New Blog from Punch Haskell: Front row on the Flyway

The pace has slowed a bit following the rice harvest but there’s still plenty to do.  At this time of the year, our family has seasonal work with cattle and we’re also maintaining the rice that’s in storage awaiting shipment to the mill.  There’s also plenty of catching up on paperwork as another year comes to a close.

While busy, there still are moments when I can view and marvel at all of the migrating wildlife.  It’s already been a great season for geese – both snows and specks.  Duck populations are also growing daily. In fact, we’re getting a lot of visitors from many states coming to the nearby Colusa Wildlife Refuge to try for a glimpse at what may become an annual visitor from China- the Falcated Duck.

It has certainly been a promising start for rainfall.  Hopefully in the coming months it will cool and we’ll get plenty of snowfall in the mountains. A wet winter will hopefully ensure we have enough water to carry us through during the rice growing season next summer.

We’re also getting close to Christmas, and we will spend it close to home, enjoying family and nature that’s around us.

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Punch Haskell grows rice in Colusa County and is part of a family farming operation that began approximately 60 years ago.