Thursday, June 2, 2016
Yesterday, I spent the morning in the fields near Wheatland, doing some replanting of soybeans. I knew when I planted those fields on April 26, that there were areas of the fields that would struggle. We had just the wrong post-planting conditions…cold and wet…and sure enough, I got to replant those areas yesterday. Now that the weather has finally warmed into the 80s, I think these beans planted recently will emerge okay. The soil conditions were certainly more favorable than they were the first time over. As of today, all the replant acres are ‘caught up’.
This was my view late yesterday morning as I was replanting at the Steimel Farm.
Back on Saturday, I planted the Dunlap Big field (big is a relative term here, it’s just 34 acres). It went in very well. Then on Monday, I was able to plant the Lett and Watjen farms. When I got home Pat told me, “That’s the first time you’ve come home this planting season and said you felt good about what you did today!” Tuesday, I planted about 12 acres at Cox, which was what I had to leave unplanted on May 25, when those acres were still too soggy to plant.
So, it has been a bit sporadic this week with planting. Waiting for soils to dry sufficiently is a bit tedious. The rains have been spotty, but seem to spot us this week… there were 4 periods of heavy rain just yesterday! Bit by bit, we are getting it done. I can begin in the White River bottoms on Saturday, weather permitting. Three good days should see the end of planting!
Here are some emerging soybeans at the Newman Farm. This is on the 7th day after planting. It’s always a happy thing to see those soybeans emerge!
Philip came back to Indiana for the Indy 500 race and has had some ‘down time’ with us through this week. It has been a pleasure for him to be here. Yesterday at lunch time, we had Ben and Philip here along with John and his family… the first time to have all the family around our table since Christmas of 2014! It was a special time.
“The Brothers” visit around the table on Wednesday.
Tuesday morning, Philip and I went to check fields at Commer and Freddie, and discovered some piles of cornstalks that had to be burned. He took part in setting those fires, and the dry and breezy day made short work of those piles. He has spent some hours accompanying me through various parts of my days, and he seems to appreciate his time back on the farm.
Philip helped me fill the air drill with soybean seed on Monday
Philip lights the piled-up corn stalks that drifted in from the neighbor’s field during one of White River’s flood events.
In just minutes, the nearly one-acre patch was consumed!
Ross replanted a few acres of corn at the Burke farm on Tuesday. The corn crop looks pretty good anywhere you want to look.
Brandon is delivering the remaining corn from our storage to GPC at Washington, Indiana. Next week should see us become completely MT of 2015-crop corn.
I’m looking forward to post-planting activity. I am eager to get the roadsides mowed and looking much better. There is always the ‘next thing’ to get accomplished.
