small seed planting

Had to comment on the post from yesterday,, I was not talking out my rear on my comments, I guess I just have better drills than others as my seed mix stays mixed throught out planting, I worked for 20 years at the local road and bridge and one of my jobs was reseeding when we rebuilt a road, always used mixed seeds, crested wheat grass brome and sweet clover was the mix they used, I can take you down all the roads I seeded today they are all even in the stands, always was, as for planting deep that works just fine too, Here in NE Wyoming we do not get moisture like many of you do, we average 14-16" that includes snow, if I got the rain many of you get I could just throw the seed on the ground and watch it grow,, that does not happen here, I plant it deep for a number of reasons one is to be able to plant alfalfa in very early spring long before the last hard freeze to be able for it to use the early H20 we normally get to get it well established and rooted. I know I was told growing up that would not work but work it does, my hay fields when they get H20 produce 2-3 tons per acre hay, and yes we only get one crop, that average is twice the County average so I guess my system does work. I also use double disc press drills something most folks have never even seen in other areas. My grain crops also produce well above the average here. Do not be so quick to slam someone for how they do something just because it is different than what you have always done. you may not be near as know'ed up as you think you are as different areas require a different approach. Is my way the only way Heck No its not but it is what works best for my area and ground. I was just telling what works for me, I have got the same response form people here and then they see how my way works for me, I will say it takes a lot more than just spreading speeds out here and harrowing them in to get a stand like I do, now Sure it may work if we have a super wet year which we get maybe once or twice in tens years or so,, but my way works every time, I have also tested planting spring grains in the fall, I planted in the first of November, late enough the ground temps kept the grain from sprouting till the ground warmed in the spring, did it work well yes and no, the stand was fantastic and stooled very well, but I do not spray for weed control so I did have a good batch of winter weeds and the ground that year crusted a bit more than I like. To close up I have been at this on this place since 1969 so it is not my first rodeo and I will refrain from commenting on such posts as there seems to be so much knowledge here my opinion is not needed anyway, I did get a real good chuckle from the comments as its not the first time I have been called crazy even though it was done on the sly,, have a great day all and good luck with fall harvest
cnt

Well said CN, as there are many ways to "skin a cat". Thanks for taking the time to explain in detail your points.
Jim B

Your right, different areas require different ways of planting. I planted alfalfa this spring but the wet weather required me to spread it on top of ground with the 4 wheeler and a small seeder. I got a real good stand. This forum allows us to see differ ways people do things. Sure do like the pictures you post, especially the antelope!

I plant a a lot of deer plots here in Virginia and usually jut mix whatever I'm going to plant with fertilizer and broadcast it all together, like to set the rate so I go over it twice.
Then run an old disk over it lightly with the disk set not to cut,then the key element is to run a cultipacker over the plot several times.Almost always get a good even stand.With Crimson Clover no need to really do anything but just broadcast the seed it'll take hold about anywhere including grassy areas not even torn up.

Meant to add you're exactly right that seeding and all farming methods need to be tailored to the area you're located and also as you say having a lot of rain makes for easier seeding.

I'd like to poke the 'like' button! I totally agree!

Very well said.

Funny how some get labeled as crazy then a few years later when the results speak for themselves we get upgraded to innovative.

What works for one person in one field in one area may or may not work for the next person in the next field or area.

Being open to experiment is the way those with the desire to advance do so.

And every thing I posted about the way to do it except using a spike tooth harrow instead of the drag chains comes out of the drill owners manual, not just my opoinion but what John Deere and McCormick said is the way to do it. And they built the drills. Now for in the dryland areas they built different machinery than they built for most of the country.

The geographical area in which the participants here spans North America, as well as much of the globe. Means and methods are always going to vary. Around here, every field will vary. I think that is the simplest way to put it.

I've done lots of small grains, grasses in years past, and worked with a farmer that knew how to get some of the best stands of hay, alfalfa and grain crops in this area. He developed his methods over time, but started when he was young. Even his father questioned what he did, as he told me when he first invested in a JD 420 and JD tow behind combine for his and custom work He proved people wrong by doing, paid off his debts and knew how to work this area as best can be done. Take that somewhere else, it may not work well or at all. His hay fields were planted with grain crops and the stands are the best I have seen. Not many hay fields are maintained or nurtured like his were, to this day. I learned a lot from him and think of him every time I walk into our fields.

The way I see it, you have to start off with what is typical for your area, then experiment with means and methods to see what you can improve, or what will not do so well, in both scenarios, knowledge is gained and that is how my long time friend did things. He also changed with the times where it made sense,but some of his methods were timeless and re-inventing the wheel just makes no sense.