More thunder; fallow fields

Fast moving thunderclouds are bringing lightning bolts, torrents of rain and then amazingly beautiful evening skies with every cloud formation in the book filling a techno-colored panorama above the hills. It is quite spectacular to see the clear blue sky above the clouds once the storm passes. I watched the lightning strike the hills to the north, somewhere in Kumamoto city, after it had passed our area.

I guess we aren't planting soy beans this year. We had a big discussion about how many to order and what part of the field to plant, but in the end, they scrubbed the order and we will plant none. Usually they would be in the ground during the beginning of July to sprout during the rains and thrive during the dry hot months to follow. Instead, I have fields of weeds that need to be plowed to keep under control. Can't I at least grow clover or ground cover?

Many fields are being left fallow this year. I thought some people were just late to plant their rice but indeed, they are planting nothing and being paid handsomely for it by the government! Yes, be sure to tell the people who have been hit by earthquakes, drought, hurricanes and famine that there is too much rice in Japan so we are paying farmers to stop growing it! It looks like about 1/3 of the paddies are fallow. I think it's disgraceful. Just to keep the prices ridiculously high. Already, our rice is the most expensive in the world.