Betsy's Backyard Blog

We are lucky to have Martin Konrad, Iowa DNR Fisheries Bureau, as a friend. Martin has regularly fished our pond for years and helped track the health of the environment down there. Three years ago, after a hard winter that killed our grass carp and big bass, he gave us recommendations for restocking. Drought and high heat made this a difficult summer for our pond, and I was glad to see Martin when he stopped by to fish. Here is his report on our pond, in case it holds any tips for the rest of you.

I am disappointed with the size of fish I caught Sunday. I have not seen any growth in the bluegill or crappie (panfish) since the spring of 2011. The panfish have large protruding eyes, a sign of poor growth. There are too many of them for the available food supply. Panfish are a short lived species; few survive past eight years of age. The quality of the pond fishery may correct itself as the panfish die, but we need more predator fish, mainly largemouth bass. Bass keep panfish numbers in check. This spring I observed a number of bass, 8” – 12” in length, cruising the shoreline, but we need more. If you recall, I suggested stocking 200 5-inch bass in the pond after the winter kill. I wish I had recommended more. As the panfish die of natural causes, bass reproduction and recruitment must be on the high range. However, this will be difficult to achieve while panfish numbers are high because panfish feed on bass eggs and fry. I suggest we sit tight and see what next year brings.     

When I was a senior in college, I heard that Loren Kruse, managing editor of Successful Farming magazine, was coming to the journalism school to do "mock" interviews, a valuable training experience for students. I thought, "Mock, my foot -- I want to work for this guy." I put on the only suit I owned, grabbed my clip book of stories from an internship at the Delmarva Farmer, and sat down with Loren. He was kind and encouraging, but said he wasn't hiring at that time. However, he would call me if something opened up.

Months later, after I had graduated and taken another job, Loren called. He wondered if I wanted to interview for the job of Assistant Swine Editor. This is possibly the lowliest job in journalism, but I wanted it. The interview with Loren's boss didn't go great -- I lost my voice from nervousness among other things. But I was hired based on my clip book of stories, and Loren's faith in me.

Twenty eight years later, I am still at Meredith Corporation, the home of Successful Farming and Living the Country Life, and this is the first day that Loren is no longer here. He retired yesterday and took a new job as owner of Kruse Christmas Farm, Grundy Center, Iowa. His duties are to prune evergreens and play golf with his wife, Liz.

I owe Loren my job. He took a chance hiring a mouthy girl from Maryland. He supported and encouraged me every step of my career, providing wisdom and counsel. Thank you, my friend.

Combines are rolling 24 hours a day all across the country. The photo above is from Mike Lee in Mississippi.

Bob found more hay to bale yesterday, one basket of small alfalfa bales at our crop farm. That is it for the year. Now, please rain. We are even hoping for lots of snow this winter. Moisture, we need moisture.

Here is my corn crop -- two corn stalks that came up by the old root cellar. You can tell that I quit weeding months ago.

...like a redneck.

Oh, the sound of goat hooves on tin. All evening long.