83 Degrees A Year Ago

I heard on my morning meditation radio channel it was 83 degrees F. a year ago in Cincinnati.  I remember we were planting corn and wondering if we were crazy.  We had record early sweet corn in June and the field corn made more bushels than the same hybrids planted a month later in April and another month later in May.  Many farmers said their May corn was best but ours was not.

There is a lot to put together in a farming plan.  We were not set to go a  year ago, it caught us off guard.  We planted enough to know whether it was right or wrong.  April was better but most of our acres were planted in May and that was the lowest yielding of the 3 plantings.  We had enough good early yields to offset the lower yielding late planted.

You have to know when it is right to plant or not.  Most plant when the planter is ready or the seed comes in or its the time they traditionally plant and the conditions are right.  I never could do that.  I have always in my life wanted to plant seed the first day it seemed feasible.  I can honestly say my hunch has never been far off.  It pays to be ready.

It looks like we have prolonged winter in the east this year.  That is good for me.  Last year was partially emotional turmoil and that is not good.  I can second guess myself too easily.

I am getting more email on subjects like this, structured water, and a whole bunch of things.  I can barely keep up.  It is fit to plant in a few areas of the country and a few farmers are asking me if it is right or not.  I can only offer my experience.  That falls short in other locations but I have learned to ask good questions.

What is your major goal this year?  It's always to raise better crops and make more money but how do you do that?  We discuss that every day on HyMark Highspots.  Go look at past readings.  There is some really good some stuff in there I am a little proud of.  Gypsum, cover crops, even no till is new to many readers.  Add in Calcium nitrate, SAP testing and we get complicated rather quickly.  Keep posting your comments and sending your email.

We answer them one farmer at a time.

I love this picture at Myron Verdier's in Shelby County 7 years ago.  The planter is set up correctly for no tilling corn into soybeans and the soil is right.  I would like to do that month earlier to catch more sunshine if conditions are right.

I have pictures to share of the brick room underneath the kitchen where they hid the slaves coming through when I get time.  I wish I could afford to build a stairway into there, it is blocked off from the rest of this old house.

Ed