Ideal air mail pilot circa 1952

South Dakota winter and spring of 1952 or so were years of record snow fall and blizzards. Most roads were impassable. For several days, roads might be drifted from Ideal to Winner, SD. Bulldozers could push it out, but if the wind blew, the road might be drifted in again that evening or next morning possibly piled even deeper.

My father, Charles Heller, flew a 1946 vintage Aeronica plane. A Ski replaced each wheel. The wood and fabric plane then became the temporary mail plane running between Winner, SD and Ideal, SD. Once sorted by the postmaster, the rural route mail was put in paper bags for each rural route "customer". Some chain smokers were so hard up for tobacco they wanted cartons of cigarettes included with the mail drop. I have several photos. This one was most likely taken on March 15, 1952

A rapid spring runoff flooded areas which was not good in those days..adding water misery to blizzard misery for some people and animals. But this year the snowfall has been pretty sparce even if weather was often cold. Not much moisture so far. We are waiting for spring rains this year..or even snow tomorrow as forecast for Tripp County. Not likely that the Ideal mail plane will need to run in 2008.

PIT VIPER S STRIKE GRAIN MARKET

New York Times on line has an article on the Chicago board of Trade grain futures today. It has no explanation of how or why the futures of a date drop off higher that the cash market. i.e.wheat

The Federal subsidy for the insurance company premium might have a part of this pit bite.
Grain farmers must carry the Federal crop insurance plan written by private companies. Farmers have a choice not to carry but they cannot claim any Federal farm disaster payments. That's the bite. Grain farmers are to report the acres planted to the private insurance companies and or the losses and yield of bushels. Acres for winter wheat planted are already reported.

Now that information is recorded by the USDA offices in USA. That becomes public information. Who needs to know how many acres planted. The total number of acres planted to winter wheat is already filed. A faster way to obtain that information is to obtain the information filed prior time with the private insurers of that commodity. I wonder if that information is secure or does that information leakaway? If you are a speculator in the pit you need to know the anticipated acres planted. Yield per acre is already filed and by checking the drought forecast for the areas planted they can estimate the bushels available.

Demand and supply the fangs of the speculator enter the Chicago Board of Trade and enter their bids based on the information they have gathered. Spring wheat is being planted now and the report date of acres will be filed soon. The puffed wheat price has driven farm rental of wheat land up to $50+ - an acre. The waving wands of the golden wheat may be in the minds of the wheat farmer but the cost of producing the wheat will leave the farmer fools gold in the granary.

FARWELL TO FARMS

Congress has been trying to pass the new farm program for the coming years. The last program expired. But the recent deadline has been extended a month. Last evening P.B.S. had a preview of the not yet released "Body Count" a movie of the decision to invade Iraq----timing was a few months before the fall election. Hardly any discussion. Ayes were plentiful except a couple nays.

Although the guns of war have not been beaten into the plowshares it is time for the mental planning for the farm operation to be completed and action. Timing the passing of the farm program before the spring planting is a familiar congressional tactic. They have had a year to discuss and pass a new farm bill.

This warrior of the land noticed how little discussion on war to Iraq and great delay and discussion on a farm program.

Are farms that important? You have heard the expression , "It's the pits"? Probably a little truth to that statement as the pits of the New York Stock Exchange or Chicago board of trade have been cultivating and bagging the unwary on future trading of farm products, especially grains as wheat, corn, and soy beans. Speculation future prices raised spring wheat up to almost $20 a bushel. Two bushels of spring wheat to plant per acres,Diesel fuel at almost $4 a gallon nitrogen $770 a ton and harvest costs not announced yet-- but the conversation using words not noticed in the dictionary, free--no charge. Cash investment per acre of spring wheat is close to $250. No snow and no rain in this band of drought. Dowsers and dancers needed to find that dew of the cloud.

Freedom to farm or farewell to farms? A cash sow or cow are needed on the range. Hath thou heeded Joseph's rule of the green thumb? Dip into the granary of seven years lean and seven years fat. At this time it is "Empty bins near the old corral."

That manna from heaving is of interest. How about 'stuffen' the Bank of Cooperatives?
Your neighbors might not have a roof over head for long, but at least have the basic food available at the grocery store.



LH

Transplants and Dialysis on the Rosebud

Ideal Villager finally at the No. 1 spot to receive a kidney and pancreas transplant. After three years of dialysis twice a week the lady had word she is now at the top of the waiting list. Senior resident Ms. Charlotte Long Crow retired from the CHS health care job some years ago and now can look forward to an easier life.

She had to have her boys drive her to Gregory as Winner hospital has not a dialysis machine.

Lowdon

Cow Maternity and the Barometer

Beware the Ides of March ------------- in 2008. And the NY stock market almost collapsed.\\

The Ideal stock market at the out barn fared well. Four new calves appeared and only one weak one that I had to jimmy up.A calf represents about a 20% gain in asset value of one cow share. A live -stock C.E.O (cowboy Entramanure Operator) is in charge.

Posts will follow if this procedure connects..

Lowdon

Test of new blogger login

Like wagontrains passing in the night, this blog and my passwords have been passing.

This is a test. If it works, and I can log in again, there may be some actual news at Ideal News and Views.

Lowdon will soon be publishing again

After having his computer on the fritz for some time, I finally got it going for him again, but in the process may have lost some of his logon information. So, if you have
been missing posts here, with a little luck, we will soon have the connections right.

Lowdon says he has been storing up good post ideas and photos.