Chuck's Chat-Welcome to March 2025!
And just like that, it’s March! I sure could have used a couple more days. Warm days. Dry days. Gentle breeze days.
In honor of Kansas’ largest industry, the month of March has been proclaimed Kansas Agriculture Month. March 18 is Kansas Agriculture Day, as well as National Ag Day, which falls in the middle of National Ag Week, March 16 - 22. It is a day to recognize and celebrate the contributions of agriculture in our everyday lives. Were you aware that each American farmer feeds more than 165 people? In the 1960’s it was only 25 people. My how things have changed. National Agriculture Week shines a spotlight on the farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers who fill our plates and fuel our lives.
The first week of March is Agricultural Safety Awareness Program Week. This is a time to raise awareness and promote safety among our farm and ranching communities. Actually, we should promote this every week. Agriculture is the sixth most dangerous US occupation. Ag producers typically are aware of the dangers that exist in their daily activities, but the rest of the world does not. It’s up to us to increase their awareness as well as our own. Watch for daily safety tips and reminders on this page.
Daylight savings time begins Sunday the 9th at 2am. This means we all turn our clocks forward one hour before we go to bed on the 8th. Well, at least those of us not totally relying on an electronic device which will perform the task automatically. I still rely on clocks. Old fashioned, AAA battery operated clocks. One in nearly every room. Call me crazy, but, I like to know what time it is. No, I don’t wear a watch. Yes, I tried.
Parts of Canada actually started the practice of changing the clocks between 1908 and 1916. Germany and Austria popularized it worldwide when they implemented it in 1916, during WWI. The idea was to reduce artificial lighting to save fuel for the war effort. DST was used sporadically and not uniformly in the United States between 1918 and 1966. Then the Uniform Time Act of 1966 was established, which allowed for synchronized efforts across the country. Currently, DST is not practiced in Arizona, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands.
My resources show that March is National Celery month. A serving of celery contains 16 calories, and is a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C. It can be eaten raw, or cooked in various dishes. The plant is multi-utilized: seeds, salt, stalks, and leaves. It is a marshland plant and is thought to have been first harvested in the Mediterranean region. In the US it is primarily grown in California, and a small portion in Michigan. I prefer mine with peanut butter, which fits nicely as March is also National Peanut Month. Bring on the crunchy vs. creamy debate. I prefer crunchy.
The first day of spring is March 20. In the 14th century this time of year was called “springing time”, relating to the plants springing from the ground. The next century the phrase was shortened to “spring-time”, and further shortened in the 16th century to just “spring”.
Until next month,
Chuck Voelker