Filed under: October 2019 | Tags: field corn, horse drawn, kindness, maize, sunset
October 16, 2019
First I should clarify, any day is a good day. Each day we are given the opportunity to reach for our goals, strive for excellence and share our light with the world. It is a choice to be happy, so smile, be kind and give of yourself to others. This positive attitude towards life, will make every day better. Sometimes, you may be the only positive thing others will see that day. You may uplift someone else, by simply smiling, now that my friends, is power!
I have been working on many projects as autumn is making itself known. It’s that last dash of preparation before winter slows down and even stops some outside activities. My biggest push right now, is to get the field corn harvested. The picker is ready to go. The crib needs emptied of the last of last year’s corn. A good clean out, fix a slat or two and the crib will be ready to receive the new crop.
Abby managed to lose her front shoe. So, yesterday, we ran to get one nailed on. You can’t pick corn with a flat tire on your tractor…or a missing shoe on your draft horse! She was all fixed up in the space of ten minutes. Abby and the geldings are ready and waiting for the corn harvest to begin. The corn is almost dry enough. The last two mornings of hard frost, will help in that effort too.
So, after a day of preparing for winter, equine pedicures and a beautiful sunset, I would say that it is the end to a perfect day.
Filed under: August 2018 | Tags: autumn, draft horses, farm work, field corn, maize
August 24, 2018
There is a nip in the air this morning. How can it be? I still have hay to make, wood to gather and garden crops to harvest. I guess today was just a teaser. The August heat showed up by late afternoon. I think this is just a warning that soon, autumn will be here. I heard the school bus as I closed the gate. It was almost an exclamation point for my thoughts!
Work here at the farm continues, but so does the “fun”. Baby calves have started to be born. We calve in the fall. It’s backwards for most folks but works well for us. Pastures are in good shape with lots of feed for the animals. Plowing will begin soon for our speltz crop planting in the next few weeks….one more sign that fall is close at hand.
The corp crop is looking very well. It is one of our best crops in a long while. The reconditioned corn planter did an awesome job. The stand of corn is spaced just right. The ears are plentiful and well formed. The timely rain allowed the kernels to fill and made for some nice soon to be “hand picked” ears!…If picking corn by hand doesn’t signal fall… then winter… I don’t know what does.
July 2, 2018
I ask myself if I am measuring up? Soon, corn is supposed to be “knee high”. This field was a forlorn space on our farm just a few years ago. It still has a very long way to go. It needs drainage, fertility, pH adjustment and gentleness. I need to continue my efforts, but go slowly on this sensitive part of the farm. The corn here, where the cows fed on round bales last winter, looks real good. The rest of the field is behind, but looks like it will make a crop.
The corn in the picture proves that the field has potential, it just needs more tender loving care. Our grandson, the row monitor, shows much potential too. Like the field, he needs time, gentleness and tender loving care. I hope to see him reach his potential too. We owe it to ourselves, our family and friends to be the best that we can be. Inside of each of us is a light. We must let that light shine!
I am working on a few writing projects. The heat outside makes me want to work in the house. I am working at writing much more now that retirement has afforded me the time. I hope to use the gift I have been given to reach others through my printed words, to share and to teach. I will work hard each day to push myself, like the small field and the little boy, to attain our full purpose!
I think a guy has two birthdays. The first is the day he was born…the second is when he realizes why!
Filed under: June 2014 | Tags: animal corn, farm ecnomics, field corn, horse drawn, open pollenated corn, seed saving
2014 off to a good start
June 23, 2014
This year I went back to a tried and true variety of field corn for my animals. I used a hybrid for the last two years and had crop failures both years. I will blame the weather, first year drought, last year constant rain and weed pressure. I can’t help but wonder, if this open pollenated corn might have fared better even in those stress years.
Three years ago I planted this corn. Three years ago at harvest time I had large twelve inch ears on tall stalks. My expense that year totaled $140.00 per acre. Those costs included the seed, organic fertilizer and some fuel. The corn produced 90 bushels per acre of ear corn plus, the fodder that the animals ate almost completely to the ground.
My largest cost that year was the organic fertilizer at $100.00 per acre. I didn’t have enough of my own compost that year, so had to buy some “plant food”. I feel that I still made out very well. I had my seed for next year, corn in the crib and quite a bit of dry matter feed in the fodder. The patch had been cultivated with the horses, costing me only my time … and time using horses is an asset to me 😮
Last year’s corn crop cost me $410.00 per acre, my yield was less than 20 bushels per acre. I only recovered any because I was able to turn cattle and hogs into the short, stressed, standing corn to harvest it themselves. I don’t think a silver tongued salesmen will ever sway me again… no matter what the weather!
Our June has been a wet one again. The crops are all planted and so far so good. I am looking forward to making hay while watching the corn grow. The horse drawn cultivator is ready to go, hopefully it will all work out.
RicelandMeadows 