picassomcp
Member
I currently have 50 acres of row crop ground, currently all in soybeans. I also have 60 acres of hay, about 30 acres of that could be row cropped if I wanted to. I am looking for another crop that would go good with hay and soybeans in rotation, I don't really care to grow corn, too expensive, too picky, too much grain to handle, etc. Small grains are an option that I am considering, haven't narrowed down a specific type yet maybe oats? Neighbor says Barley is a great choice? Driving around the countryside here in Central MN, I see lots of small grain fields that look great, but I do see some fields that are laid pretty flat and I about cry for the guy that has to try to pick that stuff up. It scares me so much that I think maybe I shouldn't do small grains. Also, I don't have a combine or a swather and I hate to rely on the next guy to harvest my crop. It seems silly to own a combine for 50 acres. Even if I reduce my hay acres, I would only have 80 acres to combine, still hard to justify.
I'd like to keep my hayfields for 5 years, then rotate. Meanwhile fields not in hay will be soybeans for maybe a couple years, but what could I plant for the next 2-3 years until I am ready to plow up my hayfields and rotate crops? I don't mind buying some more equipment to fit a new crop, but it needs to be justifiable for my small acreage. Any thoughts? Are small grains really that scary?
I'd like to keep my hayfields for 5 years, then rotate. Meanwhile fields not in hay will be soybeans for maybe a couple years, but what could I plant for the next 2-3 years until I am ready to plow up my hayfields and rotate crops? I don't mind buying some more equipment to fit a new crop, but it needs to be justifiable for my small acreage. Any thoughts? Are small grains really that scary?