Don’t count the ladybeetles out

The scurs noted a touch of fall from the Weather Eye. Do we go straight into autumn or does Mother Nature still have some hot flashes? Starting Thursday, mostly sunny with highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the mid-50’s. Mostly sunny Friday with a fair chance of evening rain. Highs in the low 80’s with lows in the mid-60’s. Partly sunny on Saturday with a fair chance of rain. Highs in the low 80’s with lows in the upper 50’s. Sunday, partly sunny with a fair chance of evening showers. Highs in the mid-80’s with lows in the mid-60’s. Mostly sunny on Monday with highs in the low 80’s and lows in the upper 50’s. Tuesday, partly sunny with highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the upper 50’s. Partly sunny on Wednesday with highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the mid-50’s. On the 27th we’ll see the Full Moon for August. The normal high for August 27th is 78, and the normal low is 57. The scurs have their S’more supplies stockpiled for the cooler nights ahead.

 

Thursday marks our Full Moon for the month, and it goes by several names, the most common of which is the Full Sturgeon Moon. The sturgeon was important as food source for the Native Americans in the day across much of North America. It was also known as the Corn Moon as corn was beginning to ripen for harvest as silage and grain as well. The Ojibwe called this the Berry Moon, so noted for the huckleberries that were common. The Sioux called it The Moon when Cherries turn Black. At the ranch we denote it as The Moon of Large Vegetables. The sheep would concur with the numerous overgrown zucchini and cucumbers that grace their pasture from time to time.

 

Crops are changing more distinctly with each passing day. Several trips out of the local area recently revealed corn that wasn’t irrigated on lighter ground was very nearly mature if it wasn’t already. Some soybeans on the lighter ground on a trip to Zumbrota were turning rapidly. They were likely an earlier maturing variety that had been planted early. There’s no reason to believe they may not be harvested in a few weeks, especially given warmer temperatures and breezy conditions. After being in the doldrums much of the summer, there are some days with more wind forecast. Leaf drop occurs rapidly when that’s the case and expedites the drying process. Let’s hope we don’t see temps like we did last September. That pushed the crop faster than it could react and bushels were lost.

 

What happened to the soybean aphids? Between pathogenic fungi and beneficial insects, they’ve failed to mount much of an offensive. After observing the number of lacewings, ladybeetles and syrphid fly adults, the aphids were feasted on in short order with control from pathogenic fungi getting an assist. Looking at soybean fields became real boring real fast as a result. Don’t count on that to mean no ladybeetles in your house this winter, however. If you examine the husks in the corn there are plenty of bird-cherry oat aphids yet to tide them over until then. Once the corn dies down, it will be time to think seriously about spraying to prevent those six-legged winter houseguests once again.

 

More insects of the beautiful kind this summer. The large tiger swallowtail butterflies have been more plentiful than ever starting this spring. I spied what was likely a male working over some of the perennial salvia back in mid-June. Since then there have been many swallowtails in the yard. Unlike the black swallowtails we raised from carrot tops and dill in the garden as kids, these yellow swallowtails feed on trees. They favor leaves from ash, cottonwood, choke cherry and willow. They overwinter as a chrysalis and start the process over again the next spring. Our warmer winters may have helped their cause. The dead and dying ash trees not so much.

 

It’s a hectic time of year with county fairs just over and the MN State Fair underway. I set aside time however, to go back to my hometown and my 50th class reunion. I made the 40-year reunion, but had to fly out to OH on Crop Tour immediately afterwards. Even though the next day was right back to the grind at home this time, it was well worth it. Plus, there was no time change. Our class was unique. Most of us got along and truly cared about each other. There were a lot of smart, very talented, now retired individuals in attendance who had done very well. There were also several teachers who made it too, including one whose wife grew up in Matawan of all places! Who knew? Their appearance was the icing on the cake. The organizers did a splendid job all the way around, making it an evening for all to treasure.

 

Poppy keeps a steady eye on her backyard. She pays particular attention to the adjacent pasture in case the turkeys should wander onto her turf. Tuesday morning she was watching something intently and growling, so I assumed that’s what it was. I’d heard a ewe bellering outside earlier, but thought little of it. They do that sometimes for the sake of it. Then, gazing from the oval office, I happened to look out the window. I spied a ewe staring at a large white object. I thought it was perhaps a large conk that had fallen out of the elm tree. Then it moved and stood up. Yup, a late or an early lamb depending on your perspective. We finally got them corralled and in a pen after much snarling and gnashing of teeth. Lesson learned. Never discount the Corgi alarm system.

 

See you next week…real good then.