As you know it was my week to cook last week, and let me tell you it was intense. I was ready for a break when the end of the week rolled around.
Last week my nephew decided he really liked my steak sandwich. Or at least he claims he did, he really just loves steak, so maybe any sandwich with “steak” in the name is good to him.
Now, on to planting.
It has been a slow going process but we finally were able to get our equipment in the field and we have reached the half way mark!
It has been a slow going process but we finally were able to get our equipment in the field and we have reached the half way mark!
To begin the planting process in the field we first begin by spraying the soil with an herbicide. The herbicide will prevent grass from growing in our crops. For some reason my picture of the sprayer didn’t turn out, but this picture off the internet can give you an idea of what our sprayer looks like when it sprays.
http://www.ebarkers.com/jd-4930sprayer.htm |
Next up in the planting process- the field cultivator. We use the field cultivator to basically level out the soil and help mix our herbicide that we sprayed more evenly across the soil. Jason tends to do the field cultivating.
In case the field is too wet to get the sprayer in, we sometimes put the herbicide into the big yellow jug on the front of this tractor. Then we can spray while we are field cultivating.
And finally…The planter. Our corn planter was new last year, so this is its second year in the stretch. Our planter plants 24 rows at one time. Brad is our corn planter.
The arm in the air, on it’s way down, helps to mark the field so Brad knows where he has already planted. |
We fill the bins on the corn planter with seed and then it is evenly distributed into the part that actually puts the seed into the ground.
Filling the planter with seed. |
Where the seed makes it way to and is then dropped in the ground. |
It’s kind of exciting to think about planting new life, but even more exciting to watch it grow, and a bittersweet moment to harvest it at the end of the year.
The process reminds me of my garden. We leveled out the soil (field cultivated). I am bouncing all sorts of ideas around in my mind for weed control (herbicide application). And finally, once we get a good stretch of no rain, I will plant my seeds (planter). I will spend the summer watching them grow, just like our crops, and then spend the end of summer and early fall harvesting my crops.
ann says
Good read. Glad you are planting. got in last night and today. We dodged some big rains. Hope it just doesn’t stop like last year. Eight weeks was a long time with no rain. Will work on recipes.
ann says
By the way love those two little boys on your header.
SDFarmWife says
Ann…I am glad you were able to get into the fields..especially since everyone I talk to in Indy keeps going on and on about the rain! And the two boys in the header are our two nephews. They are quite the characters I can assure you!