This was really what happened in the days when a country with the best navy ruled the seas and often held control of the world. When an intruding ship was infringing on the sea close to another country, a cannon ball was shot across the bow of the ship that was too close. This was understood as a friendly but severe warning to change course and move out to sea because the navy that fired the cannon could just as easily hit the ship with the cannon ball.
We received a shot across the bow on Nov. 2 when . . .
just enough snow fell to remind us to get those snow tires on, get the winter windscreen antifreeze in the car, pick up everything that could get buried in the snow and maybe get jammed in the snow blower or pushed into the snow pile, get that snow blower ready, make sure there was a snow brush, shovel, and booster cables in the car and get the gardens ready. Luckily we were blessed with a week of Indian summer and that first snow went away.
On the farms it was a warning to get the fall corn and beans finished up, make sure the tractors had a functioning heater and enough antifreeze in the rad. The manure had to be spread legally PDQ (pretty darn quick) to avoid heavy fines from environment. All fans and heated water bowls must be checked. Wintering sites and barns for animals must be readied. Snow plows and blowers must be found and ready. I once forgot my big tractor snow blower was parked too close to an embankment and the first snow that year blew and completely covered the snow blower. I never found it till the snow melted in the spring.
There was no second shot across the bow and a good blanket of snow arrived through the night of Nov. 22. Most farmers were prepared with corn and beans off. Most farmers had the manure spread and winter animal facilities ready. The farmers with hay fields gladly welcomed nature’s blanket of snow to protect hay fields from freezing and thawing which winter kills both alfalfa and grass on bare fields. You will notice some hill tops where snow blew off or was too thin and the little plants are killed.
The first big snow usually blows around barns and insulates the foundation. Most beef cattle by now have grown their winter coat and are ready for colder temperatures. If you drive through the country, you may see animals resting in a big snow bank. That’s because snow is insulation and much warmer to rest in than on bare frozen ground. Another warning we received that winter was close, was the change in the kind of birds that we see now. Migratory birds have flown away to warmer places.
Concerning ways of working and learning, this COVID-19 bug has been a huge shot across the bow. Much of our society has become quite accustomed to using smart phones and computers. Many face to face meetings have been replace by Zoom or Webex and many people with office jobs have switched from that long drive to and from work to working from a distance at home on the computer. I watched my son have a Zoom meeting sitting in his truck in my driveway so he could use Wi-Fi.
Many college and school students are comfortable learning from home. Some colleges and school boards were quick to train teachers and professors the most efficient way to teach from home while some universities and school boards have never offered or demanded their staff to train how to offer distance learning. This new way of teaching was very seldom taught at school or in colleges and universities. Just like many other subjects, some will find this new way of teaching easier than others. Right here in Pontiac County a short training session was offered at no cost to those wanting to understand and use Zoom less frustrating.
Just like we have changed the patio lights for Christmas lights and hanging baskets for Christmas wreaths this COVID-19 thing has been a huge shot across the bow and some of the changes that we have and will make may never change back.
Chris Judd is a farmer in Clarendon on land that has been in his family for generations.
gladcrest@gmail.com
