Shark Attacks And Current Knowledge
May 31, 2008
Sharks have had remarkable evolutionary success. The first sharks lived approximately 400 million years ago, about 200 million years before the dinosaurs. They have survived the reign of the large reptiles by another 200 million years.
The International Shark Attack File, which contains data on shark attacks from around the world, reports fewer than 100 shark attacks per year, with about 10-15 deaths each year. In comparison, about 1,000 people die from attacks by crocodiles; 1,500 from tigers, lions, and leopards; and 60,000 from snakebites.
Only about 40 of the roughly 400 species of sharks are documented attackers of humans, although another 20-30 species may occasionally attack humans. The great white shark has been implicated in more attacks than any other species. The tiger shark and bull shark are also known to be particularly dangerous.
In general, however, any shark greater than 2 meters, or 6 feet, in length is potentially dangerous. Exceptions to that rule are whale sharks (the largest of the sharks), basking sharks, and megamouth sharks, all of which feed primarily on tiny plankton.
Sharks normally eat fish, sharks, rays, squid and other invertebrates, sea mammals (such as porpoises, seals, and sea lions), sea turtles, and sea birds.
Sharks have remarkable senses. They have good vision, especially up close, and are especially sensitive to motion and contrast. A shark’s sense of smell and taste is remarkable, with two thirds of their brains involved in processing this information. Sharks also have specialized organs called ampullae of Lorenzini, which detect tiny electrical currents, such as those put out by active muscle contractions.
Shark attacks can be broadly categorized into three types. First, in a “hit-and-run” attack, the most common type, the shark takes a single bite and does not return for more. Experts feel this attack may be because the shark mistakes a human for its normal prey. Secondly, in a “bump-and-bite” attack, the shark bumps the victim prior to returning for further bites.
Thirdly, in a “sneak attack,” the shark bites without warning, and then follows up with further attacks. The last two types of attacks, though less common than the hit-and-run attack, are the source of most severe shark bite injuries and shark bite deaths.
Most people do not know a shark is nearby before an attack. Some people receive only a bump from the shark, which likely occurs when the shark is only investigating what is going on at the water’s surface. Because a shark’s skin contains tiny toothlike structures called denticles, it is as abrasive as coarse sandpaper. Thus, a bumping can result in a significant abrasion (scrape).
Shark jaws contain multiple rows of sharp, serrated, triangular teeth, and are continuously replaced as they shed. Classic shark bites are crescent-shaped. Another common wound pattern is a series of parallel cuts caused by the shark raking its teeth on the person.
Sharks bites can cause massive tissue loss, with a tooth-to-tooth biting force that has been estimated to approach, in the extreme, 18 tons per square inch. Most bites, however, result in cuts that are not deep, or puncture wounds that do not cause blood vessel or nerve injury.
See a doctor for all but minor wounds. The doctor will evaluate the wound for significant damage, such as injury to blood vessels, nerves, or internal organs.
A person may not always know whether the wound came from a shark or another fish, such as a barracuda. Shark bites can be massive with significant bleeding and tissue loss.
Bites are often crescent-shaped or appear as a series of parallel cuts. Encounters may result in minor wounds, such as abrasions from a shark bump. Some victims have bone fractures (breaks). Others may carry debris, such as shark teeth fragments, that may have been introduced into the wounds during the attack.
Provide emergency care immediately. Control any visible bleeding by applying direct pressure. Keep the victim calm. Provide warmth, since the victim may be chilled from the water and may be suffering from hypothermia (low body temperature).
All shark bite victims should be evaluated by a medical healthcare provider. If only a minor wound is present, consider washing the wound with soap and water and cover it with a clean dressing and seek medical care.
If there is significant injury, activate the emergency medical system and call 911.
The treatment required will be tailored to the extent of the injury. If there is major injury and the patient has had significant bleeding, the initial medical care will be directed at stabilizing the ABCs (airway, breathing and circulation).
Oxygen may be used, intravenous lines started with fluids and or blood transfusions required. If there is tissue loss or major wound, these may need to be cleaned or debrided (where dead tissue is cut away) in the operating room by a surgeon.
Isolated minor wounds may be able to be treated in the emergency department or a doctor’s office. These wounds need to be cleansed thoroughly to prevent infection. With any penetrating wound caused by an animal bite, debris or foreign objects can be pushed into the tissue and needs to be identified and removed if possible an x-ray may be used to identify such objects.
The healthcare provider will likely exam the wound for type of injury, and look for associated injuries like nerve or artery damage. This may require using anesthetic to explore the wound to its full depth to make certain no deep structures are involved.
The key to preventing wound infections is aggressive cleaning. This can begin at the scene using tap water to irrigate the wound. The healthcare provider may want to further wash out the injured area.
Sutures may or may not be used, depending upon the care provider’s concern about the risk of infection. A wound that is sutured or stitched shut is at higher risk of becoming infected.
Finally, the use of antibiotics prophylactically to prevent infection needs to be individualized for each patient. The doctor must first treat life-threatening injuries. With shark attacks, massive tissue loss or bleeding causes most deaths. The doctor will attempt to stop bleeding by applying direct pressure. IV fluids and blood products will be needed for any major wounds.
About the Author
Jigfo.com is a global platform for sharing and learning knowledge. For more information on this article topics visit:
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Tea Roses - Tips To Help You Make The Best Choice
May 31, 2008
Tip #1 - Make Sure it Will Do Well in Your Climate - One of the most important things to keep in mind when picking out tea roses is to make sure the one you pick will do well in the climate that you live in. If you live in an area that is quite warm, make sure that your tea rose can stand the heat. Live in a humid area? Then make sure the tea rose can resist various fungal diseases. Also, make sure that your rose is hardy during the cold as well.
Tip #2 - Read the Labels - Usually youll find that the tea roses come with a description or label. Even if you look at it and love it, make sure that you read the label information on it. The last thing you want is a rose that wont thrive well for you, so read it first, even if you love it right away.
Tip #3 - Do You Want Fragrance - Are you looking for a tea rose that has a nice fragrance or do they cause you to sneeze and have a runny nose? There are some tear roses that smell wonderful and others that barely smell at all. Decide whether or not you really want a rose that has fragrance and this will help you make your choice.
Tip #4 - Know the Growth Habits - Make sure that you are aware of the growth habits of the tea rose when making your choice as well. Does it spread out, climb, ramble, or does it do well as a ground cover. Think about where you want to plant it in your garden and in what direction you want it to grow. Also, know how high it will grown and how wide. You dont want to plant a rose that ends up too big for the location you have for it.
Tip #5 - Is it Disease Resistant? - Youll find that every tea rose can get disease, but there are some that are more disease resistant than other ones. If you dont want to deal with diseases, make sure that you go with tea roses that are known as disease resistant
Tip #6 - Consider the Care - Youll also need to think about the amount of care that you can give your tea roses as well. There are some tea roses that take more attention than others do in order to survive. If you dont think you have plenty of time to give a certain tea rose the amount of attention that it will need, then consider going with one that only needs minimal attention from time to time.
Tip #7 - Are You Going to Produce Cut Flowers - It is important that you consider whether or not you want to use your tea roses to produce cut flowers. There are some types of tea roses that are better for cutting and displaying, but others can be quite fragile if they are cut.
Tip #8 - Go with Healthy Plants - If you go out to a nursery to pick out your tea roses, make sure you pick out ones that look healthy. Look for plants that have three canes that look strong. Also, avoid going with ones that have branches that are damages, roots that are brown, or foliage that is shriveled. Make sure the roots are b right white and that they have buds on the stems as well.
Tip #9 - Take Color into Consideration - Youll also want to consider the different colors available as well. Think about how different colors will go with the rest of your rose garden. Think about how the tea rose in full bloom will go with the rest of the flowers and the area around it as well.
Tip #10 - Reputable Companies - When purchasing your tea roses, you should make sure that you only purchase them from reputable companies. You dont want to try to save money by buying from cheap companies. The last thing you need is a sick plant, especially since disease can spread, so make sure you get it from a great company.
About the Author
Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.
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Mowing Your Lawn Benefits Your Grass and You
May 31, 2008
The final basic element involved is the cutting. This is my favorite part of the maintenance process.
The positives are not only for the turf grass, but for the homeowner as well.
Mowing benefits to the homeowner include:
First off, cutting the lawn involves a power tool, namely, your mower.
Secondly, it involves some form of exercise (for which my wife is appreciative).
Finally, it affords the operator a chance to get some real thinking done.
Let's explore each of these benefits.
(1) The power mower: I use a variable speed, self-propelled 21" Lawn Boy 'sense-a-speed' mower, rear wheel drive. (Oh that sounds hot just to say out-loud!)
My lawn is only 8,000 square feet, so I am not in need of anything larger; besides, I run that puppy wide open!
(2) The exercise: It takes about an hour to mow my lawn including edging, weed-whacking and cleanup. That's not bad really. I suppose if I wanted to increase the aerobic benefits in this process, I could lose the "self-propelled" mower option and push the thing, but I'm not really that fat! Ha!
However, one thing I am in favor of to increase the benefit in exercise is mow the lawn 2 or 3 times per week! This helps #3 come more into focus as well as benefits the turf itself: it's a venerable cornucopia of benefaction!
(3) The thinking time: (this is a great one!) Ponder this: you are out for 1-hour doing a job that only requires one person to do, that no one else in your household really wants to do anyway (especially if you have teenagers like I do). This means it's all yours; you own it ... completely!
On top of that, your wife can't bark or nag at you during this time because the mower engine noise drowns her out completely and she knows it! It's just plain quiet time for you inside your head! That's better than a hammock under a tree and a cold lemonade as far as I'm concerned.
Now let's get down to the tips that benefit the lawn itself.
(1) Mowing height
(2) Mowing frequency
(3) Mowing direction
(4) Mulch or Catch
Mowing benefits for the lawn, by the numbers:
(1) The height: This one varies according to the type of grass you have. But who *really* knows their grass type? Chances are you have a mix of Kentucky BlueGrass and some sort of fescue or rye. With that in mind, I tell folks to set their mower on the highest or second-highest setting. You just don't want to remove much more than 25% of the grass blade in any single cutting.
It's like this: If I lose a finger-nail, I'm going to be just fine, but if I lose my entire arm, I'm in a world of hurt, ...got it?
And on a side note, ya gotta have a sharp blade. A dull blade rips the grass blades instead of cutting them. Rips turn brown and rob the lawn of it's color.
(2) Assuming proper irrigation year-round, the lawn needs cutting weekly. I've had people call me to complain that after cutting their lawns, they turned yellow. Upon further investigation, I found that they had not cut the lawn prior for a month! Now we're back to the finger-nail vs the arm analogy. Please folks, be responsible and keep your turf trimmed regularly.
As mentioned above, I actually try and get people to mow twice per week, but that's over-the-top for most.
(3) The mowing direction isn't the biggest deal here, but you certainly don't want to mow the exact same way all the time or you take a chance on developing ruts in the lawn. You also will literally push lines of turf down, and "train" them to lay down all the time ... like people "train" their hair to lay a certain direction...this is not a good situation for turf-grass.
(4) Mulch or catch? Ford or Chevy?
Yeah, it's like that. I do both depending on my mood. Catching has benefits in the end because you don't have as many clippings to blow off the driveway. If you do mulch, make sure you have a quality mulching blade installed to grind up the cuttings into super-fine bits!
So next time you head outside to cut that lawn, be sure to review the benefits to you, as well as your nice patch of green grass.
About the Author
Al Haneson blogs about Illinois issues and life at Ambit Illinois Natural Gas and DIY Lawn Tips
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Math Facts Neglected By Schools
May 30, 2008
Quick! What is 9 x 12? If you learned it like I did, without even thinking, the number 108 pops into your head. In fact, whenever you hear nine and twelve mentioned together, two numbers automatically come to mind–21 and 108. The first is the sum of the numbers mentioned, and the last is their product. Because of the commutative properties of addition and multiplication, it does not matter in which order they appear; the sum, and the product will always be the same. Not so for subtraction and division, but thati i s another story.
Nowadays, math is taught differently. Memorization of such facts is not encouraged, and in some cases, arriving at the correct answer isn’t even important, but high school graduates need solid math skills, whether headed to college, or to work, according to the National Mathematics Advisory Panel.
Why have teaching methods changed? I have my theories, and most of them center around the sales of text books to schools. When you teach facts–the very definition of which is always true; unchangeable–you need not buy new textbooks very often.
New math notwithstanding, memorization is still best when it comes to basic arithmetic skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of small numbers. And it’s that instantaneous knowledge of the interaction between small numbers that enables us to tackle the larger, more complex ones. Without command of the times tables, attempting to solve number problems will only lead students to discouragement, poor performance, and sometimes drop out, and even failure.
How many times in a day do we use these skills in real life? You balance your checkbook, measure a room, double a recipe, figure your miles per gallon, calculate cost comparisons while shopping, and more. Hot dogs come in packages of ten, and buns are sold in eight-packs. How do you deal with that to prevent someone from eating a bunless wiener? That may be funny, but the issue is serious.
Study after study shows the US lagging behind other countries in graduating scientists and engineers.
Basic arithmetic facts, such as sum and product number pairs are easily mastered by young children, and when they instinctively know the correct answers, they are rewarded with instant gratification, a sense of accomplishment, and the desire to continue learning. These are excellent qualities to foster in a child. They set the tone for future learning and future success.
Easy Times: A Beginning Multiplication Tutorial is a new, sixty-minute self-study audio CD designed to teach children the times tables up through the Twelves. Now, in the comfort of their home, or in the car with a parent, students can gain this important fact base despite what their school teaches.
The lessons are led by Professor Stan, a kid-friendly character who by day teaches junior high science, robotics, and rocketry at a Charter School in Arizona. He saw his students struggling with the math portion of his classes, the necessary calculations needed to determine rocket payload and trajectory, and traced the root of this problem to their lack of the basic math skills required. Determined to help these students, who otherwise had a bright future in a scientific field, Easy Times was born.
In simple, understandable language, Easy Times will teach students the times tables in a way that allows them to learn at their own pace in a fun way. The CD is arranged logically so that Track 2 teaches the Twos; Track 3 teaches the Threes; and so on through Track 12. Along the way, Professor Stan encourages them to become human calculators, and reveals a few tricks when it comes to multiplying by one, ten, and zero. The final two tracks are audio tests, which are to be taken in the presence of their parent or instructor to demonstrate their mastery of the material.
Children who take this home-study course will find themselves far ahead of their classmates who may be struggling with math in school because they lack the proper foundation. And older students who missed gaining this knowledge at the elementary level will find it easier to solve more advanced math problems after using this program.
The news often reports how poorly American students perform in math and science when compared to other industrialized and emerging nations, proving that despite the sizeable cost we pay for education, our schools are not getting the job done. Parents must become involved and seek out supplementary tools if they expect their children to learn, and the areas most at risk are math, science, history, and critical thinking skills.
Easy Times: A Beginning Multiplication Tutorial is available direct from the publisher’s Web site www.audiobookman.com. Order direct for free shipping.
About the Author
Terry Lessig is a writer, and the audio publisher of Easy Times: A Beginning Multiplication Tutorial. Visit his Web site, AudioBookMan, or read his blog, The Sound and the Furry.
Article Source: Content for Reprint
Sprint Cup Practice Times: Dover
May 30, 2008
Practice 1 (Friday):
FIN, CAR, DRIVER, MAKE, SPONSOR, SPEED, TIME, BEHIND
1 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 154.407 23.315 Leader
2 99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot 153.899 23.392 -0.077
3 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M 153.794 23.408 -0.093
4 18 Kyle Busch Toyota Combos 153.708 23.421 -0.106
5 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe’s 153.649 23.430 -0.115
6 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Best Buy / Garmin / Autism Speaks 153.525 23.449 -0.134
7 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull 153.453 23.460 -0.145
8 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite 153.446 23.461 -0.146
9 12 Ryan Newman Dodge Alltel 153.368 23.473 -0.158
10 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal 153.283 23.486 -0.171
11 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Kinko’s 153.029 23.525 -0.210
12 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Budweiser 152.944 23.538 -0.223
13 40 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Wii Fit / Target 152.912 23.543 -0.228
14 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker 152.704 23.575 -0.260
15 70 Jason Leffler Chevrolet Haas Automation 152.613 23.589 -0.274
16 84 A.J. Allmendinger Toyota Red Bull 152.594 23.592 -0.277
17 77 Sam Hornish Jr.* Dodge Penske Truck Rental 152.555 23.598 -0.283
18 66 Scott Riggs Chevrolet State Water Heaters 152.504 23.606 -0.291
19 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge Cheerios / Betty Crocker 152.433 23.617 -0.302
20 22 Dave Blaney Toyota Caterpillar 152.426 23.618 -0.303
21 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet AMP Energy / National Guard 152.413 23.620 -0.305
22 42 Juan Montoya Dodge Texaco / Havoline 152.413 23.620 -0.305
23 28 Travis Kvapil Ford Yates Racing 152.394 23.623 -0.308
24 15 Paul Menard Chevrolet Pittsburgh Paints / Menards 152.368 23.627 -0.312
25 38 David Gilliland Ford FreeCreditReport.com 152.304 23.637 -0.322
26 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet DIRECTV 152.168 23.658 -0.343
27 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil 151.892 23.701 -0.386
28 8 Mark Martin Chevrolet U.S. Army 151.611 23.745 -0.430
29 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet AT&T Mobility 151.598 23.747 -0.432
30 6 David Ragan Ford AAA Insurance 151.483 23.765 -0.450
31 78 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet Furniture Row
/ DenverMattress.com 151.471 23.767 -0.452
32 00 Michael McDowell* Toyota Microsoft Small Business 151.388 23.780 -0.465
33 20 Tony Stewart Toyota The Home Depot 151.356 23.785 -0.470
34 17 Matt Kenseth Ford DEWALT NANO Technology 151.343 23.787 -0.472
35 96 J.J. Yeley Toyota DLP HDTV 151.191 23.811 -0.496
36 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge Target 151.152 23.817 -0.502
37 21 Bill Elliott Ford U.S. Air Force 151.051 23.833 -0.518
38 34 Tony Raines Chevrolet doorstopnation.com / Continental Fire & Safety 150.729 23.884 -0.569
39 44 David Reutimann Toyota UPS 150.558 23.911 -0.596
40 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA AUTO PARTS 150.527 23.916 -0.601
41 45 Chad McCumbee Dodge Richard Petty Driving Experience 150.420 23.933 -0.618
42 7 Matt Crafton Dodge Jim Beam 149.570 24.069 -0.754
43 10 Patrick Carpentier* Dodge Auto Value / Bumper to Bumper 149.266 24.118 -0.803
44 01 Regan Smith* Chevrolet DEI / Principal Financial Group 149.247 24.121 -0.806
45 5 Casey Mears Chevrolet Kellogg’s / CARQUEST 148.093 24.309 -0.994
Sprint Cup Dover preview
May 30, 2008
*Kahne Riding Wave Of Momentum To Dover
*Kyle Busch Widens Points Lead
*The Monster Mile — A True Endurance Test
*NASCAR Sprint Cup Teams Testing At Pocono
*Kahne Carries Momentum Into Dover Race Weekend
Momentum is one of those intangibles that plays a pivotal role in the ebb and flow of sports. One stellar performance or one set of circumstances can suddenly turn the tide in favor of the athlete and his outlook on the rest of the season. If any driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is carrying momentum into this weekend’s race at Dover International Speedway, it’s Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge.
Fresh off back-to-back wins at Lowe’s Motor Speedway — first the non-points NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 17, when he was voted into the competition by the fans, and then the Coca-Cola 600 last Sunday evening — Kahne and his race team have suddenly reasserted themselves as a force to reckon with. Now 12th in the point standings, could it be that this team has returned to the form that saw Kahne win a series-high six races in 2006? Only time will tell, but performances from the past two weekends appear to have provided this team with a wave of momentum.
“You know, it really feels good to win on this weekend,” Kahne said last Sunday, after claiming his eighth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, and his first points win since October, 2006. “Confidence is huge. I feel like I gave better input this week … I’ve stepped up and given Kenny (Francis) more to work with as a crew chief and I’ve given our engineers more to work with. And, I wasn’t doing that at the start of the year. I think that’s a big part of the confidence, and it shows on the racetrack.”
Kyle Busch Still Points Leader; Battle Tightens Between 9-12
Kyle Busch (No. 18 Combos Toyota) continues to be on top of the leader board in the championship point standings and has even widened his lead over second place Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet). Busch had a 79-point lead over Burton last week and after his third-place showing at the Coca-Cola 600, has increased that lead to 94 points. The top five in the standings remain unchanged from a week ago, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet), Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) and Clint Bowyer (No. 07 DirecTV Chevrolet) holding down spots 3-4-5. Busch has the season’s top Driver Rating (113.1), followed by Earnhardt Jr. (110.2) and Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford, 102.0). Busch and Edwards are tied with a series-best three victories apiece on the season the season. Busch, Burton, Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) and Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford) have been in the top 12 for all 12 weeks of the season.
Only 39 points separate positions 9-12. Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) is ninth this week, seven points ahead of Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet), 10 points ahead of Biffle and 39 points ahead of Kahne.
David Ragan (No. 6 AAA Ford) was 12th last week and has dropped to 13th in the standings, 56 points behind Kahne. Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford), who has made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup all four years, heads into this week’s action at Dover ranked 16th in the standings, 190 points out of 12th.
Matt Kenseth Looks To Dover Magic For Resurgence
The forgotten man in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season is a past champion and a member of every Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup since its inception in 2004. That impressive streak may end, unless Matt Kenseth’s season dramatically turns around.
Kenseth, currently 190 points behind 12th-place Kasey Kahne, can start a resurgent march back into the top 12 with a strong finish at Dover — a track at which he has had past success. Kenseth, the 2003 series champion and one of two drivers to make all four Chases (Jimmie Johnson is the other), has a win (spring, 2006) and five top-five finishes at The Monster Mile. Over the past three years (six races), Kenseth owns some of the top statistics in the series. He has a Driver Rating of 111.9 (second-best), an Average Running Position of 7.2 (second), a series-high 222 Fastest Laps Run and has run 91% of the Laps in the Top 15 (second). In each of those stats where Kenseth ranks second, Roush Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle ranks first.
Biffle, coming off a second-place finish at the Coca-Cola 600, is attempting to maintain his top 12 standing position after finishing outside the Chase cutoff each of the past two seasons. Another strong finish at Dover should help him do just that. He won here in the spring of 2005 and has finished inside the top 10 in five of the last six Dover races. Over that span, Biffle owns series-high stats in Driver Rating (113.7), Average Running Position (7.0) and Laps in the Top 15 (93.6%). Additionally, he ranks second in Fastest Laps Run with 190.
Also watch for a strong run from Ryan Newman (No. 12 Alltel Dodge), who sits 85 points out of 12th place. The reigning Daytona 500 champion swept Dover in 2003 and added another win there in the fall of 2004. Newman hasn’t seen that type of success since, but did score a runner-up finish in last year’s spring race.
Over the past six races, Newman has a Driver Rating of 101.0 (sixth), an Average Running Position of 8.1 (third) and has run 85.2% of the Laps in the Top 15.
“Monster Mile” Poses Another Endurance Test For Drivers
Dover’s high-banked one-mile concrete racing surface that has been likened to 400 laps of racing in a concrete cereal bowl has earned it the moniker of “The Monster Mile.” This Sunday’s race is considered to be one of the most challenging on the series circuit and fresh off the heels of last week’s 600-miler at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, poses yet another endurance test for the 43 drivers and their race teams.
Dover is celebrating its 40th anniversary season in 2008. Earlier this month, plans for Phase II of the track’s “Monster Makeover” Capital Improvement project were unveiled, including the dedication ceremony for the new 46-foot Monster Monument at Victory Plaza. Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon was on hand for the festivities.
“It’s an amazing monument and it really symbolizes what this track is all about to the drivers and the fans,” said Gordon, who has won four times at Dover. “The Monster Mile brings out the monster in all of us. It’s a grueling, fast race track that is very, very tough.
Bobby Allison, a seven-time Dover winner, will be the first driver honored with a marquee plaque on the Monster Monument in a special ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 31 at Victory Plaza.
Dover Region Features Variety Of NSCS Race Team Members
The region surrounding Dover International Speedway features a wide variety of key race team members in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Ty Norris, Vice President and General Manager of Michael Waltrip Racing, is a native of Smyrna, Del.
Roy McCauley, crew chief of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, hails from nearby Davidsonville, Md. Rick Viers, crew chief of the No. 84 Red Bull Toyota, is from Darlington, Md.
Bill and Cindy Lewis (Kinkwood and Secretary, Md.) drive the No. 2 transporter for Kurt Busch’s Miller Lite Dodge. Kevin White (Pittsville, Md.) is a mechanic on the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge team that just won last week’s Coca-Cola 600.
Two members of the No. 96 DLP HDTV Toyota are from the Dover region, including John Fuller (Fallston, Md.), who works as the catch can man, and Chris Meyers (Olney, Md.), who works as a mechanic. Daniel Blizzard (Mt. Airy, Md.) is the front-tire changer for the No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet driven by Jeff Burton.
Martin Truex Jr., is the lone NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver from the Dover region. Truex grew up in Mayetta, N.J., which is located approximately 2 1/2 hours from The Monster Mile. Truex earned his first and so far only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at Dover a year ago.
Kahne’s Victory Marks Dodge’s Second Win Of Season
Kasey Kahne’s dramatic victory at last Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 was his first points win of the season and the second time on the year and first time since the Daytona 500 that a Dodge car visited Victory Lane
Dodge’s triumph at Lowe’s now means that all four manufacturers have multiple victories this season.
Toyota maintains its lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship race, outpointing Chevrolet 73-71. Ford is a close third with 67 points, while Dodge closed the gap a bit and is fourth with 53 points.
Toyota leads the way with four wins on the year. Kyle Busch tops the charts with three victories, while Denny Hamlin has one. Chevrolet’s three wins are spread among three drivers — Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer — with one win apiece. Ford’s three victories have all come from Carl Edwards.
Dodge’s two wins have certainly been significant — as Ryan Newman won the season-opening Daytona 500 — and Kahne captured the series’ longest race — a 600-miler.
It’s all a reflection of this year’s mix of winners and close competition.
Chevrolet drivers have won 28 times at Dover, including last June’s victory by Martin Truex Jr. Ford drivers have visited Victory Lane 23 times at The Monster Mile. Dodge has captured five wins there, including three victories by Newman.
NASCAR’s 60th Anniversary: Dover Has Its Share Of “Monster” Memories
This season marks NASCAR’s 60th anniversary and in Dover’s 76-race history, many “Monster” memories have been made.
Three active champions look back at Dover and remember their first ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. Bobby Labonte (No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge), the 2000 series champion, finished 34th at Dover in his first start in 1991. Matt Kenseth, the 2003 champion, started only one race in 1998 — at Dover. The result was a foreshadow of an incredibly consistent future. Kenseth, starting 16th in the No. 94 Ford, finished sixth that day. Finally, Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge), the 2004 champion, finished 18th at Dover in his first career race in 2000. He then drove the No. 97 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing.
But it just might be the list of winners that paints the perfect Dover picture. From the very first race in 1969 through the two races in 1980, every Dover race winner is a member of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers List. The list of Dover winners since then isn’t too shabby either. Since 1980, 27 of the Dover race winners have won a list includes such legendary names like Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip. But also current stars like Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson. And, it includes young stars like Carl Edwards and Martin Truex Jr. who have won NASCAR Nationwide Series titles.
Who will add their name to the list of legendary Dover winners? Well, if the trend continues, it could be a new name. Truex earned his first career victory last year at Dover and there have been nine different winners in the last nine races at Dover.
The Top 35: The No. 22 And No. 55 Toyotas Trade Spots
The No. 22 Caterpillar Toyota, driven by Dave Blaney and owned by Bill Davis and the No. 55 NAPA Toyota, driven and owned by Michael Waltrip, exchanged positions this past week in the battle to stay in the top 35 in owners points. The No. 22 Toyota, 35th a week ago, inched up two spots to 33rd, thanks to its 17th- place finish at the Coca-Cola 600. Following its 27th place showing at Lowe’s, the No. 55 Toyota dropped two positions and is now 35th, the cutoff spot entering this week’s race at Dover.
Each week, the top 35 teams are guaranteed starting spots, with those outside the top 35 required to qualify on time
The No. 00 Waltrip Racing Toyota, driven by Michael McDowell and owned by Rob Kauffman, finished 32nd at Lowe’s, and fell from 30th to 32nd. The No. 44 UPS Toyota, driven by David Reutimann and owned by Michael Waltrip, inched up a spot from 30th to 29th after posting a solid 10th-place finish at Lowe’s.
Competition has really heated up between spots 30 and 36 in this week’s owners’ points standings. Only 50 points separate 30th place (No. 7 Jim Beam Dodge driven and owned by Robby Gordon) and 36th place (the No. 77 Penske Truck Rental Dodge driven by Sam Hornish Jr. and owned by Roger Penske).
One Final Look
Autism Awareness: This Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Dover is far from your ordinary race. The “Best Buy 400 benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks” benefits a worthy cause in raising autism awareness. Elliott Sadler (No. 19 Best Buy Dodge), fresh off of a solid 8th-place finish at the Coca-Cola 600, will sport an Autism Speaks themed car this weekend.
Triple Header: Kyle Busch, who has already posted nine victories across the three national series this season, will pull triple duty this weekend at Dover. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader will compete in all three of the national series events — Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Busch has three wins at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series level, four NASCAR Nationwide Series wins, and two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victories on the season.
NASCAR Foundation Track Walk: Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the NASCAR Foundation Walk on Saturday, May 31 at Dover. Several NASCAR drivers and personalities will be involved with this charitable event and proceeds will benefit participating driver charities and the Autism Society of Delaware. Fans can sign up for the walk at the track near the entrance to the FanZone on race weekend.
This And That: Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Texaco Havoline Dodge) will be competing in his 50th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race this Sunday at Dover … Montoya’s teammate, Dario Franchitti (No. 40 Wii Fit Dodge) is entered in this week’s race at Dover. Franchitti has been sidelined the past four weekends while recovering from a fractured ankle he suffered during the NASCAR Nationwide race April 26 at Talladega Superspeedway. The No. 40 Dodge is currently 38th in owners’ points and must qualify on time at Dover.
Up Next: The Pocono 500 At Pocono Raceway
Next on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule is the Pocono 500, Sunday, June 8 at Pocono Raceway. Teams are hopeful that the two-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test at the 2.5-mile triangular layout will pay dividends for this event.
Jeff Gordon is the defending race champion, while Ryan Newman was last year’s pole winner. Gordon is a four-time winner at Pocono, most among active drivers.
Rick Hendrick claims the most victories (11) among team owners, while Roger Penske is second with eight.
The Race: Best Buy 400 Benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks
The Place: Dover International Speedway
The Date: Sunday, June 1
The Time: 2 p.m. (ET)
The Track: 1-mile oval
The Distance: 400 miles/400 laps
TV: FOX, 1:30 p.m. (ET)
Radio: MRN, SIRIUS Satellite Radio
2007 Winner: Martin Truex Jr.
2007 Polesitter: Ryan Newman
Pre-Race Schedule:
Friday — Practice, 11:30 a.m. — 1 p.m.; Qualifying, 3:10 p.m.
Saturday — 12-12:45 p.m.; Final Practice, 1:20 p.m.-2:20 p.m.
Developing A Deworming Program
May 30, 2008
A regular parasite control program is critical to your horses health. Infestations of internal parasites can cause your horse to feel ill all of the time, become colicky, and can even cause death. Parasites can cause damage to a horse’s internal organs. Signs of parasite infestation include overall poor condition, dry and dull coat, diarrhea, bloating, and an itchy tail. Deworming your horse regularly is necessary because he can be continually re-infected from parasite eggs in pastures or from bot flies. A haphazard deworming program is hard on your horses system; Getting rid of internal parasites and keeping them away is the best procedure for your horses health.
In some cases where a horse is confined, as with stallions, or he is very young, old or not thriving, a modified worming program may be advisable. Consult your veterinarian to determine whether an individualized program is recommended.
Parasite Life Cycle
Most internal parasites are ingested as larvae, where they migrate to your horses digestive system and live in the intestines. There, they mature and lay eggs which are passed out in manure. The eggs hatch into larvae and spread into the environment. Your horse, or another horse, ingests the larvae, and the cycle continues.
Purge Deworming
Deworming your horse with a paste dewormer purges the adults already in his system before they lay eggs. It breaks the cycle by stopping any more eggs from being passed. The problem lies with the fact that if he shares a grazing area with other horses or if manure is allowed to lie in his pasture, he can be immediately reinfected; The smaller the area, the bigger the potential problem. Horses normally will not graze near manure, but if the grazing area is not large enough to sustain the number of horses, or your pastures are not properly rotated, the desire for grass may over ride his natural tendencies.
Deworming with a paste dewormer requires all of the horses that share grazing space to be treated at the same time, thereby killing all of the adult parasites before eggs are laid. It is also good practice to remove manure from any grazing area. If you choose a paste dewormer, it is important to give your horse the proper dose. Be certain to read the dosage information on the packaging and to adjust dose according to each horses age and weight. Rotate between wormers that have different types of chemical bases. This will not only kill a broader spectrum of parasites, it helps prevent parasite immunity to one chemical.
A sample rotation schedule might be:
1. Spring (March) An Ivermectin based product controls large strongyles, small strongyles, pinworms, ascarids, hairworms, large-mouth stomach worms, bots, lungworms, and intestinal threadworms.
2. Late Spring (May) A fenbendazole-based product (Safe Guard) controls large strongyles, encysted early- and late-third-stage and fourth-stage cyathostome larvae, small strongyles, pinworms, and ascarids.
3. Summer (July) A pyrantel pamoate based product (Strongid) control large strongyles, small strongyles, pinworms, ascarids, and tapeworms when double-dosed.
4. Fall (September) A moxidectin based product (Quest) controls large strongyles, small strongyles, pinworms, ascarids, encysted cyanthostomes, hairworms, large-mouth stomach worms, and bots
5. Late Fall (November) An oxibendazole based product (Anthelcide) large strongyles small strongyles, large roundworms, and pinworms, including various larval stages and threadworms
Daily Deworming
Another option is to use a daily dewormer. It is recommended to first use a larvacidal dewormer such as ivermectin or moxidectin before beginning a daily treatment plan. This will help destroy existing larvae and adult parasites. Pyrantel Tartrate is the chemical ingredient in daily wormers. It controls large strongyles, small strongyles, pinworms, ascarids, and tapeworms. If you choose a daily wormer, your horse should also receive ivermectin or moxidectin in early Spring and late Fall to control bots AND praziquantel in early Spring to control tapeworms.
Timing is Critical
For daily programs, be certain that your horse gets his daily dose every day, as missed doses will decrease the levels of dewormer in his system, rendering it less effective.
For purge programs, timing is essential. If you treat too early, targeted worms will be too immature to be affected by the dewormer. If you treat too late, adult worms will have the opportunity to produce eggs, infesting your horse’s environment and raising his (and other horses) risk of exposure.
How to Stay on Schedule
Post a calendar in your barn. Clearly mark the day for each deworming.
Purchase the entire years worth of dewormer at one time. Write the horses name and the date to be given with an indelible pen on the tube.
Put the wormer out where it can be seen the day before you will administer it.
Keep wormer out of the reach of children and pets.
Following a regular deworming schedule is critical to keeping your horse healthy.
About the Author
Ron Petracek was raised in Southern Idaho with horses and the great outdoors. With this continued passion He now shares through a a vast equine network. Learn more by clicking the links below. Amazing Equine Network System - Buy Sell or trade anything equine related. Get More Horse Classified coverage and distribution with less cost and work. Award Winning Horse Forum
Article Source: Content for Reprint
Mounting Your Horse The Right Way
May 30, 2008
When a riding academy ran its instructor certification clinic, the first thing the clinician did was have all the instructor candidates mount their horses from the wrong side. The reason, she said, was to remind them what it’s like to be a beginner again. Even the most experienced of the bunch was humbled by having to take a moment to think it through.
Proper mounting is an oft overlooked but very important procedure in riding. Doing it correctly mean preserving the horses back while contributing to your safety.
Before you mount your horse, ensure that you have your helmet on securely. Make sure the harness is buckled.
You can mount your horse three different ways, all of which will be performed on the left side of the horse except in a very rare case when a horse may be blind on that side:
> A leg up (done for English riders): another rider or your instructor assists you by giving you a leg up. You will face your saddle, bend your left leg so your knee is at a 90 degree angle. The person giving you the leg up will grasp your knee and calf in both hands. The two of you will count together 1-2-3, you will bounce on your right leg on 1 and 2 and give a good bounce on 3 as though you were trying to jump up to the saddle.
On three is when the person lifts your left leg as you jump up and lightly swing your right leg over the horses rump. Most adult beginners are uncomfortable with this method because they think the person will be handling too much of their weight; however, you can help the person giving you a leg up by counting together so you are working together, hopping on the other foot to give you lift and going with the momentum of the other person lifting you by the leg.
From the mounting block: a mounting block can be a plastic or wooden one or two step box where you will lead your horse to so that you face him on the left side while standing on the mounting block. The mounting block should be very sturdy and not shift as you step up. Using items like buckets in place of a mounting block can cause rider injury or a horse to spook if the item tips while you are standing on it.
Some horses are particularly ornery about lining up at a mounting block; if your horse is, you can ask someone for assistance by holding his bridle on the right side. You can align him on the right side, then, as you mount the mounting block on his left side, take up a little more contact on the right rein to turn his head slightly right, keeping him from swinging his hindquarters away from the block. Have your reins in your left hand placed firmly in his neck where it meets the wither.
If you are not very balanced, grab some mane in your fingers so you dont pull on the bit as you mount. Facing the saddle but with your body almost facing his rear, turn your stirrup with your right hand and place your left foot in. Grasp the cantle (back of the saddle) in your right hand. Bounce off your right foot and pull yourself up and swing your right leg over the rump without hitting him. Sit very lightly in the saddle so as not to hurt his back. Dont flop into the saddle like a sack of potatoes. Your horse isnt warmed up yet and his back could be quite sensitive. (If you notice his back drop out under you and his head shoot upward, you may have sat too hard on him.)
From the ground: you should be able to mount from the ground; however, understand that it places particularly more strain on your horses back. To alleviate that strain, have an assistant hold down the right stirrup while you are mounting. (She will hold the stirrup in her hand and apply pressure down to the right to balance the saddle from being pulled to the left.) At the horses shoulder, you will turn to slightly face the rear. Take your reins in your left hand and place it firmly on the horses neck.
Grab mane in your hand to keep you from pulling on the bit as you mount. With your right hand, turn your stirrup as needed to align with your foot and place your left foot in the left stirrup. Grasp the cantle in your right hand, bounce lightly on your right leg and gently gracefully swing your left leg over the horses hindquarters. Sit lightly and place your right foot in your right stirrup.
The reason you face toward the horses rear is if he starts to walk off with you, you are able to turn your body to keep up with him as youre mounting instead of getting left hopping behind with one foot in a stirrup.
Now you know how to mount and are ready to learn how to ride!
For more great equine information please visit our resource links below and ad them to your favorites! So you can visit often. We thank you for telling all your friends about our great sites.
About the Author
Ron Petracek was raised in Southern Idaho with horses and the great outdoors. With this continued passion He now shares through a a vast equine network. Learn more by clicking the links below. Amazing Equine Network System - Buy Sell or trade anything equine related. Get More Horse Classified coverage and distribution with less cost and work. Award Winning Horse Forum
Article Source: Content for Reprint
Learn How To Create A Great Country Decorating Style Master Bedroom
May 30, 2008
Home decorating isn’t as hard as you may think and obtaining the calm and comfortable style of the Country decorating style in your master bedroom could be simple if you know the furniture, colors and accessories to make use of. Here are a few suggestions on how you can get the charm of the country in your master bedroom.
Read moreExtension Update
May 30, 2008
Extension Update is a weekly summary of news from Extension, government, and other attributable sources, focused on marketing, farm management, and other issues that are of interest to Midwestern farm owners and operators.
Speculators in the corn and bean markets may have pushed prices higher, but there are fundamental reasons supporting prices as well, says IL Extension’s Darrel Good. He says there is both domestic and foreign demand and questions about crop size. Read his latest newsletter.
Good says the crush should exceed USDA projections and prospects for soybean meal demand will remain strong following the recovering hog prices and continuing demand. Soybean exports are as strong as they were at this time last year with the help of China’s demand and Argentina’s halt on exports. He also says over half the soybean crop will be planted after May 20, which delays emergence and questions yield potential.
With ethanol demand and profitability high, corn demand by refiners is also strong, however wheat feeding may dampen corn demand by livestock operators. However, export demand remains on track for a 17% increase over 2007 levels despite a recent slowdown. On the supply side, Good says yield potential is also threatened for corn, since over half of the crop in IA, MN, & MO will be planted after May 10.
Hog prices have climbed from $35 on a live weight basis in mid-March to $58 and huge financial losses for pork producers have slowed with prices closer to production costs. Purdue livestock economist Chris Hurt attributes the turnaround to several factors:
1) Despite lagging information, exports have increased 40% and imports dropped 10%.
2) April pork prices averaged $1.31/lb less than beef, as consumers saved money for gas.
3) Meat traders are aggressively holding onto stocks, expecting prices to rise.
Is there still a need for herd reduction? Purdue’s Chris Hurt says he thinks other pork producers around the world are reducing their herd, particularly in Canada. And he says with US market share gains in the export market it will only have to be 3-5%.
Don’t be too sure pork producers and the market are in balance say MO economists Ron Plain and Glenn Grimes, “The odds appear high that hog producers have at least reduced the rate of decline in the breeding herd. With hog prices at a level to produce profit for the average-cost producers along with the futures market for the next year, there are signals that reductions are not necessary. We doubt this is the situation we really have.”
Grimes and Plain attribute higher pork prices to overseas demand, “The average live hog price for January-April at $40.99 per cwt was down only 12.1% with pork production up 13-14%. The live prices were higher than expected, the demand for pork has been up substantially from a year earlier, and most of the credit probably goes to larger exports.”
Late planting #1: Emerson Nafziger at IL says, “For each week that soybean is planted after May 31, the established population ought to be increased by 15 to 20 thousand plants per acre in order to maintain yield potential for the date on which the crop is planted. Any planting after June 1 should also be in rows no more than 15 inches apart.”
Late planting #2: Nafziger says, “Using the response curves generated from our corn planting date data shows that we can expect 50% of the maximum yield when planting is done around June 15 to 20 in Illinois. We would expect actual yields of corn planted on June 15 to vary greatly depending on the weather the rest of the season.”
Late planting #3: Nafziger also says, “Potential yields of both corn and soybean are decreased considerably by planting as late as mid-June, and that the expected yields of both crops are decelerating quickly by then, with losses approaching 3% or 4% per day of delay, as cumulative loss approaches 50%.” He discourages a switch from corn to beans.
Late planting #4: If sorghum has entered your mind as an alternative to corn, Nafziger says the late date does not warrant such a change of plans. He says sorghum’s need for heat and rain is the same as corn, but sorghum’s lesser yield puts you at a disadvantage.
Late planting #5: Purdue’s Bob Nielsen says it may be time to switch seedcorn, “Growers who intend on ‘sticking to their guns’ with corn acres should be talking with their seed dealers now about possible switches to earlier maturity hybrids.” Find relative hybrid maturities that could safely be planted over the next 3 weeks based on expected heat unit needs and a “normal” accumulation of heat units from now until a killing frost.
Late planting #6: Nielsen also suggests saving seed costs, “One of the few positive aspects of late-planted corn is that stand establishment should be more successful due to warmer soils and more rapid germination/emergence conditions. So, instead of bumping seeding rates by roughly 10% as we suggest for earlier-planted corn, growers could back off to seeding rates that are equal to or 5% above their target final populations.”
In Iowa, emergence is the problem for the corn crop. Agronomists predict some seedlings will not be able to emerge, final populations will be reduced, and yields will be reduced. They suggest assessing the population to determine if replanting is appropriate, use decision aids to evaluate replanting, and as a last resort use a rotary hoe. They say that will reduce plant stands 5-10%, and that will vary depending upon field conditions.
To obtain maximum yields, weed specialist Bob Hartzler at Iowa State says weeds must be controlled before the critical period is reached, and that is when weed competition begins to cut yields. His chart says a 7.5 in. weed will drop yields 9% on average and 24% in heavy weed competition.
If volunteer corn is going to be a problem in your soybeans this year, don’t depend on glyphosate if it is Roundup Ready corn. However, NE weed specialists recommend a herbicide application at the 3-4 leaf stage. Herbicides at the full rate will not only control the corn, but many other grassy weeds, such as barnyard grass and various foxtails.
To solve your weedy soybean problem, solve your insect problem first. NE weed specialists say if soybeans are being defoliated by bean leaf beetles, it provides more opportunity for weeds to grow in the sunlight. They found that soybeans with 30-60% leaf damage have a shorter window for weeds to be controlled before yield is reduced.
Black cutworms are out and about, but just because you see one, does not mean the field needs to be sprayed, says IL Extension Specialist Kevin Steffey, “Spending money to spray simply because the price for corn is high makes no sense if the return on investment is $0. Early evidence of leaf feeding or slight cutting activity is not economic damage.”
Corn borer adults are looking for cornfields to lay eggs, but entomologist Kevin Steffey says it will be difficult for them to find fields where the larvae will survive. “If the cornfields have varying heights, focus your attention on the tallest fields, especially those planted to non-Bt corn hybrids. Also, keep your eye on the refuges beside Bt cornfields.
Bean leaf beetles are also having a hard time finding food, since few soybeans have emerged. Steffey says many are in alfalfa and clover fields where the adults hibernated and are looking for bean fields, but he believes the first generation will be diminished.
Stalk borers are hatching out and will be migrating soon to new corn when the larvae get too big for perennial grasses. WI entomologist Bryan Jensen says they will feed in the whorl, then move down into the stalk leaving a wilted whorl. He says concern has been minimal about stalk borers recently, but with higher prices for corn that may change.
Army worms could be a threat, if you have no-till corn or your corn is adjacent to a grass cover crop say Purdue Extension specialists, “If more than 50% of the plants show armyworm feeding and live larvae less than 1-1/4 inches long are numerous in the field, a control may be necessary. Larvae greater than 1-1/4 inches consume a large amount of leaf tissue and are more difficult to control.” Spot treatments may help on field edges.
Wheat growers may have loose smut, which replaces kernels with masses of black spores, and there is nothing that can be done. The fungus was contained in the embryo and grew in the plant after germination. IL Extension Specialist Carl Bradley says the only recourse is to plant disease free seed next year from varieties with good resistance.
Mark your calendar for the Forage Expo June 28 in So. IL. Equipment demonstrations and seminars on fertility cost, pest control, and livestock nutrition are on the agenda. Details are here.
If wind power intrigues you, plan to attend the wind power conference June 25-26 at Bloomington, IL, which addresses all aspects of wind energy and many national experts speaking. View the agenda.
Ethanol is the reason for only 1.2% of the rise in food prices over the past 2 years says NE ag economist Richard Perrin. He says grain prices have roughly doubled in that time, and ethanol is responsible for 40% of the increase. Doubled grain prices contribute 3% to the increase in US food prices, and 40% of 3% equals the 1.2% Perrin calculates.
