Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[murphysranch]

FJ: how do you think the pending dock strike will affect the beef market. Not only will imports be halted, but beef, chicken and egg EXPORTS will stop.

Do you think it will apply downward pressure on protein prices or will product be discarded due to rules/regulations/inspection qualification difference for US consumption vs foreign consumption.

 

[Baymule]

Good questions.

 

[Mini Horses]

Personally -- I think it won't affect prices until it goes beyond a week. Then perishables will be withheld from prep to even ship out from USA. Prices will increase. Incoming prices are set now but, no product at stores will be the issue for some items. A lot of cargo will sit on ships, ports won't unload them.

Supposed to start tomorrow. No one wants it to happen! All sides will work to resolve it. I'm thinking within a week they'll hug & make up. . Another month and it will be forgotten.

 

[Baymule]

I went and stocked up on sugar and coffee. I don’t use much sugar, but I do go through coffee. If the strike doesn’t happen, I’m good. I didn’t run out and panic buy a bunch of stuff.

 

[farmerjan]

Since this is only going to affect the eastern/gulf ports...initially.... I don't think it will be such a big deal or long term strike. However, west coast port workers might refuse to handle diverted goods ... so who knows. They say if it lasts more than a week, it could start to cause some problems... 2 weeks and there will be some shortages. The good thing is the only main "perishable " that comes in through these ports is bananas... Also, for Baltimore, they only have started to get back to normal after the huge container ship hit that bridge and destroyed part of it and held up so much traffic in and out of there...
It will affect electronics and other non-perishable goods more... clothes, cars, furniture...

I think it will actually cause a reduction in price of beef/ meats at the stores if it lasts very long... they will not have the room to store beef, that would get shipped out on those ships, for an extended period of time, so there might be a reduction of prices short term in stores... Maybe I am wrong...

As much a problem is the produce that is normally produced in Ga, Al, NC, SC, TN.... these fields produce ALOT of produce and it is about the time for harvesting of things like Peppers...Tomatoes....Green beans..... and Sweet Potatoes... I did not realize that the carolinas produce 60% of the sweet potatoes that are consumed IN THE WHOLE USA.....And these do not get shipped by container ship... and these crops will be damaged and ruined from the flood waters... There will be no replanting of some of them this year...

Talking about insurance costs also...

Think about all the people in these areas.... most have NO FLOOD insurance... they never would think about flood insurance in some places where water has gotten as much as 20+ feet ABOVE FLOOD STAGE.... places that no one ever ever ever would think of flooding..... total devastation and losses....How do you start over when you will not get anything from the ins companies.....
Something to think about for any/everyone... and flood ins is very expensive from what I have heard.

On that note... I got my insurance on the vehicles done... it had gone from 850 to 1250...on 2 vehicles.... I was on a 3 year "rate lock" so it could not go up for 3 years if I did not add/remove a vehicle, add/remove a driver... or change address.... I can change the coverage without triggering a change in the rate lock.... So at this renewal, the 3 year lock was up so it went up $400 on the 2 vehicles... and so I added the other 3 I wanted to cover... liability only... just so I am legally covered to drive them... and it cost me 2 K.... but it cannot go up for 3 years .... unless I take one off like the explorer.... she said if I take it off in the next 3-6 months... should not cause a big deal with the rates changing...
BUT with the devastation of vehicles in the path of destruction by "Helene".... that might change....

Testing went good... light rain and showers... then more rain up at farm and about 2/3 way home then very light misty stuff here.
There was 1.1 inches in the rain gauge this morning though... That's nearly 7 inches in a week... about 2 months worth of rain.... BUT....it's been slower than many places and much less than they got south of here... we have been very fortunate that we did not get the run off or pounding rain that they got down there... my heart goes out to all those people.
And we are forecast to get more tomorrow and now saying Wed too before it quits...

Got chiropractor appt in morning and DS has Dr appt not too far from there, so able to get 2 for 1 trip. Need a shower.... and bed.

 

[murphysranch]

Thank you for your thoughts, FJ.

I didn't even think of crop devastation. I've been more focused on the human tragedy. Deep sigh.

 

[farmerjan]

Tuesday..... Been up and gone and back. DS went to the brain trauma specialist and he feels that the headaches, stuttering, most of DS's problems are from damage to the spine, in the vertebrae... so that is maybe good??? He has "ordered" blood work, PT, and psychiatrist evaluation.... and that he told DS that he would not be going back to work anytime soon... and that he should continue with the other dr for the time being... Of course, this all has to be approved... by workman's comp.... but DS seems okay with this guy... and it is closer... and so now we can coordinate some with my chiropractor appts once he gets an approval and then can get on a schedule... DS is still having some trouble with "losing his ability to work"... the mental dealing with it... and I think that this is all good... he will convey all this to the lawyer too.... there is some thought that if he goes to the long term disability, that he will have to go to 100% disability and now they are saying he cannot even continue to farm.... he discussed some of this with this dr.... and that with the debt he has, he will lose "everything" if they say he cannot even continue with the farming... especially since he can do some stuff, then stop and go lay down and such if the headaches get too much... it is going to get "nasty"...... if they do not put him on 100% disability, then he has to apply to 5 places a week, to show he is looking for a job... I don't know all the details... he has been put in a spot from work.... by doing what they did... and he cannot apply for other positions that fall under the Va retirement system, to get his last 5 years in to qualify for full retirement benefits... there are other jobs that he could do that do not require the hard hat that severely affects his headaches...

And all this is working on him mentally ... because like he told me, he was good at what he did at VDOT.... and he got NO appreciation for it or any support by any of the "bosses" that used to say how they always "had his back"; when the couple of "big wigs" had it in for him and sidelined him over stuff that many other supervisors also have done.... and CONTINUE to do.....

Another of his friends called and said they turned in their letter of intent to take retirement... they had planned to work another 5+ years... they qualify for full retirement, and told DS they will not work for such a corrupt bunch as is now running things ....
The whole thing sucks...

My chiropractor appt went well... shoulder hurts less today....

I am going in to pack samples and get them sent out...

The port dock workers are on strike, ports shut down... it could get nasty as it does not look like they are going to talk any time soon now.

The devastation is so bad from Helene.... up to a horrific 130 lives lost and many other still unreacheable and unaccounted for...

My heart aches for all the people... the pictures are so so bad.... even some areas of southwest Va are in terrible shape. But TN and NC and GA are just disasters....

I hope anyone that can would send even a few dollars to help the groups sending relief...

"But for the grace of God, go I" ..... it can happen to ANY OF US.......

 

[farmerjan]

I made the comment in the last post that DS cannot apply for any of the other Va state jobs so he can work out the 5 years to get his full retirement... I forgot to qualify that, with adding that he cannot apply, if he is on 100% disability... but found out that if he quits and then applies to another VA state job that is in the retirement system program... he CAN pick up his years already in... he is talking to the one person he trusts in the HR dept... on her personal phone and time.... so it is not recorded on the work phone lines... so that he can get all the i's dotted and t's crossed and he knows the best decision to make... there is so much BS double talk in all this stuff... and if he goes out on the 100% disability he can then get "re-evaluated" and then could go back to work... and he can take some of his retirement NOW... and then go ahead and apply for another job within that system.... if he does not go on disability.... and not have to worry about them where he was working as they cannot influence his future application.... because it is not their dept... he has 2 guys that want him to come to work for them....
It's such a B#@%H due to the difference in the money... he is trying to make the best decision so he can get to his full retirement in 5 years and get the full amount... and NOT go back to where he was... He's got to the end of Oct I think... so a few more weeks at least.... to figure out the best way to go...
It's still tough.... and this strain is not helping the headaches either...

It has been misty sprinkley out there again...just enough to get you damp..... Hit 70 during one of the few minute outbreaks of sun before getting cloudy again.

Got samples packed and sent off... Called the UVA place, because I could not get it set up for the "My chart" stuff ... lady was wonderful and talked me through it and we got it to work... I did the "pre-register" stuff so will be set and ready to go in the morning... Have to be there at 8 for the CT scan of the shoulder... at least get all the ducks in a row for now. Not going to make any final commitment for any surgery but keep the options open. But this will give a better overview than the x-rays...

DS wants to maybe get in the cows with the calves on the ground out of the calving field, tomorrow afternoon; get them in the barn, work the ones needing banding, and then put them out on the hill and have fewer in the field to feed and have to check... They are eating a round bale a day; cleaning up the ground he said. No sense in feeding them when they can go out on the pasture that he has been holding for fall grazing.

DS is not going to cut any hay before he goes away with the friend for Thurs/Fri... it is too wet and there is a 30-40% chance of showers again tomorrow afternoon...

Dumped .2 out of gauge earlier... sure wish we could have gotten just part of this back in June/early July when it got so terribly dry... Well, better now than not at all...

Going to bed early so I can get up and get going... There will be alot of traffic over near Charlottesville in the morning...rush hour commuters and such going to work.... takes an hour so plan to leave here no later than 6:15... figure it will be at least 1 1/2 hours....to be on the safe side.