Wow, has the summer ever gone by fast! We've had hay to bale, corn to spray and cultivate, the county fair, and now - sweet corn to pick and sell! What started out fourteen years ago as a pocket change enterprise for our young boys, has grown into an 18 acre, hand-picked undertaking every August. When milk prices were so low, we needed a niche market to help to strengthen our cash flow. Once we got the business off of the ground, and God blessed it, there was no looking back. We have a great crew of pickers that helps us out. They show up every evening at milking time to head to the field to begin filling the three trucks. On nice evenings, the picking goes fast. There have been times, though, when we've really had to hurry up to beat an incoming storm, or when the boys were still in school - Friday night football games! Farmer Rick and I used to be able to do it all when they were still around the farm, but now that they're grown, we need the help. Farmerette is a big help too, but she is often helping me milk while the crew is picking.
The cows are quite happy too at this time of year because they get the sweet corn silage and leftovers from the day dumped in their feed wagon in the night pasture. Once they see Farmer Rick head out to the field to begin chopping, they begin to sing a chorus of moo's and sometimes get rather impatient as I try to finish up milking before he returns! If the sweet corn starts to ripen faster than we can use it, we will chop off an additional row or two to keep up with the younger corn. So, as the season progresses, we pick our way across the field, closely followed by the corn chopper for feed for the cows. We try not to waste anything on the farm.
I remember a saying from the oldtimer's: "We used everything from the pig but the squeal".
Boy, is that ever true. Even though milk prices have improved over the last couple of months, we know that they won't last long. Having an extra income for six short weeks of the year is a tremendous help in paying off planting expenses and catching up on other bills before the milk price takes a dive again. We are very, very thankful that God has blessed our efforts and continues to provide us with a means to continue this life that we love!
