2013-5-31
It didn't rain today, which was odd. I'm sure we're behind average on heat units, but the corn is still looking quite healthy.
2013-5-28
This rain is relentless. There are still a lot of soybeans to plant in the area, and it is going to take many days of sun and heat to get the ground dried out enough to be workable.
2013-5-26
We're fortunate to be done planting. It rained most of the day yesterday, it's raining again today, and the seven day forecast shows a lot more rain.
2013-5-24
Finished planting soybeans. We also planted the second batch of sweet corn.
2013-5-23
The ground was still wet this morning, but wind and sun had things dried up enough to get the wheels turning this afternoon.
2013-5-22
Cool temperatures, a light breeze from the west, and the sound of a diesel in the background. It was all good until the rain showed up around 3 this afternoon. It just rained enough to make the dirt sticky, so it should dry up quick.
2013-5-21
| Video Planting Soybeans 2 |
2013-5-20
Had some light rain yesterday morning, could have ran in the afternoon but we decided not to with storms predicted for last night. The situation was ripe for soil crusting, which can happen after it rains and then quickly dries. When the top 1 inch of the soil crusts, the seedlings are often unable to push through, resulting in a poor population. The storm did arrive last night, bringing lots of wind but not much water. Power lines are down in the area. Meanwhile, the first corn we planted is up, having been in the ground for 8 days. That corn was just starting to emerge yesterday, and is about 2 inches tall tonight.
2013-5-18
2013-5-17
No rain last night. Corn is now done. Soybeans are progressing nicely.
2013-5-16
Another big day on the acres. There is a chance of rain tonight, so we're doing what we can to finish the fields in one area before that happens. We're actually pretty close to being done with corn.
2013-5-15
| Video Planting Soybeans |
Video Field Finisher |
2013-5-14
Summer is here, today's high temperature was in the mid 90s and it came with wind. That's hard to get used to when it was coat weather just a few days ago. Both planters, the field finisher, and the sprayer were all getting a workout today.
2013-5-13
Another big day with the corn planter, although we did take time to do a test plot of 4 hybrids at 4 different populations. This afternoon we started on soybeans too.
2013-5-12
First day planting corn. We're a bit behind schedule according to the calendar, but that's the game mother nature is playing this year.
2013-5-10
I came across some old negatives of steam engines, so I scanned a few to see how well they convert to digital.
2013-5-7
I attended the Ag Machinery Conference today, which is an event intended for the development people at the iron manufacturers. In case you're wondering, that is a tan John Deere Gator with a GPS receiver, laser scanner, cameras, and a large antenna mast in the back.
2013-5-4
Light rain all day yesterday, heavy rain overnight, and rain again this evening. Temperature is back up to 60°F and the forecast is nice, so maybe in a week we'll be in the field.
2013-5-2
The dreary weather has arrived, temperatures just above freezing and rain. You only have to travel two hours north or west to find snow though, so we're rather fortunate in that aspect. Looks like this weather pattern will hold for a few days.
2013-5-1
Finally turning some dirt. We're going over some corn stalks so that when we start planting, we have somewhere to plant soybeans while the tillage tool is preping soybean stubble for corn. The tillage machine can't stay ahead of two planters. I saw a planter on the road, but haven't seen one out in a field here yet. The forecast calls for cold and rain, which is not a good environment for seed germination. We'll wait.
