When It Rains, It Pours

Mitchell, S.D. makes the map for being the home of the world's only Corn Palace. Now, my hometown is making headlines for something other than a tourist trap: flooding. It's been raining for days on end here, and when it rains, it pours. Since Friday, we have had over eight inches of rain, and it doesn't look like it's going to slow down anytime soon. Corn is drowning out, roads are flooded, the James River looks more like an ocean, cattle are having to paddle to dry ground and hay season is off to an incredibly slow start.

Not to be a whiner, but I'm ready for sunshine and summertime in South Dakota already! I'm sure in July, I will be crying for a lack of rain as the pastures start to get brown. It seems like the Dakotas are known for having weather extremes. Where's the happy medium, right? Like residents always say, "If you don't like the weather here, just wait 10 minutes!"

So, how are things in your neck of the woods? Is it raining cats and dogs, or are there cracks in the ground from drought? Is haying going well? How are your pastures looking this year? How tall is the corn in your area? Give me the 411 in the comments section below; I would love to hear from you!

Since it's looking to be another dismal week of watching the rain, I'm parking the mud boots and headed to another seminar today. This time, I will be taking part in a women's agricultural day, where we will hear speakers talk on record keeping, crop and livestock insurance, estate planning, summer grilling tips and gardening. Stay tuned for updates throughout the day on the BEEF Twitter feed and Facebook Fan Page. And remember, no matter what the weather brings, keep your chin up and continue looking forward! There are always better days ahead!