The summer rain cycle ended a bit later than normal (yea right, normal weather, sure!).
In mid October we had almost no hay in the barn. I crossed my fingers and cut one hay field. That was immediately followed by just over six inches of rain in a week.
The rain stopped and I doubled my bet, cutting a second field and just let the first lay there and attempt to dry out.I set the rake to tedder mode (just to toss the hay around without putting it in a windrow) and fluffed up the rained on hay. Then raked up the fresh cut hay. Then baled it all up, about 125 small square bales from each field.
The we went to work on the planting.
I plowed up about an acre. It got disked and run over with a spring tooth harrow and made into a smooth seed bed. I broadcast both winter rye and Rye grass (Gulf) separately then ran the drag over it.
Another acre just got torn up with the spring tooth harrow and seeded the same way.
The idea is to see if the extra work of plowing is justified by the resulting growth.The cooler dry weather continued through last week when the last hay field was cut, raked, baled and put up. The barn is nearly full.
2 comments:
In mid October we had almost no hay in the barn. I crossed my fingers and cut one hay field. That was immediately followed by just over six inches of rain in a week.
With that much rain on it do you think there will still be any nutritive value left in the hay?
I planted a little winter forage myself - a mix of grain rye, oats, wheat, and mustard - for my hen flocks. Getting frost two week early through the plan off somewhat, but it's putting on some good growth.
.....Alan.
I've really enjoyed reading some of your past posts. Even though we don't live on a farm anymore, I think the farm gene still lives in me. Most made me nostalgic for the aggie life, but alas, my 'aggie' husband seems not to have the aggie gene. Pictures of your 'girls and their roosters made me particularly nostalgic. We had one small flock of banty chickens who preferred not to keep company with the other families and thus were lost to a marauding owl one fall. I loved farming in Maine and Massachusetts, but after 25 years in Florida I'm still not turned around inside enough to get the planting times right.
Keep up the good work.. Its like farming vicariously through you. Besides at this age, this is the only farming I'm apt to do! So - Thanks!!
Linda in Florida
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