Thursday, September 26, 2013

Larry began to plant the wheat yesterday.  Only the ‘2 Hills’ got planted, about 40 acres, but that’s a start.  We prefer to begin planting wheat on September 25 (weather permitting), and this year we were able to do just that.  Larry will continue his incorporation work today.

To plant our wheat crop, we have the seed blended with the granular fertilizer.  Then, the CPS spreader truck applies the mixture to the field.   Larry then follows with a light disking and roller operation, which incorporates the blend into the soil.  A nice rain later will make the field turn a bright green!

The CPS Air-Flow applicator machine, with Gary at the helm, applies the blend of seed and fertilizer to the soil. Gary has done this very successfully for us for many years.

Larry Corn operates the JD 9330 tractor with a CaseIH RMX 340 disk and an Unverferth roller to incorporate the seed/fertilizer blend into the soil. The conditions today are very good.

Soybean harvest continues, but we will need to switch back to corn by Saturday (or so), in order to ‘uncover’ some more acres for wheat planting.

Soil sampling begins this morning, at the Lett and Watjen farms.  They will take samples based on a ‘grid’ system, and we will be prepared to apply the P&K fertilizers variable-rate depending on the test results map.  Those are also our locations for planting a cover crop.  We are new to this method of soil conservation, so we are using this experience at the Lett and Watjen farms to learn more about this technology, and how it fits into our operation.  More soil sampling will occur as we ‘uncover’ next year’s corn fields.  We soil test every field that is going to corn the following year, so that-in effect- has us soil testing every other year.  Those results will determine our fertility program for the ’14 corn crop.

Yes, it’s only September, but 2014 has (in a way) already begun for us.