The flower industry is big business. Flowers are used in just about every aspect of our lives to celebrate the momentous occasions and the little ones. Weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries are made better by the presence of fresh flowers, and those impromptu wildflower bouquets picked and presented to us by children warm our hearts.
I am excited to announce the birth of our fourteenth grandchild. Sharlene Lovina Yoder was born to Susan and Ervin on July 17th at 6:13 p.m. She weighed 7 pounds 11.8 ounces and 20 inches long. She is greeted by two sisters and four brothers. Sharlene evens out the grandsons and granddaughters for Joe and I. I went along to the hospital to attend the birth. Once again I am amazed at the miracle of birth and how God created such uniqueness. Mother and baby are doing as well as can be expected. Little Sharlene has already won this grandma’s heart. She’s a precious bundle of joy and has plenty of attention from her six siblings.
Today is son Benjamin’s 26th birthday. He is going out to eat with his friends, so I didn’t make a cake for him for supper. I am trying to decide what to make for supper with only Joe and I being here. Kevin went along too.
Last week, cash rental agreements were discussed and now crop share rental agreements. For crop share rental agreements, both landowner and tenant share crop expenses and also the crop. This involves much more involvement of landowners in the farming operation. The landowner has the land while the tenant supplies the labor and the equipment for farming the crop. Since the landowner has more risk, usually the return is expected to be higher, but they also have to have more cash outlay. For newer farmers or for cash strapped tenant farmers, this can be helpful, lowering the tenant cash outlay and risk, but the tenant should expect lower total returns.
It seems as if it is a rite of passage for kids to make a leaf collection while in school. Sometimes, as it was for me, it is a bug collection. I was in the 10th grade and distinctly remember going on a bug hunt with Colleen, my best friend at the time.
Kylee’s taking the week off, so here’s a column from this week in 2014.
While the current 2025 agricultural crop season is still in full swing; farmers and landowners are thinking about renewing or making new rental agreements. In Ohio, about 39% of farmland is leased or rented. About 28% of all Ohio farmers rent exclusively and own no farmland themselves. About 13 Midwestern universities have developed a program called AgLease 101 offering descriptions and advantages and disadvantage to landowners and renters (tenants) of various rental arrangements.
It is a dreary Monday morning with light rain. We do need this rain. The breeze feels good coming in the windows. We appreciate it even more after a few weeks of hot, humid weather.
With the Fourth of July holiday, it is nice to meet family and friends and reflect on life and the blessings we have in this country. It is also nice to hear and learn how some successful family farms that are thriving. Here is a local story revised from Farm Journal and Ag Web.