Random Pictures Thread

China is waiting. Send them a bean a day. Not sure how that mess will work out, but it is killing some of our NY farmers.
Yeah, it is the same here. Many are large enough that this year won't put them out of business, but it is not going to be easy for a lot of them.

Beyond the low prices is the stark reality that there is not enough storage for both corn and beans, nor is there enough processing capability for the volume of beans.

The trickle down effect is in full swing. John Deere has been laying off people for a year as equipment sales lag.

Land sales over the last two years have been at all time highs ($15,000/acre is very common), but any sales in the near future will probably be purchased by non-farm investors. Farmers just can't afford to take on the debt.
 
I now understand why Utah has several of the 'must see' national parks.

Night sky as seen in Cedar Breaks National Monument in Southern Utah during a recent vacation trip. Keep in mind this pic was taken from my Pixel 6 cell phone.
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Bryce Canyon is one of the most unusual and amazing places I've seen. Getting to hike down and back out was exhilarating.
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Red canyon hike outside of Zion
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Arches trail near in Red Canyon near Zion.
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Zion National Park on a steep hike to Scouts Landing overlooking the valley.
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Unusual twisted dead trees alone the trails.. Anyone know what kind of tree had such twisted wood?
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Very large and healthy Bristle Cone Pine tree at a visit center that gets plenty of water. Never knew they could look like this.
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Yeah, it is the same here. Many are large enough that this year won't put them out of business, but it is not going to be easy for a lot of them.

Beyond the low prices is the stark reality that there is not enough storage for both corn and beans, nor is there enough processing capability for the volume of beans.

The trickle down effect is in full swing. John Deere has been laying off people for a year as equipment sales lag.

Land sales over the last two years have been at all time highs ($15,000/acre is very common), but any sales in the near future will probably be purchased by non-farm investors. Farmers just can't afford to take on the debt.
Our John Deere was just cut off by corporate for not selling enough new. Some big Deere rep bought it and 7 other mom & pop Deere dealers in PA and NY.

Corn can ground store well. See bunks all over west of you. Beans.....never seen them bunk packed.
 
I now understand why Utah has several of the 'must see' national parks.

Night sky as seen in Cedar Breaks National Monument in Southern Utah during a recent vacation trip. Keep in mind this pic was taken from my Pixel 6 cell phone.
View attachment 279305

Bryce Canyon is one of the most unusual and amazing places I've seen. Getting to hike down and back out was exhilarating.
View attachment 279306

Red canyon hike outside of Zion
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Arches trail near in Red Canyon near Zion.
View attachment 279312

Zion National Park on a steep hike to Scouts Landing overlooking the valley.
View attachment 279311

Unusual twisted dead trees alone the trails.. Anyone know what kind of tree had such twisted wood?
View attachment 279308View attachment 279309

Very large and healthy Bristle Cone Pine tree at a visit center that gets plenty of water. Never knew they could look like this.
View attachment 279307
Incredible pics! I have been to these parks, but only hiked at Arches National Park. Breathtaking! That dead tree could very well have been Bristlecone Pine. Chuck
 
Agree with you Karl, some of the most amazing hikes and sights in those parks. And those trees usually look like this...defiant, pugnacious trees for sure.

brycetreesml.jpg
 
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Our John Deere was just cut off by corporate for not selling enough new. Some big Deere rep bought it and 7 other mom & pop Deere dealers in PA and NY.

Corn can ground store well. See bunks all over west of you. Beans.....never seen them bunk packed.
My guess is we'll see a lot of corn in bunker storage this year.

Beans are much more delicate than corn and require a higher level of management. Beans can rapidly absorb/loose moisture, and small changes affect operations. They need to be in bins to control moisture and quality.

A heavy dew overnight will significantly increase moisture in beans and harvest is delayed until the sun/wind will dry them some. However, sun/wind will also dry them too fast in the afternoon and cause splitting/cracking of the beans during harvest which leads to quality discounts and problems storing.

Ideal moisture for storing beans is ~13% but at that moisture, they can only be stored about 6 months. Drop the moisture to 11% and they can be stored for a year or two. They also split/crack more which opens them up to mold and other quality issues such as protein and oil degradation. To maintain lower moisture usually means handling them more, so it's a double edge sword.

Storage isn't free, so longer storage increases costs.

It's a complex issue compounded with so many factors unknown and out of the farmers' control.
 
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I now understand why Utah has several of the 'must see' national parks.

Night sky as seen in Cedar Breaks National Monument in Southern Utah during a recent vacation trip. Keep in mind this pic was taken from my Pixel 6 cell phone.
View attachment 279305

Bryce Canyon is one of the most unusual and amazing places I've seen. Getting to hike down and back out was exhilarating.
View attachment 279306

Red canyon hike outside of Zion
View attachment 279310
Arches trail near in Red Canyon near Zion.
View attachment 279312

Zion National Park on a steep hike to Scouts Landing overlooking the valley.
View attachment 279311

Unusual twisted dead trees alone the trails.. Anyone know what kind of tree had such twisted wood?
View attachment 279308View attachment 279309

Very large and healthy Bristle Cone Pine tree at a visit center that gets plenty of water. Never knew they could look like this.
View attachment 279307
Amazing star field shot... and with only a cell phone. I can't get a shot like that with my DSLR!

Zion is my favorite of the SW. Went to Zion and Arches in 2009 with my Dad. He couldn't walk well so we only stay on top. Maybe someday I'll make it back out there. I'd love to hike in both.
 
Some of those Nat'l Parks have implemented permit system and time stamp systems. Visitors need to purchase permits for the specific dates you'll be there and hikers need to purchase time stamp which specify the time they will be admitted. These systems were implemented in an attempt to control the volume of people in the more popular parks and locations. Pretty sure Zion and Bryce have also implemented a park managed shuttle bus system - you park outside the park (at least outside the more popular sections of the park) and wait for the bus to take you into or close to the area you want to see. This was implemented to control the volume of motor vehicle traffic and people parking everywhere they weren't supposed to. Most of these systems are in place during peak visitation periods - mostly the summer months. So the message is to check the specific rules and regulations for the parks you're planning to visit, and do it early enough in your planning that you can use that information to decide when you plan to visit. You may decide to visit during off peak periods rather than navigate the permit systems.
 
Some of those Nat'l Parks have implemented permit system and time stamp systems. Visitors need to purchase permits for the specific dates you'll be there and hikers need to purchase time stamp which specify the time they will be admitted. These systems were implemented in an attempt to control the volume of people in the more popular parks and locations. Pretty sure Zion and Bryce have also implemented a park managed shuttle bus system - you park outside the park (at least outside the more popular sections of the park) and wait for the bus to take you into or close to the area you want to see. This was implemented to control the volume of motor vehicle traffic and people parking everywhere they weren't supposed to. Most of these systems are in place during peak visitation periods - mostly the summer months. So the message is to check the specific rules and regulations for the parks you're planning to visit, and do it early enough in your planning that you can use that information to decide when you plan to visit. You may decide to visit during off peak periods rather than navigate the permit systems.
The road through Zion is a major Highway connecting US 89. Been on that road 3 times starting in '72, '84 and 2012. It's 32 miles through the park to Mt. Carmel Junction. If they have stopped traffic from doing that, it would be 72 miles to get to the MT Carmel junction on 89. I doubt that they're keeping people from driving that far out of their way. It's possible, but I kinda doubt it. ............. Nubs
 
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I doubt they'll block US 89 completely. But I know for certain that they use a permit / shuttle bus system for Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - which is the part that gets you into the most scenic section of the park, I think it was March thru Nov. They also have a restriction on the size of vehicle / RV that can drive through the tunnel that goes through the middle of the park. Of course, all that creates some confusion with visitors who aren't prepared and traffic can come to a complete stop because people aren't sure what to do or where to go, etc. Kind of like Jellystone when someone sees an animal. And then the parking areas fill up so people stop in the lanes waiting for someone to leave, etc. It's not fun.
 
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I doubt they'll block US 89 completely. But I know for certain that they use a permit / shuttle bus system for Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - which is the part that gets you into the most scenic section of the park, I think it was March thru Nov. They also have a restriction on the size of vehicle / RV that can drive through the tunnel that goes through the middle of the park. Of course, all that creates some confusion with visitors who aren't prepared and traffic can come to a complete stop because people aren't sure what to do or where to go, etc. Kind of like Jellystone when someone sees an animal. And then the parking areas fill up so people stop in the lanes waiting for someone to leave, etc. It's not fun.
Yep, that tunnel is something else. I pulled a 16 foot trailer through it in 2012.
89 won't ever be blocked. It's a national highway starting at Nogales on the Mexican border and then the US designation ends at Carway, Canada. It goes through downtown Tucson and a lot of well known Arizona towns.
It is highway 9 that goes through the park and that tunnel. ................. Nubs
 
Was crawling under some landscaping today cutting out mulberry and silver maple volunteers and disturbed some of these. Happy to see native beetles surviving with all the Asian beetles that are crawling around.

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