Blog note. Jesus indicated that ‘fearful sights’ (various natural disasters) would occur leading up to the time known as the Tribulation and Great Tribulation (a combined seven year period of great destruction on earth). Although these types of things have occurred in the past for centuries and thousands of years, they could be identified as the ‘season of the times’ due to the ferociousness of these events. They would be occurring in greater intensity, severity, frequency, size, duration, scope … just like the pains that a woman experiences in labor the farther along she is in the labor process. We are in the ‘season of the times’ that comes just before the seven (7) year Tribulation/Great Tribulation period
… And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (Luke 21:11).
… And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (Luke 21:25)
… Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken; (Luke 21:26)
… This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2 Timothy 3:1)
Jesus is giving a series of prophecies about what to look for as the age of grace comes to a close. These verses are several of many such prophecies from throughout the Bible. 2017 was the worst year in recorded history for the intensity, frequency, severity, duration and occurrence of a large number of severe natural disasters worldwide. Earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, torrential flooding, unprecedented wildfires in unusual places, devastating droughts, excessive/scorching heat setting records everywhere, record snowfalls in Europe and Russia. Snow in the Arabia. This list can go on. Most studied Eschatologists believe these ‘fearful sights’ and massive natural disasters are all part of the ‘CONVERGENCE’ of signs that this Biblical and prophetic age is closing. Most people who study prophecy are familiar with the routine reference(s) made that these things will be like a woman having labor pains, growing in intensity, frequency, size and duration.

U.S. to allow September 1 grazing on unplantable acres to help farmers after floods

By Julie Ingwersen. Reuters•June 20, 2019

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Thursday announced a new measure to help farmers who were unable to plant corn and soybeans due to widespread flooding across the U.S. Midwest.

Cover crops such as grasses are seeded to avoid erosion on acres where flooding deterred growers from planting grains and oilseeds.

In most years, farmers who make a crop insurance claim on these so-called “prevented plant” acres are not allowed until November to chop the fields for silage used to feed livestock.

The USDA’s change, which is only for 2019, means growers can hay, graze or cut cover crops for silage on prevented plant acres on or after Sept. 1 and maintain eligibility for their full-year 2019 prevented planting indemnity.

The earlier date should make more forage available for livestock.

University of Illinois agricultural economist Scott Irwin said the changes should encourage farmers to file for prevented-plant claims and seed cover crops on more acres.

“It clearly moves the needle toward prevent planting at this point. What is hard to figure out is how much,” Irwin said.

With the new rule, he said farmers may be able to get three types of income from on prevent-plant acres, including an insurance indemnity, plus the value of the silage produced, as well as a potential payment from the USDA’s $16 billion farm aid package announced May 23 to offset losses from an ongoing trade dispute with China.

“This will help farmers keep their head a bit further above water, but it’s still not much above water,” Irwin added.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue earlier this month had said the USDA was “exploring legal flexibilities” to provide aid payments to farmers for acreage that is not planted.

The USDA also announced that its Farm Service Agency will extend the deadline to report prevented planting acres in select counties, U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson said in a statement.