Posted by GoatWorld on March 23, 2002 at 08:22:35:
Hi folks,
Welcome to spring...if some of us can call it that. I've got the inclination to believe that this is going to be a year of extremes - late or early summer, an extended fall, but winter of 2002/2003 will be normal. This is my own personal prediction and not from an almanac.
Here in Missouri, there is a saying that goes "Thunder in February, last frost in May." Last year that occured and came true. Well this year, we had thunder in January. For the most part, thunder rarely occurs from roughly December through February here in Missouri.
For nearly the last decade, our weather patterns have been changed: El Nino followed by La Nina. The weatherheads say that neither of these conditions are present now, but it makes sense to me that it is going to take a couple of three years for weather patterns to return to normal right?
I know this weather has been rough on everyone, goats included. One day it is 75 degrees, the next night it gets down to -2. It only takes a few extremes like that to tax the body relatively quick and break down the immune system.
As for insects such as ticks, lice, etc., the common belief is that the colder the winter is, the less insects you will have next year. Believe me. This is not true. It's not the cold, it's the humidity that determines how many insects will thrive. I've studied this carefully - there's not a man I'm afraid of but when it omes down to spiders, you'll find me going berserk with fear. The wetter a winter or spring, the more the insects will come out. So I guess you can imagine what kind of winter and spring that I hope and pray for.
Anyway, let's just hope that the weather gets back on track and that we can all soon be sitting around the lakes, beaches and campfires enjoying the weather for a change.
Best regards,
Gary Pfalzbot