​Our Farm got a drink! 9/10 of an inch of liquid gold fell on our farm earlier this week. Our wells and our farmers couldn't be happier about getting a break from the irrigation game, and our plants are dancing in place for the time being. Weeds will also like this newfound moisture so cultivation will go into high gear.

​We have always said, "Only worry about the things you can change". Well, we are having one of those moments and may go against the grain of that statement. We discovered something nibbling and then annihilating some of our sweet corn last week. First, we thought it was raccoons and birds, then we found something we have never seen before, corn rootworm adults. Not knowing what we were looking at, we talked to a local agronomist that immediately said, "oh, yeah, I know what those are," in a less than optimistic tone. Corn rootworms had almost vanished from our region since "stacked field corn genetics," which are very expensive, came on the scene a number of years ago. Since the pest has been relatively nonexistent in recent years, growers have returned to less expensive genetic lines, and BANG, corn rootworm is back with a vengeance. Our tender sweet corn is nestled amongst thousands of acres of corn and is a sitting duck since it is more vulnerable to many of these pests. We also learned that it thrives in dry, hot conditions which we have had almost all season.  

Many told us there is nothing we can do as adults are very difficult to control, even with the nastiest chemicals, which is not something we would ever consider based on our growing principles. However, we won't give up easily. We have four of the most beautiful stands of sweet corn yet to be harvested in the weeks ahead. We are pulling out all the tools in our toolbox in the hopes that they won't be a total loss. Mineral oil, two Bt strains, neam oil, and garlic oil will all be used to help fight these little buggers. We will go through the fields spraying each corn ear and silk with this concoction in the hopes of minimizing or reducing the damage. Sounds like fun huh? Well, it will be worth it in the end if we can all enjoy a little more of one of the best parts about a Minnesota summer.  

Enjoy this week's bounty from our Farm.
-Farmer Dean