Thursday, May 22, 2025
We had a productive five days until the rain came on Monday night. We have mixed feelings about the recent rain…it was probably helpful for the acres we had planted in less-than-perfect conditions, but it delays planting a few more days. We may be able to return to planting tomorrow or Saturday. I need about 2 days to finish off the soybean planting, Brandon also needs 2 to get through with the corn.
In good news, during the recent dry days, the guys were able to get applied all the remaining fields of pre-plant nitrogen (anhydrous ammonia) as well as the preplant herbicide applications for corn and soybeans! So, check those two things off the list!
First, the Unverferth Renegade NH3 applicator is washed to be put away…
…then the 9520R gets washed, too.
I was planting away at the Huey farm last Monday… and the conditions were very favorable! The soil surface was dry, with moisture for the seeds just underneath. I’d call the fields that day “ideal conditions”. It was a productive day for me with over 320 acres of soybeans going in at the Huey farm flat fields that day. I should be able to wrap up the Huey farm location on the next planting day, but the final field at the Cox farm location still has water on it! It may be June before that one gets done!
Planting soybeans at the Huey Flat R field
Spring of ’25 has been challenging, but each year has a personality of its own…no two are alike. We are finally looking at the end of planting season soon, and it will be good to get those crops in the ground. It is time to move on to the next steps of crop season.
John has begun his scouting of the fields with growing crops, and next week will be beginning his first post-emerge herbicide applications. He will have to switch back and forth between corn and soybean fields, and when he does, it requires about a 3-hour clean-out to switch the sprayer to a different chemistry for a different crop.
If you take a close look today, you can begin to see the wheat fields ‘turning’ or ripening! That harvest is about a month away. The week that we harvest wheat is always packed with demands, and this year will be no different.
As I was driving around looking for a dry field this morning, I encountered a neighbor and his son examining their fields, too. We visited a bit, and discussed what we’ve experienced this spring. That particular neighbor is known for the high quality of the work they do, and perhaps I learned some things from him today.
Pat’s strawberries have been producing bountifully!
The peonies planted just last fall are blooming beautifully at the farm office. The peony is the state flower of Indiana
