The Farming Thread

[BotanyBoy]

Finally, the last few days have been hot, humid, and no rain here. I swear you could almost hear the corn grow yesterday.

Sadly the price of "new crop" corn is still way below cost of production. Soybeans the same issue. If these prices continue until fall (again), I may join the ranks of "former farmer."

You can color me- sad.

Man that sounds pretty brutal =\

That sucks man....nothing else you can plant out there?

I know not everything grows well everywhere but there has to be SOME kind of higher value crop you can work where you are at.

 

[kbate]

If current prices hold or continue up due to the flooding, I'll make a few dollars. Sadly this year the soy is the smaller of our two crop fields while the larger is in corn.

We're making second cutting hay in the orchard grass and will be in the timothy and alfalfa next week if the damned rain ever stops. Of course, the minute the last bale comes off the last field, I'll be crying for more rain to help the third cutting grow.

 

[toubab]

The first real money I ever made was for driving a tractor all day during haying season when I was about twelve years old. I was pulling a wagon while men tossed bales of hay onto it to be taken to a barn and stored. Did that over and over again for a full day and got paid three dollars for it. It was a lot of money to me then. It was near my uncle's farm in Kentucky where I was visiting for a couple of weeks over summer vacation.

 

[dirtwrench]

Man that sounds pretty brutal =\

That sucks man....nothing else you can plant out there?

I know not everything grows well everywhere but there has to be SOME kind of higher value crop you can work where you are at.

Oh there is a highly profitable crop known as cannabis. But it is also highly illegal. lol. Cattle prices are good right now, but cannot keep everything afloat.

Oh well. I guess there is always beauty school?

 

[dirtwrench]

If current prices hold or continue up due to the flooding, I'll make a few dollars. Sadly this year the soy is the smaller of our two crop fields while the larger is in corn.

We're making second cutting hay in the orchard grass and will be in the timothy and alfalfa next week if the damned rain ever stops. Of course, the minute the last bale comes off the last field, I'll be crying for more rain to help the third cutting grow.

Second cutting?????? Hell, I would be overjoyed to get the first done! It usually gets done around Memorial Day weekend. This year, no.

I have neighbors who are really good farmers still trying to finish planting soybeans. And there has been NO ONE who has put up any hay that did not get rained on around here.

 

[kbate]

Second cutting?????? Hell, I would be overjoyed to get the first done! It usually gets done around Memorial Day weekend. This year, no.

I have neighbors who are really good farmers still trying to finish planting soybeans. And there has been NO ONE who has put up any hay that did not get rained on around here.

We got our beans planted in Mid May and immediately moved into the orchard grass to make hay.

First cutting came in easily and without feeling a drop of rain.

 

[BotanyBoy]

Oh there is a highly profitable crop known as cannabis. But it is also highly illegal. lol. Cattle prices are good right now, but cannot keep everything afloat.

Oh well. I guess there is always beauty school?

Ehhh legalization will end that here pretty soon....the profitability anyhow.

Bro's with 100g's and other political hook up only are getting the OK. It's totally crony as fuck.

I grow my own but I'm staying away from the commercial shit show....too much hassle.

Do alright with nuts and berries....I get my 6 medical plants which give me a great stash every year and I'm just fine chugging along like that. I'm also expanding a bit into new areas, doing ornamental trees and night crawlers. Easy, low maintenance/space and high value if you're patient. All local stuff...and the worms even do work for you, get a bunch of fertilizer back. I sell my excess down at the local grow shops 20$/1cf.

I'm also thinking about getting into aquaponics....DWC rafts for some snazzy leafy greens and ebb/flow beds for herbs.

IDK just some ideas...

 

[kbate]

Second cutting?????? Hell, I would be overjoyed to get the first done! It usually gets done around Memorial Day weekend. This year, no.

I have neighbors who are really good farmers still trying to finish planting soybeans. And there has been NO ONE who has put up any hay that did not get rained on around here.

And fuck you, your damned rain and my damned wet hay.

I almost feel better.

 

[dirtwrench]

And fuck you, your damned rain and my damned wet hay.

I almost feel better.

LOL, there is that snark I was expecting.

Well first cutting is finally done. The backup baler man showed up at 5:35 this afternoon to do what primary baler man had planned to do at 1:00. Just when he and I thought we could get first cutting finally done- he broke down. Waiting for parts in the morning. We each called in a backup guy and mine is done.

And no rain on this last field of mine.

 

[trysail]

The corn (maize) really was "as high as an elephant's eye" at the end of June.


It was all easily 4½-5 feet high as I rode through the fields Monday.



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[dirtwrench]

The corn (maize) really was "as high as an elephant's eye" at the end of June.


It was all easily 4½-5 feet high as I rode through the fields Monday.



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Mine too Trysail. I was hauling in hay bales today and stopped to measure the corn. I am 5'8" and it was just about the same height as me. Around here the old (really, really old) saying was "knee high by the 4th of July." Got that shit beat! My soybeans are almost to my knees.

 

[mark_j]

Well first cutting is finally done. The backup baler man showed up at 5:35 this afternoon to do what primary baler man had planned to do at 1:00. Just when he and I thought we could get first cutting finally done- he broke down. Waiting for parts in the morning. We each called in a backup guy and mine is done.

And no rain on this last field of mine.

Doesn't look like I'm gonna get a second cut this year. Fields dried out too fast and unless I get about a weeks worth of good rain it looks like I'm done for hay..

Too bad really.. would have liked to fine tune the bailer this year. She sure didn't run as smooth this time around..

 

[kbate]

My farm worker about quit over my cuntery while baling the timothy.

Me: "Crank that handle down, these are too light."

him: "ok"

later when unloading:

me: "These fucking bales are too heavy, we're giving it away free."

him: "..................."

me: "what did you call me?"

 

[Ishmael]

My farm worker about quit over my cuntery while baling the timothy.

Me: "Crank that handle down, these are too light."

him: "ok"

later when unloading:

me: "These fucking bales are too heavy, we're giving it away free."

him: "..................."

me: "what did you call me?"

I bet if you owned a bar you'd water the liquor. Capitalist bitch. *chuckle*

Ishmael

 

[dirtwrench]

Time to bring this thread back to life. Or at least try.

It's harvest time. YEA !!! Time to hurry up getting the combine to the field, then wait for the beans to dry enough to run. Time to wonder "Should I switch over to corn? Can't run beans for a few days..." Time to get the calves all weaned, the butcher calves off to the locker, making the last of the hay, meeting myself coming and going.

Dam I love this shit. Now if only the prices would jump about $1.50 on both corn and soybeans...

 

[ishtat]

I bet if you owned a bar you'd water the liquor. Capitalist bitch. *chuckle*

Ishmael

Nah. More likely she'd liquor the water.

 

[trysail]

I took the opportunity whilst riding through the fields this week to look at the corn (maize) and soybeans that now stand unharvested. I actually went so far as to bring an ear of shucked corn home along with some soybeans.

The maize is virtually desiccated and hard as a rock. I've hung that ear on my front door as a fall decoration.

I'd never closely examined ripe soybeans before. It appears that every pod contains three beans (the seeds, of course). They look like little white eyeballs. I might try planting them come spring. According to the Wiki, they're not native to North America and were originally imported in the 18th century. It is an enormously versatile plant and has been called "the miracle bean."

The Wikipedia article seems well-written and quite informative:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soybean
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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Soybean.USDA.jpg/220px-Soybean.USDA.jpg
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[chillywilly2]

Are the farmers going to start complaining again?


I had a great crop this year, very happy with my little garden

 

[dirtwrench]

Are the farmers going to start complaining again?


I had a great crop this year, very happy with my little garden

Start complaining? I will have you know sir that a real farmer never stops complaining. Or at least it's like that around here.

As I have pointed out to my friends and family, I will never make it as a real farmer. I prefer to be in the shop working on something rather than spending my time in the coffee shop whining about everything.

Or hanging out around here enjoying the scenery.

 

[nymph817]

I think there are some farmers around here.

Perhaps they would like a thread of their own. As for me, I'd like a place where I could occasionally throw a few questions in their direction.

My sister is an accomplished farmer, Sail. She has a farm way out in the country. I visit her there about once a month.

 

[Riles]

Start complaining? I will have you know sir that a real farmer never stops complaining. Or at least it's like that around here.

As I have pointed out to my friends and family, I will never make it as a real farmer. I prefer to be in the shop working on something rather than spending my time in the coffee shop whining about everything.

Or hanging out around here enjoying the scenery.

It must be a different world of farming in Iowa, the only time farmers up here are sitting around for coffee is on auction days and funerals.

 

[kbate]

Start complaining? I will have you know sir that a real farmer never stops complaining. Or at least it's like that around here.

As I have pointed out to my friends and family, I will never make it as a real farmer. I prefer to be in the shop working on something rather than spending my time in the coffee shop whining about everything.

Or hanging out around here enjoying the scenery.

Sir, I still say fuck you and your damned rain. Yep, it's your fault.

Most of my corn is in, but the 9-12 inches of rain we just had stopped the harvest in its tracks. The last field has to dry again before we can cut.

Beans are just sitting. Might have to leave them until November since the guy who combines for me is going to be on corn for an additional two to three weeks now.

Might get a 4th cutting from Alfalfa, will be thin, but even 50 or 75 bales is worth the time.

 

[dirtwrench]

Kbate, I am so happy to know rainy weather has finally fucked up your year. It warms my heart knowing that you too have to deal with late harvests, mud, days it is impossible to accomplish anything. Thank you so much for your post.


Just to add a wee bit of salt- it has been lovely here last few days. Tomorrow the usually unreliable weatherman says a high in the 80's and a slight breeze.


Oh, and my corn, which the price is in the fucking gutter, is standing tall in the field. Letting mothernature dry it a bit more.(19-19.5% Friday when I ran a sample to the local elevator to test against my own moisture tester) My beans actually look like I may be able to start running them Monday. No point in hurrying out there to combine if you have to pay drying costs.

 

[trysail]

http://assets.bwbx.io/images/iVujTLtJxrVk/v1/-1x-1.png



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[dirtwrench]

Trysail, did you ever get your corn and soybeans harvested?

I finished up Nov 8. Was a very long, irritating harvest this year for me. Nothing but bad luck and breakdowns. Yields were good for both here.

To all, Wishing you a very happy new year. May the weather work in your favor and the days in the field be a true joy.