PAGE 8
www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
THE LAND — APRIL 2/APRIL 9, 2021
A messy apron might just be the sign of a good meal A month ago I cut an apron out from an for the glamour girl rather than the old dress that was looking a bit worn, but farmer’s wife who cooks up plenty of too good to throw away. It may have been mashed potatoes and gravy. a frugal moment on my part, but keep I recently saw the most beautiful handthat under your hat, please. made apron. It must have only been worn Because there are many things my when the neighbor ladies came over to farmer calls me, but frugal and economitea. On the sheer white material were cal minded are definitely not among two embroidered girls wearing sunbonthem. And I certainly don’t want him to nets. The girls were probably twelve FROM MY go into shock or worry that there is someinches tall. Another neat feature about FARMHOUSE thing desperately wrong with me. the apron was that the bonnets were KITCHEN made from material. The designer fashSo it goes, practically every single day I By Renae B. ioned them to serve as the pockets. So put a clean apron on over my dress. It is Vander Schaaf sweet! necessary to have a half dozen of those handy fashion items. At the beginning of the year, It might be impractical for use on an everyday one apron had to be tossed into the fire for real. It basis, but it sure was perfect for very special occahad two major faults: the fabric was wearing thin sions. and the holes were no longer protecting my clothing. This time I went with a vintage style. It is one I It was time for a new addition to my apron wardrobe. remember my Grandma Reemtsma wearing. My Aprons are fun to make. The difficult part is fabric is floral and the apron is made up of pieces choosing the pattern as there are so many ideas outlined with pink binding. some that are even practical. Others are not; more Although I didn’t have the problem this time, selecting the material can also be difficult. Have you been to a fabric store lately? They are just bursting at the seams with material in designs that would make cooking a delight. Cooking is messy and I do get covered grease and flour quite early in the day. So wearing an apron is a must here. Also it adds to the illusion that the food served here might taste good. Afterall appearances do make a difference on what we think. Therefore, my simple thinking tells me that if I dress for the part of the cook, perhaps it will appear that I know what I am doing just a wee bit especially if I have several cookbooks setting around that were carefully chosen from the hundred cookbooks on the kitchen shelf. Now wouldn’t that give everyone the idea that the meal was well planned, and
concocted to taste fabulous? Sorry, that doesn’t always happen, that’s why I keep a good supply of bread and cheese in this farmhouse. The reality is, it’s a pleasure to prepare three meals a day even if they don’t always turn out as any of us expected or desired. Because the actual sitting down to eat breakfast, dinner and supper together provides time to talk with each other whilst partaking of food that our physical bodies need. It is also a good time to thank God for the food and other blessings He has so graciously bestowed. After each meal, it’s only natural that we nourish our souls too, by reading a portion of scripture. Because we know ‘that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.’ This is just a portion of the words found in Deuteronomy Chapter Eight. Renae B. Vander Schaaf is an independent writer, author and speaker. Contact her at (605) 530-0017 or agripen@live.com. v
New data shows what Iowans charge, pay for custom farming AMES, Iowa — Many Iowa farmers continue to hire at least some of their fieldwork and livestock work to be done by others, and new data provides ranges and averages of what is being paid. The “2021 Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey,” conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, covers the amounts charged and paid for common crop and livestock services. Tillage, planting, harvesting, manure hauling and livestock transportation are all included, along with dozens of other tasks and data points. Compared to last year, most custom rates saw a decline except for the cost of farm labor, according to Alejandro Plastina, associate professor in economics and extension economist at Iowa State University. Plastina, sent 361 surveys via the U.S. Postal Service in February and 198 by email. The results were
based on 118 responses and 3,785 custom rates submitted. Fourteen percent of the respondents perform custom work, 16 percent hire work done, 45 percent indicated doing both and 25 percent did not indicate whether they perform or hire custom work. The cost of combining corn ranged from $22 to $45 per acre, with an average of $35.10 per acre. The cost of combining soybeans ranged from $22 to $46 per acre, with an average of $34.20. The cost to mow hay ranged from $8 to $15 per acre, with an average of $11.35 per acre. The average
cost for baling small square bales was $.59 per bale, $9.35 for large square bales, $10.80 for large round bales without wrapping, and $13.20 for large round bales wrapped. New information in this year’s survey includes rates for seeding cover crops, combining corn with a reel and scouting crops with fixed wing drones. For more information, Plastina can be reached at (515) 294-6160 or plastina@iastate.edu. This article was submitted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. v
www.TheLandOnline.com
