I had .66 inches more rain in the last 24 hours on top of already wet ground at my hunting property, so as ready as I am to get going, it’s a “maybe next week” scenario for me. Hopefully, some of you IDO hunting property managers are having a bit of a better go than I am.
Sticker says the north-west part of the state is in go-time mode for planting on higher, lighter ground, so at least some of us are able to turn wheels.
I have a couple of not-quite-made decisions I’m wrestling with.
1. Should I cover crop the brassicas strips or just disc and leave fallow until the brassicas get planted in early July? On one hand, I’d love to provide the nutrition of a nice cover crop like oats. It would also be a great plow down “green manure” soil addition and of course weed control is a benefit.
On the other hand, it adds a series of to-dos that I’m not sure I want to invest time in. I’d have to disc it, plant it, then terminate it, disc it again, rock pick it, and only THEN could I get brassicas in. So it’d be a ton of extra work for only about 4-5 weeks of actual growing time.
The weather may make the decision for me because if I don’t get this planted by mid-May at the latest, no way would it be worthwhile. What would you do?
2. Where the heck do I get a good price on PELLETIZED lime? I don’t want ag lime because I don’t want to rut up the plots with a ag-size spreader. I just want bag lime that can be run out of a broadcaster, but where in the Cities can I get a price on this stuff? Cheapest I’ve found is Tractor Supply for $4 per 40 pound bag. Anyone seen a cheaper regular price?
But all things considered, I feel great about this year. Big John, my 1965 John Deere fired up after a long winter’s nap after only about 5 seconds of cranking. I got Big John’s oil changed without problems and I even changed an oil bath air cleaner for the first time ever. Only read about these in old shop manuals. Classic technology, maybe not perfect, but highly durable.
Grouse
