The recent rains are a matter of opinion, good or bad. It is holding farmers from planting crops in the bottoms. I am not sure where the rule to plant potatoes on Good Friday landed. The lawns are loving the weather because grass is a cool-weather crop that loves topof-the-earth moisture. The lawn mower had better be ready to roll, is what management told me. Peer pressure by neighbors to mow the grass is real. Worried about the bees, then watch the cycles of the dandelion, mow high when the dandelion gets that fuzzy look.
Under your lawn could be your water reservoir, which is where your private well is tapped into. If you have a private well, you are responsible for testing to make sure it is safe to drink and cook with. With the recent heavy rains, the suggestion to test your private well is more important because of what may have leaked into your water table. This is especially important for kids and people with underlying conditions. It is recommended to test annually. Test kits are available to be picked up at the libraries in Cobb, Mineral Point, and Dodgeville. Test kits are also available at the B. Kurt Dairy store in Barneveld. These remote pickup spots are temporary until May 10th. Test kits can always be picked up at the Iowa County Health Department, where they all get returned to for them to process.
A February 26 story in the Agri- View concerned farm bankruptcies. This was before the excursion in the Middle East. For a farmer to file a Chapter 12 bankruptcy, they must earn the majority of their income from farming. In Wisconsin, the difference between 2024 and 2025 was an increase of Chapter 12 filings of 700%. The crop losses across the commodities, along with the increased price of fertilizer and fuel, make operating expenses too high. When a farm family works off the farm for benefits and supplemental income, they are not eligible for
Chapter 12. The farms are just closing.
Not to be a pest, but Saturday is the Ridgeway Township Clean Sweep from 8 a.m. to noon. If you moved it, the time is maybe now to just let it go! Accepting tires, batteries, appliances, and electronics. Used drain oil, filters, and fluorescent lights are welcome if separated. Our volunteers, who are our neighbors, will appreciate your cooperation.
The Grilled Cheese Championship this Saturday, April 25th, at Harris Park. The Dodgeville Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring this event for Iowa County. The need for volunteers for the day is important. The different vendors and the Chamber are not so different in that we all want a successful event to showcase the area.
The Village of Ridgeway Spring Clean Day is on Wednesday, May 15th. The Village of Ridgeway is partnering with Barneveld for garage sales this year. If you want to be included on the map for the garage sales from May 15th to May 17th, and included in the sale promotions, you have until Friday, April 24th, to register. To register, stop at the Ridgeway Village office. It is also a great place to get all the necessary information for Spring Clean Day and sign up for notices!
With spring comes the Maypole Social at Folklore Village. This family-friendly event on Saturday, May 2, will start with a 6:00 p.m. potluck. The Maypole decorating includes family-friendly dances taught to weave ribbons into patterns. Folklore Village always has a variety of interesting happenings. You are welcome to join in these community events.
Donna and I, on our anniversary, agreed that we had seen the best and worst of each other. A few times, not sure if life was worth living. Divorce was not in our vocabulary. We agreed to be thankful, go to bed, and together with God, agreed to try again tomorrow.