1, 2, 3rd Week of April Already!

Wow, does time fly when your busy. The mild and dry spring has given me plenty of opportunity to take care of a lot of field maintenance issues. New culverts, fixed tiles, disc/level plowed ground. I have made use of every minute of sunlight and good use of tractor lights as well.

The ground has dried out well, allowing field work on what is usually the last to be fit, that plowed ground. Even spreading urea on the wheat, not a mark in the field. The moisture is there, just buried under a foot of soil, but although I like seeing the ground fit, it is too cold to plant and I am beginning to wonder if this is a sign of a dry year to come.

I can change a lot of things, the weather is not one of them, so I gladly accept it for what it is and make the best of it.

When things are so dry soil compaction is not a big concern, but that is what I have been working on. A few new culverts on the home farm will allow me to haul grain out at five points instead of 3, this cuts the number of feet wagons are hauled in the field in more than half. Now to accomplish this I will be farming the property at 90 degrees to the last 30+ years, and across the tiles. Not sure if a more east-west orientation will have much impact on the yield, I have heard support for every direction, but I do know using the road more will mean driving on the farm less - and thats less soil compaction. So if the weather does turn to wet, I am ready for it - or more likely ready to wait until it is fit as I should.

So if the forecast holds true, I will likely burn a few vacation days next week to get the corn in the ground. Its an exciting time of year. This is the moment to get everything started off right, or to make troubles for the rest of the season. My Grandfather often told me "take your time, get it just the way you want it before you plant". That was good advice. If the field isn't level for some reason that bump will line up perfectly with the wheels of the tractor when you spray, and will be completely invisible until the combine header is half full of dirt. Not this year, its going to be TOTALY right before the seeds go in the ground.

On the down side, I fully admit my farm is too big for part time. The full time job seems to always be in the way of getting things done. And when you go three straight weeks without taking any time off, it wears a man down. And the real work hasn't even begun.

For those who caught my last post, when leaving 5 feet extra space between sprayer passes you get a 2 foot wide green strip. Which means i will leave at least 3 feet extra space between the edge of the sprayer and a non compatible crop. Good to know when some crop is round-up ready and some is not. It also means I didn't bother to go back and spray those strips of volunteer wheat. Hope it doesn't cause plugging in the cultivator!

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

UM Aggie Bedpush rolls across Manitoba to support rural health and wellness

The annual Aggie Bedpush is back this fall, continuing a beloved tradition of fundraising and community spirit led by students from the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. From September 26 to 28, students will push their iconic burgundy bed through Manitoba towns, raising money for two meaningful causes: STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service) Foundation and the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program Bedpush organizer Pyper Hollar explains the deep connection between these charities and the farming community. “Many Aggies live and or work in rural communities meaning that the nearest hospital can be at least an hour’s drive away. STARS is an Air Rescue service that can provide not only hospital transport when trouble arises, but has an incredible team of highly skilled professionals who can treat on the ground and in the air; STARS can be the difference between life and death for many Aggies out there,” she says. Mental health is another key concern. “Th

Tasters needed for bread acceptability research study

We are recruiting volunteers to participate in a Sensory Research Study in Food and Human Nutritional Sciences in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. You would have the opportunity to take part in sensory research and learn methods related to the acceptability of food products. Details including the consent form and screening questionnaire are in the Information Package link below. Title: Acceptability of Bread with a Bioactive Ingredient Principal Investigator: Dr. Cristina Rosell (cristina.rosell@umanitoba.ca) Activity: Observe, smell and taste bread samples to determine degree of liking of appearance, aroma, flavor, texture and overall Eligibility: No allergies to foods or beverages, no sensitivity to gluten, 18 years of age or older, and no direct involvement or knowledge of the project Commitment: One Session about 20 minutes Session Options: September 23, 25, 26, October 1 and 2 every 30 minutes from 11:30 to 1:30 inclusive Where: Fourth Floor Human Ecology Buil

Saskatchewan harvest chugs along

There was good harvest progress over much of Saskatchewan last week—although there were rain delays in some areas. The weekly Saskatchewan Agriculture report says combining is 41 per cent complete—up from 23 per cent the previous week. The five-year average is 58 per cent and the ten-year average is 49 per cent. The southwest is 55 per cent combined and the southeast is at the halfway point. Plenty of progress made in the northwest last week, which is now at 41 per cent combined. East-central sits at 31 per cent with west-central and the northeast at 27 per cent combined. Peas are mostly in the bin with lentils at 84 per cent. Moving to the cereal crops—barley is 54 per cent combined, durum 49 per cent, while spring wheat and oats are 35 per cent harvested. Canola sits at 12 per cent combined and flax at three per cent. Volunteer crop reporters were asked to provide yield estimates—keeping in mind there can be large variations between fields due to scattered rainfall during the gro

“More positive than anticipated” is how Saskatchewan’s Premier terms meetings with Chinese government officials

Premier Scott Moe is crossing more time zones on Monday only two days after finishing a trade mission to China and Japan last week. Moe spoke to reporters at the Saskatoon airport prior to departing on a flight to the nation’s capital for additional meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney and senior cabinet ministers. Moe and the Prime Minister’s parliamentary secretary Kody Blois met with officials within the Chinese Commerce Ministry—the body that is responsible for implementing import tariffs. It has placed very hefty preliminary tariffs on Canadian canola seed—as well as canola oil, canola meal, peas and pork. Those tariffs were seen as a response to Canadian tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. That tariff was implemented at the request of the United States. It’s hoped the trade mission will begin a gradual process to improve relations between Canada and China.

Ontario’s most problematic weed -- Canada Fleabane Cuts Corn and Soybean Yields

Persistent Canada fleabane, now resistant to multiple herbicides, causes significant yield losses in Ontario corn and soybeans, demanding zero-tolerance management and adjusted herbicide programs.

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service