April 4, 2016

Today, we got started in the field with putting on anhydrous ammonia.  NH3 is our source for nitrogen for our corn crop.  We apply it pre-plant.  The soil dried sufficiently over the weekend to allow us to start.  We went first to the Roberson farm, along IN 550.

Upon arriving at the Roberson field, the guys had a little conference in Ross’ cab before starting.

Here is the JD 9360R tractor and 2510H applicator bar… hitched up, and ready to go in the Roberson field.  The 251oH has 23 row units, and puts down a swath about 60 feet wide. 

The CIH MX 290 tractor has a DMI 15-knife applicator bar. It’s about 40 feet wide.

If you’ll notice, there are no little puffs of white gas leaking from the soil. That means the NH3 is sealing quite well!

There goes John at the Dunn farm…Roberson got finished!

The next operation after the NH3 application?  The sprayer will apply a burndown herbicide.  Then, the corn planter will put the seeds into the soil!  (Notice I didn’t say “dirt”?)

Very early this morning, Brandon took a load of corn to market at GPC at Washington, Indiana.

When he returned, Brandon loaded the truck for another trip early tomorrow morning.

Below-freezing temps are predicted for tonight, so we will wait for the soils to warm before starting the planter!  Rain and high winds are predicted for Wednesday, so every little bit we can get done today and tomorrow will be a good thing.

Feels good to be making some progress toward the corn crop!  We were not able to spray today, for the wind was just too strong.  Looking forward to that going again, too.