O.K. when do you think you can start farming?

Animal

Well-known Member
All my farming friends are talking about planting corn in a couple of weeks. All it takes is one weather forecast that shows a sunny 60 degree day and everyone is off to the races. Personally, I think it will be first of April before we can get serious here. And while I am thinking of it, what piece of equipment did you acquire this winter that you are most proud of? I picked up an IH 75 swather and can't wait to get to use it....
 
I had to shovel a foot of snow to do my soil samples last week.

I am going to make some calls tomorrow looking for some shorter season seed corn.

No hurry here, spring is a long way off.
 
I seriously doubt there'll be anything going on here before the last week of April. And that's only if it warms up a heck of a lot quicker than it did last year. The forecast doesn't look promising any time soon.
 
I've been in the fields in March twice in my life.

Last year we had a small blizzard the first week of May.

I'm gonna guess around April 20th.

Paul
 
I'm thinkin about the middle of may...er hopin!
I bought a real clean old Oliver 18 combine that I'd like to try out. Thought about putting in 5 acres of oats, but it ain't lookin to good for that so maybe 5 acres of soybeans....maybe?
 
Won't be on the fields anytime soon. Still 2-3 foot of snow out there.
Last fall I picked up a Massey 300 combine and this winter I replaced an M and loader with a NH TN85A with a loader and I will probably get rid of the 656 if I like the blue machine.
 
We set a new record low here in western NY today at -8 degrees. Can't even get excited about starting my indoor seeds for the garden.
 
When the frost goes out of the ground here, and who knows when that is going to happen, the bottom is gonna fall out. Looks to me like it will be a mess for a while.

Went to St. Joe and bought this JD 4040 in December. 300 miles to the NE of me, but was exactly the tractor I was looking for. 5300 hours, powershift, 90% rear tires, everything works and the interior in what I would call 85%.


mvphoto4431.jpg
 
Corn will be going in the ground in about 3 weeks in southwestern Missouri unless it stays cold or rains a bunch...We have only had .80" of moisture so far this year so are pretty dry...
 
Our insurance date is 35 days away and barring a huge change in the weather there will be no corn planted than or I feel most of April. We don't expect to plant any corn on our ground until May. There is just too much snow and frost.

Jim
 
Here in central ND I'll be in sooner then last year. We have no snow. Once the frost is gone I'll plow and then plant 10 to 12 days later. I expect to have my Sainfoin, buckwheat and peas all planted by the 15th of April. Now the question is moisture. With no snow pack, we better get some spring rains.
 
Did a little test dig yesterday. Ground is starting to thaw some on top (temps in 40's late in the day last 2 days) Last 30 days were 11 degrees under average. Dug down 15" before I broke through frost. Soil temp @ 10" was 21 degrees.

Record # of days with snow fall this year. Over 14" above average total accumulation. Plenty of rain on the days it wasn't snowing. Ground is saturated (then frozen solid)

So....Forget March altogether. Hoping for mid April, but that may be wishful thinking. It's not uncommon for us to have corn out of the ground by first week in April. Gonna go out on a limb and say that won't happen this year without an incredible stretch of warm dry weather.

Oh well. We planted 3 to 4 weeks later than average last year (because of rain that wouldn't quit) and had the highest yields we've ever seen. So much for running on a set schedule.
 
You need to watch the soil temps. Can be found for your area online. Corn needs at least 52 degrees to germinate. And Above 65 to avoid stress at emergence.
 
I'd be thrilled with a foot of snow. I can step over my four-foot fence anywhere. Snowshoes are a must, although the warming during the day and freezing at night makes a crust, but it won't hold you. It's been a terrible year for running rabbits. They come out at night, feed, and head back under heavy cover.

Larry
 
I had to haul some hay the other day again. Almost impossible. The big White went through the crust of course,but it was just like sugar under it. No structure to it at all.
 

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