Second Planting Cycle Looks Promising

Second Planting Cycle Looks Promising

Sometimes agriculture has it’s challenges!  I often say that one of the reasons that I like agriculture so much is that it keeps us humble and very dependent on GOD!

After the drought of 2014, our producers here in Nicaragua were looking forward to a return to normal in 2015. Alas, it was not too be. Generally, the first planting cycle begins in the last two weeks of May, as the rainy season makes it’s return. In 2015, the rains were late and planting didn’t begin until the end of the first week of June. Average annual rainfall for our area of Nicaragua is 1200 mm. Most of this will fall during the rainy season of May to November. The rainy season ought to be a prolonged period of substantial rainfall, but June 2015 gave us only 8 days of rain. The total accumulation wasn’t too bad at about 200 mm, but from mid June to late September, there was virtually no rain. 

Predictably, the crops suffered  and as the month of July wore on, it became more and more apparent that there would not be much of a harvest. On average, our producers harvested 10% of a normal yield. Very humbling, and VERY dependent on GOD!

But as I write this, we’re midway through the second growing season, and the situation is much improved. Again, the rains were late, about a month late actually (a pattern developing here?).  But the rains have been fairly regular and the crops are looking good. Our agronomists are bringing back reports of clean fields, low disease incidence, and good morale among the growers. These folks are resilient.  So continue to pray with us that God will pour the blessing of rain down on the thirsty crops and bring about a harvest.

 

post script:

The rains did come in November, anywhere from 50 to 80 mm.  Alas, so did a new wave of insects. We battled hard against a particularly persistent cutworm.  In the end, unfortunately,  a good percentage of the crop was eaten by this pest, and again yields are below average.  Still thankful that there is something to harvest this cycle. As the saying goes…..BUT – NEXT YEAR……………2015-12-08 09.08.24