Thankful

I have been complaining about the lack of moisture for some time and everybody is used to hearing it. I am going to have to modify my position somewhat now. While I still say we are in a severe drought and are lacking rain, I am thankful for what I have got around here. I was on a road trip yesterday and traveled west of Billings. You want to see some dry country that is really suffering you go to the Columbus area. I thought the grass in this country was in bad shape, at least we have grass. All there is in that country is dirt. With the recent rain there is a tint of green in the area which makes it look a little better, but if you really look there is nothing but dirt to eat for critters in that country. I had heard it was exceptionally dry in that area but I couldn't believe it when I saw it. Cattle markets up, grass crop down. The luck of Montana ranchers.<br />n<!–more–><br />nI see in the <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/06/25/build/state/30-land-grazing.inc">paper</a> that they are opening up CRP for haying and grazing. I figured they had since I seen a guy cutting some land I knew to be in CRP down for hay. He isn't going to get much off of it but I guess any feed is better than a snowball.<br />n<br />nHeard in passing from a farmer. The wheat farmers are complaining, unbelievably enough, about the recent moisture. Why you may ask. Well in typical farmer fashion they planted spring wheat and insured it knowing it was too dry and was going to fail. Now with the rains it is going to be good enough that they are going to have to harvest it and not collect on the insurance and disaster payments. They actually have to produce something, and not sit on their asses and collect money for doing nothing. [sarcastic]I really feel sorry for them.[/sarcastic]<br />n<br />n<b>Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. Oprah Winfrey</b>