Eastern Iowa Farmer Spring 2021

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mother nature Almanacs use ‘secret formulas’ to predict weather for more than two centuries Two weather sources that have remained a presence in the life of farmers are “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” and “The Farmers’ Almanac,” both claiming 80% or better accuracy for predicting the weather. “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” premiered in 1792, during George Washington’s first term as president, costing 9 cents a copy. Robert B. Thomas was the first editor, and although there were other publications forecasting the weather, the methods used by “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” were shrouded in secrecy as Thomas gave astronomical and weather predictions. His publication when compared with others was considered to be a little more accurate, advice found in its pages was a little more useful, and features were a bit more entertaining, according to historical accounts. That has kept “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” in production to this day with its formula for predicting the weather locked in a black box at headquarters in Dublin, New Hampshire, and guarded as a highly secret method based on magnetic storms on the surface of the sun. As founder Robert B. Thomas explained, “Our main endeavor is to be useful, but with a pleasant degree of humor.” “The Farmers’ Almanac” appeared in 1818, claiming to use mathematical and astronomical formulas that were passed down and kept secret as well. Its weather prognosticator goes by the pseudonym Caleb Weatherbee, and this anonymous person is the only one who knows the publication’s formula for weather prediction. Before “The Old Farmer’s Almanac,” Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning rod, a metal rod mounted on a structure, intended to protect it from a lightning strike. Decades ago, these could be found on every building, Bonnie Mitchell of the Jackson County Historical Society. A little-known fact is that Preston was once the manufacturer of lightning rods with glass ball insulators. These are currently considered valuable collector’s items. – Jane Schmidt weather. Spending the daytime watching the weather won’t do anything, but “praying at night” was the best insurance for a good crop, said Farrell, whose family’s original homestead is being farmed by his son, Joe, the fourth generation. While such modern technology as radar offers much more accurate information to farmers than observing how close bees stay to their hives or whether the ants are closing up their hills (both a predictor of rain some say), many tidbits passed down through generations and shared in various publications are part of enduring weather lore. Matt Vickers, a DeWitt farmer and ag consultant, described a legend that one just needs to look at a caterpillar’s coat in the fall – if black and fuzzy, it warns of an early, bad winter. If the caterpillar’s coat is light-colored it predicts a mild 82 Eastern Iowa Farmer | Spring 2021 eifarmer.com
75 Years AND STILL GOING STRONG! Picutred, seated: Tim Clark, Store Owner and Paul Hardison, Store Manager. Standing left to right: Dean Clementz, service technician; Tristian Spooner, delivery and installation; Lisa Omoyefa, sales; John Johnson, delivery and installation; Courtney Anderson, sales; Brandon Hicks, service department manager; and Jeremy Lutton, installation and service Zirkelbach Home Appliances is celebrating 75 years of supplying the Clinton County area with quality home appliance sales and service. We have been here doing this since April 1, 1946, when John and Betty Zirkelbach started as a small business specializing in refrigeration repair. Since 1946, we have expanded to both sales and service and offer options for the entire range of kitchen and laundry products. We even offer LG HDTV options with professional installation available. (563) 242-6121 | www.zirkelbachs.com | 225 5th Ave S, Clinton As the years come and go, things change. We do our best to change along with the demands. We have adapted just like the rest of the world has even during this pandemic. We offer curbside pick-up and our service and delivery professionals have adapted to wearing masks and sanitizing regularly to keep everyone as safe as possible. This entire year we will be offering deep discounts so everyone can help us celebrate! Our sales staff are factory trained (updated by webinar nowadays) and our service department has the best resources around to help keep our products going all year round. Stop in to see us and experience the difference at Zirkelbach Home Appliances. We do our best to make your life eaZier!!
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The Eastern Iowa Spring 2021 Farmer
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TODD HUSMANN Channel Seedsman Cente
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s... ter! › CommerCial Warehousin
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Today, Tomorrow, Forever Joining th
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Story Index 52 Mother Nature is hav
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McCaulley Ag Service Tyler Shannon
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Chores: The building blocks of char
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Country chores (Left) Among the ani
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Country chores “We’ve always ho
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Supporting local is who we are When
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We offer tile repair and systems of
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grain bin safety Eastern Iowa Farme
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Martens Angus Farms grain bin safet
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Maquoketa Agency Offce: 563-652-568
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ASSISTED LIVING • SKILLED REHABIL
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Page 40 and 41: 117 S. 2nd St. Maquoketa 563-652-65
Page 42 and 43: woolly endeavor “Every year I com
Page 44 and 45: nursed, Goedken puts the ewe in a h
Page 46 and 47: Bulletins offered good, free advice
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Page 50 and 51: little bit ...where FRANZEN FAMILY
Page 52 and 53: Clinton County farmer Chad Petersen
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Page 58 and 59: More FOR YOUR FARM Animal Health
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Page 66 and 67: mother nature In fact, it was an in
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Page 70 and 71: mother nature John Mueller John Mue
Page 72 and 73: mother nature Water levels at Lock
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Page 80 and 81: mother nature Gerry Farrell Delmar
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Page 86 and 87: mother nature Navigating through ca
Page 88 and 89: FARMERS AT HEART ® DOING WHAT’S
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Page 94 and 95: mother nature way of life. Kara How
Page 96 and 97: A farming future is worth the sacri
Page 98 and 99: Land prices Prices moving to the no
Page 100 and 101: Land prices cultural professionals
Page 102 and 103: By KRIS KOTH Clinton County Executi
Page 104 and 105: Deep roots grow tall We want to tha
Page 106 and 107: Ag Bytes Meteorologist documents de
Page 108 and 109: Ag Bytes outstanding achievements i
Page 110 and 111: Delaneys Auto & Ag Center & Repair
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Page 119 and 120: 1. “Spiderman,” Dylan Matthiese
Page 121 and 122: 1. Molly Matthiesen and Meghan Klem
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Eastern Iowa Farmer Spring 2021

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