Hey DT, I burnt some deisel

Up at the farm over the weekend and I got all the corn mowed. I was surprised that the frost was out of the ground in most places and the plots were not very wet at all. In fact, several of them were ready to work.

Yep, I hooked up the disc and went to work. Got the corn and beans worked into the soil on all but 2 plots. It was sure nice to get some tractor time again. I love the smell of burning deisel

Here is the big plot all disced up. I have to make one more pass over it with the disc and then hit it with the tiller after spreading fertilizer, but at least I got the corn and bean stalks worked into the dirt so they can decompose and the soil can warm up faster.

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Jealous.. way to wet here yet.. Last week I got the bobcat skid loader stuck digging a new watering hole. Spun the tire off the wheel trying to get it out. (apparently turf tires arnt good in mud ) Then I got the tractor stuck trying to get the skidder out. I got them both out one morning at 7am when there was just enough frost overnight to firm things up a tad. Parked them in the shed, and felt lucky I got them out at all.

I guess Ill just go fishing instead………

Lucky you. I want to get up north so bad.
DT

deertracker wrote:

Lucky you. I want to get up north so bad.
DT

Mid 50’s all week up there, soil is going to be nice and warmed up. I see oats going in the ground on turkey opener

sktrwx2200 wrote:

Parked them in the shed, and felt lucky I got them out at all.

Yep. I have the same issue, there’s a big difference in our area between “warm enough” and “dry enough”. I only have one old 2 WD Deere tractor, so if that baby gets stuck, I don’t have a bigger machine to go in after it with. The only thing that’s going to get it out is a long wait until stuff dries out.

Also, it’s easy to get too revved up in the spring and forget that the enemy is frost. Know the frost resistance (or lack thereof!) of the crops you intend to plant. This is especially important these days because I get a lot of guys asking why I don’t sell this seed or that seed that they herd about on TV. Most often the reason is because it’s really a southern crop or southern variety that is not suitable for growth in most of the rest of the country. Just because you heard on TV that crop x works great doesn’t mean you can RELIABLY grow it in your area. I try to stay with seeds that have a wide use profile.

It’s also really helpful to understand the frost microclimate of your particular property. If you have low ground or bottomland, your planting dates can be significantly different than the average.

In general, I’d say it’s best not to push your luck. We’re not crop farmers where a week of growing time is a big deal such that there is an economic reason to be turning wheels at the earliest possible date. With food plots, I think most guys are better off planting right and planting once.

Grouse

I agree 100% Grouse to everything you have said. I joke about planting snow peas this time of year, but I have ZERO intention of actually getting the planter out until the end of April.

I love turning dirt and burning diesel, so I get a “little” anxious this time of year. I am fortunate and unfortunate that we are on higher ground with a sandy loam, so our plots warm and dry out faster, BUT in the summer they also dry out faster.

Last night I turned my corn plot at home. The soil there is much more clay and it was wet! I just wanted to get the corn stalks ground up and in the dirt to get them breaking down faster. I didn’t touch the beans plots after I saw how wet the corn plot was.

BTW Grouse, the corn plot is going to be the test plot this summer so I am giving that a little extra attention

sticker wrote:

BTW Grouse, the corn plot is going to be the test plot this summer so I am giving that a little extra attention

Funny you should mention it. I had to use the Eagle Forage Soybean seed I had set aside for a test plot to fill out a customer order, so I just placed a replenishment order today. Another pallet is on the way.

Yes, give that test plot extra attention! I’ll have more seed in 10 days.

The soil at my property is heavier soil and I have some low ground on the field road between my 2 biggest plots, so the tractor is in constant peril when it’s wet, both in the plots and in transit between plots.

But the good news is that all the subsurface rock I’ve got helps support the tractor and keep it from sinking in! That’s good news, right?

Grouse

The test plot got ripped up again last night. Let her sit and warm up for a couple weeks, take a soil sample, add some fertilizer and we can plant when you are ready.

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