Tuesday, June 28, 2016

We got good news today.  The replanting that was done at the Freddie farm last Wednesday, June 22, is now emerging.  No further replanting will be required!  The soybean air drill and cart can remain in storage!  We were concerned as we were replanting that day that the soil would dry out around the seed in the soil, and allow the beans to sprout and die.  But, we had them socked in pretty deep, so that the seeds could sprout and grow in moist soil.  It just took them a bit longer to emerge.  John and I had checked the Freddie field replant acres yesterday morning, and we did not find enough soybeans emerged from the soil.  So, yesterday, I called our Monsanto Rep Troy Clawson, and asked him to evaluate this June 22 replant, and let me know if he thinks I should plant again.  He said he would meet us late Tuesday morning.  I wanted more diverse (professional) opinions to help make the keep/replant decision.

I took the Gator to the Freddie farm late this morning, and when I arrived, I saw our friend Bill Berry walking the field. I picked him up in the Gator, and we drove over the replanted areas of this 1 mile x 1/2 mile field (our largest).  As we drove around, we saw plenty of tiny cotyledons, still yellow, just peeking out of the soil!  Those were not visible yesterday.  We soon made the call that another planting would not be necessary.  Troy joined us, along with Ross and Brandon, and together, we concluded that there was a sufficient ‘stand’ of soybeans.  Sweet!

Here’s some of what we found this morning: these cotyledons were not visible yesterday!

We were so elated to see these soybeans finally coming up!

L-R: Troy Clawson- Monsanto rep, Ross Carnahan, Brandon Knight, and Bill Berry. We all agreed that we were seeing a sufficient number of soybeans!

Planting summary for 2016:

First day of planting soybeans:  April 16.   Last day of planting soybeans:  June 22.

First day of planting corn:  April 18.  Last day of corn planting:  May 7.

Earlier this morning, Pat assisted me with planting some flowers at the farm office.  We waited a few extra weeks to purchase these plants, so that the flowers were much less expensive.   Now we can enjoy the bright colors when we arrive at the office.  I think it looks pretty nice, a good improvement.

Before…

…and after.

Other farm locations for the corn and soybeans look pretty good, even if some of the planting of soybeans pushed later into June by virtue of the cold and wet months of April and May.  We will have some corn tasseling in a few days.  I can’t wait, because that releases one of the sweetest aromas you can imagine… better than fresh-cut grass!   And the old adage about corn, “Knee high by the 4th of July,” will apply instead to soybeans this year…

Here is a view of the Lett farm, main field. These soybeans were planted on May 30.  Forty years ago, this was a strip coal mine.  Slowly and surely, the productivity is returning to this land.

Tomorrow, I hope to be out with the bush hog, tidying up some of our fields’ roadsides.  With official end of planting season (finally!), we can move fully into summer farm activities.

Another rain event would be welcome.  The one Sunday night really helped!