Tuesday, May 24, 2022
What a nice afternoon we are having. It was a bit cool this morning, about 55ºF (13C).
The urgent-feeling task is to finish planting soybeans. There is also now some replanting that needs to be done. But the fields that need the planters are still too wet. The latest rainy spell has kept us out of the fields with the planter for 10 days–so far. So we wait.
John is also feeling some urgency to the post-emergence, in-season spraying. He prefers to have correct and ideal weather conditions in order to do his applications. And now, after this rainy spell, it feels like all the acres will be calling for his attention at the same time. He is spraying today, perhaps a bit premature, but the weather forecast is for the next 3 days to bring rain. Finding the best herbicide application window is a balancing act. He must take into account the wind, temperature, soil conditions (too muddy?), and the herbicide’s label requirements. He works very diligently to be a ‘good neighbor’ to adjoining farmers’ fields– no drift of the chemicals off-target. The sprayer has a good capacity to apply hundreds of acres in a day, but still John can feel ‘under the gun’ at times. Most fields are not quite as dry as he would like today, but he will attempt to spray on the soybean fields that are the most urgent.
Loading the JD R4044
Brandon and I went down to the Huey farm today to bring out of long-term storage the old IH Cyclo planter. We bought it years ago to use for replanting needs for small patches of corn. Brandon wants to try it again because many of the corn acres that need a replant are in little, few-acre spots. He has cleaned it out, serviced it, and got it functioning again. It has a few hydraulic leaks, and he must be mindful of all that. He may be able to try some of the corn replant late today or before the rain comes tomorrow.
Hasn’t been out of the shed for years. International Cyclo planter, 6 rows
I don’t really know how old this planter is, but it still works!
We are grateful for the pretty day. The wheat is still standing after the storms. Most of the acres that have been planted are looking very nice. The recent heavy rain storms have created a need for replant of about 100 acres of corn and 200 acres of soybeans. As soon as the soil conditions will allow, we’ll get on it. The required replant seed has been secured, and the machines are ready. Bring on the sunshine!
