As background for those of you not from the Red River Valley, it was a miserable spring here. It was cold and wet, causing late planting. As July 4 rolled around, the Red River was once again above flood stage. As I write this, there is much need for a dry spell to get after weed control on the acres that are still alive. Then, to top it off, bean prices crashed just yesterday.

The June meeting for CoBank was in Boston. My wife, Peggy, came along and one afternoon went on a tour of the Witchcraft Museum in Salem.

January of 1692 was a tough winter in Salem, where a strong church following believed firmly in the presence of the Devil. There had been a smallpox epidemic nearby, and there was fear of warring tribes. Tensions were running high. When things go bad, we look for someone to blame. Before the Governor stepped in and put a stop to the witch trials, one person had been crushed to death, seven died in prison and 19 had been hung. Like I said, when things go bad, we look for someone to blame.

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There are some things the Government does that I don’t agree with (no surprise there). Then there are some things the Government does that I don't understand. Daylight savings time is one of those. The times of year when I need to get up early, well, I do. I have faith that most Americans could be trusted with that responsibility.

There are so many unintended consequences from arbitrarily moving the clock. What does “High Noon” mean any more? Do we need to change the name of the movie because “high” now comes at 1:00 p.m.? It doesn’t have the same ring to it. If our military folks go into battle and someone yells, “Bogies at 12 o’clock high,” where do they look: straight ahead or 30 degrees to the left? I just don’t feel this was well thought out.

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It’s full of paperwork time. The heap of forms in my office is deeper than the stack of seed catalogs. The frustration is piling up faster than the W-2s and 1099s.

Shouldn’t farmers be able to follow the example of Congress and file our 2012 and 2013 papers with the same urgency they have shown passing a 2012 farm bill?

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As I write this, Christmas is close enough to smell. I mean that in mostly a good way. 

Most of the big holidays have foods associated with them that are so intertwined with the celebration as to almost overtake the holiday itself.

Turkey Day is the most obvious. Different ethnic backgrounds and national heritages carry with them special dishes served only on those occasions.

Since there are many of Norwegian heritage in my area, much is made about the annual serving of lefse (a potato-based tortilla) and lutefisk (a fish that has been dried, preserved and reconstituted).

Editorial: Lefse is served with butter and sugar. What wouldn't a beet grower like about that? Lutefisk is best served with noseplugs.

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Change can be hard. When we get comfortable working with someone to the point where the relationship has  been not only professionally rewarding but also has evolved into a long-term friendship, well, it is tough to see it end.

This year, Rick Morgan, my instructor in the Moorhead Adult Farm Management class where I’ve participated for 30-plus years, retired. I am sure I will find a way to make my books balance, but it will take some self-discipline.

Worse yet, my ag advisor, Virgil Jons, is calling it enough. I have come to rely on him not just for advice about problems in my field. Virgil under- stood, and cared about, my operation — yet was just enough detached to give great personal advice. I would not have been comfortable being so involved with boards and organizations, and therefore gone so much, without his help.

I went to the Beet Show                                                       
       In Fargo at the Dome.                                                          
It’s handy when it’s there                                                     
       And only twenty miles from home.

    At this time of year, I must attend a goodly number of meetings.  Several of them are in nice, warm places where the dress code is listed as “business casual.”  I lean toward the casual side; but while packing for the last trip my wife felt it was time to make a few suggestions about upgrading my wardrobe.

    I wanted so bad to talk about the fiscal cliff this month.  I know you all want to hear more about the brilliant maneuvering that saved us all.  But I just couldn’t find words that were descriptive enough and yet ones that Don, my editor, would let me print.  Instead, let me share a family story where my two-year-old grandson learns what it appears those in Congress have not.