Ah, Hail

                   “Then April cried and stepped aside, and along came pretty little May.”

     This year, the merry month of May brought relief from April’s winds (March had given up its place as windiest?) and wildfire danger, over 2” of moisture mostly in the form of rain, and a hailstorm.

     The storm left .61” in the gauge.  Not sure that included melting ice.  It did modest crop damage, the full extent yet to be determined. The buildings suffered some dmage.  No glass got broken.  The roofs suffered only minor “cosmetic damage” according to the adjuster.

      Plastic took a hit. 

     Some of the house siding is 40 years old.  Some of it is newer, having been replaced after earlier hail episodes.  The newer stuff has smaller laps, 5” compared to the older 8”.  The oldest siding is on the south and east, where hail apparently never hits.

    The newest is on the north side of the house, which has been replaced twice since the original job.  The 8” stuff on the north got replaced some years ago.  Within a year or two of that replacement, a second storm nailed the north side.  The siding manufacturer replaced the replacement under warranty.  I doubt they’ll do it again.  It was nearly 20 years ago.    

    This week, the house adjuster was here, measured, noted, and left.  I should hear from him soon.

    The wheat is another matter.  The biggest damage was to leaves that canopy and shelter the rows so that other plants—weeds—don’t start growing between rows.  It could be a weedy harvest.  Can’t spray for weeds without losing organic status.

     The final evaluation on wheat won’t come until harvest.  The formula will compare what should have been with what actually happens as far as yield.  

      As always, Mother Nature showered us with a mixed blessing, the needed moisture along with the damage caused by hail.  Musn’t complain.  I remember a May (2001) when it was so dry not even the dandelions could grow.