Friday on the Farm

 

It was a busy Friday on the farm. We were able to get quite a bit of work done on a nice fall day.

We have very happy cows. Two herds of cows are now grazing cornstalks. After corn is harvested, we open up fields for cows to graze. Grazing cornstalks ( stover ) in fields extends the grazing season through fall. The cows eat the corn residue ( husks and leaves ) and grass in the waterways.
 

[ view agriculture photos @ monicastevens.photoshelter.com ]

Friday on the Farm

In the afternoon, I drove out to the field to scout. The field of millet germinated and was off to a good start. Heat and moisture from rainfall has been great growing conditions. Though, it was really surprising how quickly the millet was growing. I very much look forward to seeing it grow before the cows graze.

Friday on the Farm

On Thursday, we seeded a field with millet. The field will be grazed by a herd of cows throughout the summer. I very much look forward to watching the millet grow, and seeing our cows graze!

 

[ more agriculture photos @ monicastevens.photoshelter.com ]

millet

On May 27, a second field of rye was chopped and bagged. The ryelage will be used for feeding cows.  Following the rye, we decided to plant a crop for cows to graze during the summer in addition to their pasture.

 

 

We chose to no-till drill pearl millet into the field. It seemed to be the best option for us to plant. Cows will graze the field after the millet grows to a height of at least 20 inches. The field of millet will be used as rotational grazing throughout the summer. The millet will be grazed to a height of 6 to 8 inches. Grazing to this height will allow for regrowth.

We set the drill and seeded the millet at the rate of 25 pounds per acre. It was seeded at a depth of 1 inch. The soil moisture was great for seeding. Hopefully the millet will germinate quickly.

I am very excited about using the field of millet as part of grazing! And, I am looking forward to seeing the millet grow!

2018 forage

 

Oats were no-till drilled in a field on April 13. We will chop and bag the oats as oatlage for cattle feed. After the oats are harvested, we then plan on seeding forage peas into the field. The forage peas will also be chopped and bagged to be fed to cattle later. Forage peas are a quality feed that is high in protein. Following the forage peas, sudangrass or pearl millet with be no-till drilled into the field for cows to graze into the fall.

farm calendars

Detailed record keeping and organization is vital to our Shorthorn cattle farm...

On our farm, we keep in depth records on our cows and calves. Farm calendars help us remain organized and track important dates we need to make note. Through this, we are able to better our farm management.

I use a few calendars each for different purposes...
..  A smaller monthly calendar is just for the cow herds. It notes... when cows calve during spring and fall calving (the calendar is included in our kit during calving season), when we vaccinate the herds of cows, calves, and bulls with our health program in the summer, the date bulls are turned out with the cow herds for breeding season, when embryos are implanted in recipient cows, when calves are weaned, if a feeder calf is sick and needs treatment, and  when we vaccinate and pregnancy check cows in the winter.

..  A small wall calendar will hang in the corn crib feed room. It will track when corn is rolled as feed for calves, when we take delivery of pelleted protein, feed additives and mineral, and when antibiotics are used in feed if it is needed.  

..  A large desk calendar sits on my desk of the farm office. This calendar is the my main calendar.  In addition to tracking the cattle herds, and feed records, we note weather conditions, when we cut and bale hay, along with the amount of hay harvested, and is also my personal calendar.

I found a few cute calendars at Target. [ I absolutely love Target! ] It is always nice when calendars are super cute. So, I am ready for 2018 on the farm!

fall forage for grazing: week 10

It is now week 10!

A herd of cows is now grazing a field of turnips, rye, and oats in the harvest corn field. I was really excited to cows open the pasture gate for the herd to graze. So the cows were ready to graze the lush field, we set out high magnesium blocks for the herds.

 

 

Friday on the Farm

turnip

Turnips, rye, and oats were seeded eight weeks ago. Next week, a herd of cows will start grazing the fall forage.

 

It has been so much fun watching the seeded fields grow over the eight weeks. The turnips have been quickly growing since the corn was harvested. We have had rain and warm temperatures as perfect growing conditions.

[ agriculture photos @ monicastevens.photoshelter.com ]

fall forage for grazing: week 8

It is week 8! And, I am checking in from the field...

The turnips, rye, and oats have quickly grown since the corn has been harvested.

The herd of cows on the farm where I live will be turned out to graze on the turnips, rye, and oats next week. I am excited to see them graze!

fall forage for grazing: week 6

It is week #6 in the field!

It has been six weeks since the fields were aerial seeded with turnips, rye, and oats. I have very much enjoyed watching the seeding grow by each week. It has been so amazing! Every time I drive by the seeded fields, I smile. The fall forage is beautiful!

10.19.16

We finished harvesting corn early Monday evening! When we finished harvesting corn on the acres seeded with turnips, rye, and oats, it let us fully see the seeding. Amazing!

10.14.16

It is unbelievable how quickly the seeding grew after the corn was harvested. We had sunny, warm weather that was perfect for the turnips, rye, and oats to rapidly grow. From a distance, you can now see the corn fields turning green.    

It will not be long before the corn residue will be covered by the fall forage. Our cow herds will soon be grazing the luscious fields of turnips, rye, and oats!

corn residue rests along the turnips, rye, and oats

 

Friday on the Farm

turnips, rye, and oats in corn residue

This afternoon, we started harvesting corn in one of the two fields seeded with turnips, rye, and oats. While riding in the Gleaner with my dad, it was so neat viewing the seeding from the combine cab. It was so pretty...emerald green growth among the dried corn field! Corn residue covered the ground with the turnips, rye, and oats were peaking through towards the sun. After riding along in the combine, I continued to haul corn to the grain bin to unload. Cows in the pasture watched as the combine rolled through the field...it is time for them to graze.   

fall forage for grazing: week 5

It is week 5! Here is the report from the field...

 

 
Dad and I scouted the fields of turnips, rye and oats this morning. We are both very pleased.
 

 
We are saving two corn fields to harvest last that were seeded to allow for further growth of the turnips, rye, and oats.
 

 

fall forage for grazing: week 4

It is week 4 since the fields were seeded with turnips, rye, and oats!

 

 

The turnips grew their second leaf and measure 5 inches in height. The rye and oats measure 8-10 inches in height.

 

 

Weather conditions have been excellent for the seeding. Pretty blessed for nice fields for our cows to graze.

fall forage for grazing: week 3

It is week 3! I walked into one of the seeded fields this morning. The turnips, rye, and oats are continuing to grow quickly. 

 

The turnips have been really fun watching grow. They change so much so quickly!  

I am looking forward to checking the seed at week 4!

fall forage for grazing: week 2

It is week two for the seeding! The turnips, rye, and oats are growing very well. I love seeing the change each week. It is pretty exciting!

 

 

It is still amazing to me how quickly the fall forage is growing. Rain fell today, so it will keep growing rapidly. I look forward to checking in next week!

 

 

fall forage for grazing: week 1

We had two fields of turnips, rye, and oats aerial seeded in standing corn on September 7. It rained in the evening. So, it was perfect for seed germination.

 

turnips, rye, and oats

These fields will be future cow chow! Eek! Our cows will be grazing these fields during the fall and winter.

 

 

 

 

After cattle chores this morning, I decided to check fields since it has been one week since they were seeded. I was absolutely amazed by what I found when walking into a field! I was so excited to have my dad look.

 

 

 

 

It was very impressive to see the growth of the turnips, rye, and oats seeding in one week! It was incredible! The turnips measured 2-3" in height. And, the rye and oats measured 3-5". So surprising.

 

 

 

 

I very much look forward to checking the fields next week! It will be interesting to see the growth of the turnips, rye, and oats.

 

 

fall forage for grazing

aerial application

 

In August, I decided to have two fields aerial applied with seeding...one field at each farm. This seeding will produce forage for our cows to graze through this fall and winter. After much thought, I decided to seed the fields with turnips, rye, and oats. Speaking with the agronomist at River Valley Cooperative, I arranged to have the fields seeded when the corn was at the perfect stage for the seeds to make contact with the soil. Driving home after cattle chores this morning, I pleasantly surprised to find a plane flying over our farms. I turned around and drove to a field to watch the seeding applied. It was so neat hearing the seeds fall onto the corn field!   

 

turnip, rye, and oat seeds rest on top of the soil

 

This afternoon, my dad and I went to the field to check out the seeding. The turnip, rye, and oat seeds were resting on top of the soil. It was amazing seeing the new crop among the standing corn to be harvested. Perfect timing...it rained this afternoon and is raining this evening! The rain will be extremely beneficial for the seeds to germinate well.

 

I have been wanting to seed fields as fall forage for a few years, so I am pretty excited to actually get this done. This is our future cow chow! I am looking forward to seeing the turnips, rye, and oats grow through this coming fall! And, I am hoping our cows enjoy their fall forage!

Friday on the Farm



cows graze as the sun sets



As the sun sets, cows graze a snowy corn field. Our cows graze cornstalks after the field is harvested. It is always a beautiful and peaceful site. I have a blessed life.

Friday on the Farm

a cow herd grazes a harvest corn field 

Our cows graze cornstalks after harvest. During the fall, our cow herds forage on cornstalks in the fields. I snapped this photo on a sunny, fall morning as I walked through the herd.

Grazing Cornstalks

after harvest, cattle graze cornstalks

 

 

A herd of cows and heifers are grazing cornstalks this evening. We have happy cattle! After harvesting corn, our cattle graze the fields through the fall. Tomorrow, we will be preparing another field for a herd of cows.
 



 

cows and barbed wire...it's fall