Friday on the Farm

 

Between unloading corn and filling a grain bin, I checked on the field of rye. The rye has grown about two inches since last week. Through the corn residue, the rye is growing. The field of rye is starting to green.

 

Friday on the Farm

So, I am checking on the field of rye this morning. It is snowing. The flakes of snow were falling from the sky and melting on the rye.  

[ agriculture photos @ monicastevens.photoshelter.com ]

conservation: rock chute

Conservation has always been at the heart of our farm. It is an ideal passed down through the generations. We truly believe in being conservationists and stewards of the land we love. My dad has practiced no-till farming for 35 years. Other conservation practices are implemented on the farm: contour farming, cover crops, grassed waterways, and filter strips. Permanent pasture is reserved for soil more sensitive to erosion from wind and water. And, hay is part of the crop rotation. Utilizing ground for growing hay also helps increase organic matter and soil fertility.   

When we were renovating part of a cattle pasture, conservation work was also completed. In 2009, tile was installed in a grassed waterway of a field  that borders the pasture. The tile outlet was in a creek that meanders through the pasture. A rock chute was installed at the edge of the creek to safely guide direct surface water off the field into the creek. The slope of the creek bank was slightly reduced and rock (rip rap) was placed along the creek bank as streambank stabilization. The rip rap was used to guard against erosion from water. After installation, we seeded brome along the rock.    



2009

It has been nine years since installation. And, the conservation practices used to protect the creek from water erosion have worked extremely well! It is quite impressive.

march 2018

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.   

checking in on the rye



rye



Six acres of corn were chopped and bagged as silage for our cattle on September 19. The acres that were chopped were then seeded to rye on October 3 to protect the soil from possible erosion.

 

This morning, we checked in on the rye that was no-till drilled.  It is looking nice! The rye emerged quickly and started growing on these sunny days. It is amazing how much the rye grew in just a couple days. With rain this afternoon, the rye will continue to grow well.

rye

Rye is emerging!

 

As I walked out to the pasture this evening, I decided to scout the field chopped for silage and seeded with rye. On Monday afternoon, we no-till drilled rye for cover over the winter. I was excited to see the rye emerging from the soil. 

63 pounds per acre of rye was seeded over 6 acres. The soil was perfect for seeding that afternoon. And on Wednesday evening, we received 1 3/4 inches of rain.

seeding rye

Today we no-till drilled rye into a corn field that was chopped and bagged for silage. Chopping corn for silage uses the entire corn plant. It therefore removes the plant material that would be residue. The lack of residue can leave soil vulnerable. The rye will protect the soil from possible erosion caused by wind or water.

Six acres chopped for silage were planted to rye. Dad used the rate of 63 pounds of rye per acre. The conditions were perfect to seed this afternoon. Weather should be ideal for germination.  

I look forward to seeing the rye grow!

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

soybean swelling

Dad planted a field of soybeans on Sunday. The soybeans were swollen we checked the field on Tuesday morning. Soon they will be pushing through the soil!

 

 

[ agriculture photos @ monicastevens.photoshelter.com ]

 

Friday on the Farm

a worm burrows through the soil



Warm and sunny weather has blessed the soil on our farm. We started planting corn this week!

 

The planter started rolling through the field. As we brushed away the soil to check seed depth and spacing, there were an amazing earthworms all throughout the field.

 

Worms are a great indicator of soil health and tilth. We take great pride in being conservationists stewards of the land. It is a family tradition on the farm. The care we take shows in the productivity of our ground. 

Seeding for hay fields

Two fields were prepared to seed for hay with the no-till drill. Red clover, alfalfa, and brome were seeded along with oats. We finished seeding the fields of hay on April 5. The new seeding quickly emerged and has started growing. We have had warm, sunny weather with a few rain showers...perfect weather for growth! 

 

emerging seed

Per acre, we use 4 pounds red clover, 12 pounds alfalfa, 5 pounds brome, and 2 bushel oats. We fertilize our hay ground twice a year to maintain soil fertility and to optimize hay yield.



hay fields are growing nicely



 

Ground seeded for hay provides many benefits. Soil is covered and prevents erosion by wind and water. Alfalfa roots grow deep into the subsoil. Plant roots reduce soil compaction and improves soil structure. Legumes have nodules that fixate nitrogen. Nitrogen is available in the soil for plants to utilize. Soil fertility is improved by building up organic matter. Blooms provide insects, like bees and butterflies with nectar. Plant roots are food for microorganisms in the soil.

I am looking forward to seeing beautiful, lush fields. We will have happy cows that will enjoy the hay from these fields!
 

Friday on the Farm

installed field tile

  

Field tile was installed in a field to help with subsurface water drainage. Tile will allow water to safely be removed from the field and help prevent soil erosion.

Friday on the Farm

soybean residue

 

 

Soybeans have been harvested. Residue rests in the soybean fields after harvest. No-till farming has been utilized on our farm for over 30 years. My dad has carried on the tradition of being a conservationist and steward of the land. He is a caretaker of our farm.

Crop residue serves many purposes. Residue covers bare soil and helps protect the soil from erosion by wind and rain. And, residue enriches soil. As crop residue decomposes, it is added to the soil as fertilizer.  

Friday on the Farm

cattle manure spread on the field

 

This week, we have been busy cleaning out the feeder calf lot. We have been loading, hauling, and spreading cattle manure onto fields. The manure is a great natural fertilizer added to the soil.