Thursday, March 30, 2023
Yesterday, we started our fieldwork for this year. Yes, Nutrien has already visited our wheat fields twice to apply nitrogen. But yesterday was the first day this year that one of our machines hit the field.
Even though it was not ideal soil conditions, John went out in the sprayer to apply 4 important management tools to our wheat crop. These things were all tank-mixed and applied together in one pass. One: a herbicide, two: a biological root-growth stimulator, three: a fungicide, and four: a growth regulator limiting plant height. With the current wheat crop growth stage, and with the winter annual weed pressure increasing, this application was beginning to feel very urgent. Plus, more rain is predicted for tomorrow, and that would stop any field work progress. The soil was a bit better than we anticipated, but still there were soft places in the fields. John created some muddy track-ruts in a few places, but it is a relief to get this application done. He had to stop at dark last night, but he is back out there at it again today. He hopes to complete this application today, and then clean the sprayer systems out and get prepared to apply some burndown herbicide for the soybean crop. We are just grateful to see this progress made!
John makes progress at our Leser farm
Also yesterday, our Dyna-Gro wheat consultant, Landon Taylor came up from Owensboro, Kentucky to review each wheat field and check the plant health. Our wheat crop got off to a bad start because of the extremely dry fall weather. It looked ragged and uneven, for the emergence of the seeds was patchy and spotty. It took a late October rain to finally get it all started. So, we were less than impressed with how the wheat crop looked during the winter. But, after the split applications of nitrogen which were put down a bit earlier than usual in order to spur tiller development, the wheat crop is looking a bit better. It is at the Feekes Stage 6 to 7 of growth. The 2023 crop is probably not as nice as the ’21 and ’22 crops, but improving from its difficult start. We will rein in our expectations and hope for a happy surprise in June!
Landon describes what he’s seeing
The crew from Atkinson Trenching is here today to wrap up the installation of new water lines to the farm. We will have a period of time with no water, but that should not take but a couple hours. We are looking forward to that upgrade being done.
Brandon is down to the final bin of corn to clean out. He really likes the “power sweep” in the new bin. There is no heavy lifting of motors or augers in and out, it is permanently installed, and you just flip a lever to engage the sweep.
The sweep auger in bin 8 (the new, big one) doing its thing
Brandon and Bill are out on the road today delivering corn to ADM in Newburgh. So, things are happening around here!
Yesterday, Pat picked up the sticks and limbs that had fallen into the yard during the winter. After that, I got out the trimming mower. I use “seafoam” fuel treatment in the mowers. I refilled the gas tank, and with just one pull, the engine fired up! One pull! I hope to mow the yard this afternoon, before another rain event tomorrow.
On my knee replacement, I’m now at 16 weeks and 1 day post operation. No, it’s not pain-free just yet. I can walk pretty much okay without a limp, and I can go up and down stairs, even if it is a bit slow. But I notice that climbing up into a truck or tractor where the steps are 12″ or more apart… that hurts! I thought that by 3 months out, the situation would be back to normal, but not yet. The knee doctor says it may take a whole year before all the pain goes away. Even so, it’s better than before, and I’m able to do just about anything I need to do.
As March winds down, it seems like it’s going out “like a lamb”. We are praying for favorable April weather to allow us to get going on #plant23.
Have a great weekend.