Corn done 2013....

Finished corn at 11pm May 24 planting the last 9 acres in a nice rain shower that wasn't supposed to come until 4am. At the time we had corn in v2-v3 and also some still in the bag. Going to be an interesting fall. The forecast does not seem to indicate we need to move hard on getting ready for beans... Rain chances everyday and night for the next week.

At least we got 60 big squares of rye baled and wrapped and got started chopping and the bag is started. I like to call the last photo "The Classics" as it shows a couple old machines pulling their weight as much as the new ones.

A big responsibility!

Time to put in the sweet corn. This is the first time the chief has trusted me to operate the planter so it warranted a rare pic of me with the planting crew. Trust me, he kept a close eye on my performance. Actually I might have run the old planter back in the late 80's using the Oliver 1655 to pull it, I think I backed up and filled the shoe openers with soil once, I suppose that close observation of my techniques is needed.

Protect the apples!

Last year a frost killed all the apple blossoms and we got zero production. Fortunate that the ranchess worked hard in 2011 to put up many in the freezer so we still enjoy the occasional applecrisp. These boys are protecting the trees in full bloom so we get a good crop. Good looking boys and blossoms.

Spring challenges 2013

Here Simon and I loaded a neighbors wagon with ryelage. Simon is kicking it in his boots in the skidloader. This spring has been tough. Pastures are slow getting going, that is why the neighbor needed feed. Guys can't bale spring cornstalks for bedding because it is wet. Interesting experience I guess and it will be good for telling stories in the future.

Corn progress

Planted this last week of April. Seed germ by May 4. Sprouting good in second pic May 10. Out of the ground and pretty yellow May 13. Still looks a bit yellow with all the rain and cool temps.

All work....

And no play makes for dull times....

To wet to work but not to burn. The Chief is an expert at controlled burns and this one went great. This was a couple weeks ago and it is already green and growing.

RIO

My daughter asked me who named this calf Rio? It took me a couple minutes to grasp her logic.

Calf crop

This is most of our 2013 calf crop. About half done, the rest will be strung out into the late summer. Despite the wet and cold conditions they look pretty good.

The chicks sure have grown the last couple weeks. They put weight on fast.

May 2013 snowstorm

A bit of a change here. 80 one day and 33 the next. We didnt get a lot of snow accumulation but a lot of cold rain. Soil temp was over 60 a couple days ago today closer to 40. Special rain gear is needed in such conditions as "Outback Jack" shows us here. It made the cows laugh, they have been a bit gloomy with all the mud.

Look who is driving.

Harrison is behind the wheel. It is great he can drive the truck across the fields to help out.

Field work 2013 continued

This work was done on April 26 and 27.  Lighter ground worked up great, 4 jnch soil temps around 55 and rising.

This is a big one

There are bigger rocks out there but this one lost the battle.