left” side. He is all “right” now! Steve Weber purchased a new sweater, but it started picking up static electricity. So he decided to return it. The sales clerk gave him another one free of charge!
Quote
“Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death, but once.”
Who Have Passed Away
Lorna and I were sad at the passing away of Glen Anderson, Mary Farrell, Ray Rogers, Glenn Sigwalt and Jim Weisser. All very nice people who are in a better place, for sure. May God bless their souls.