Weather and Farmers

                              

                     If you have ever been involved in farming, related to a farmer

                    or know a farmer, you know that weather is a big topic of 

                     discussion especially  when planning how to harvest a crop.

                 We listen to the weather reports morning, noon and night

                        and I  have learned (the hard way) that you do not talk to

                                      the farmer during the weather report.

                 

                           We've been waiting  for "the just right weather" to begin 

                                               these last days of fall harvest.  

                                After the three inch rain last week, the ground has

                       finally dried enough to begin  the last cutting of the hay crop.

This part of the acreage is being dry baled so an extra

day was required to allow it to dry before being baled.

The other part of this fall hay  harvest was baled and wrapped.

These bales will ferment and be used as silage in the 

feed ration for the dairy cows. 

Wrapping hay is often a great way to save a hay crop

from unpredictable weather. You might say it's one of the 

tools in the farmer's weather tool box!

It's time now to catch the next weather forecast!

Fall Blessings

Although the farm work has not slowed down these first few 

days of fall, it has brought us that big sigh of relief  as we reached

into the closet for our long sleeve shirts  and hoodies with cooler

temperatures and less humidity.  On top of that, it rained three inches!

Talk about fall blessings!

With little rain through the summer and the stunted growth of the 

millet crop due to those nasty army worms, it was decided to harvest

 the crop when the rain was over. We were pleasantly surprised 

at the number of bales that were harvested.

These wrapped bales are actually making  fermented silage in a bag

that  will be fed to the dairy cows in their  balanced 

nutritional ration. 

Taking samples of silage and dry hay is part of 

the process to know the quality and types of nutrients 

provided for the feed ration.

My job was to patch the holes once the silage sample was

removed.  It was the easy job for sure!

We've also been welcoming new dairy  calves to the farm.

And at the end of the day,

                                             I am reminded of the simple blessings  we enjoy

                           and often take for granted during fall down  on the dairy farm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

We were happy to see Gittlein's custom chopper pull into the first corn field yesterday. 

Harvesting of any crop is a big deal but our corn crop is especially

 important to our dairy cows diet   through the winter and early spring.

All the corn we raise is chopped and hauled from the field to the 

silo on the dairy farm.The chopped corn will go through a

 fermenting process and become the silage that our  dairy cows 

will enjoy eating with other grains and hay.

It was my good fortune to be offered a ride around the field 

with my oldest son Cody.This was our view  of the chopper as 

we drove down the field side by side so the corn could be

 blown from the chopper into the truck.

With three trucks running to haul the corn to the silo,

it gave us opportunity to catch up on a little mother-son communication

 as we waited for our turn to pull up to the chopper.

                                              I'm thankful for the harvest of a good corn crop,
                                      the unexpected opportunities to spend time with my family,
                                                                                  and

                                                           
                                                     to share  life down on the dairy farm
                                                              with multiple generations.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

When I saw Casey riding on the back of the square baler, I couldn't resist

 calling him to ask if he was just joy riding around the field.  I was lucky 

he didn't hang up on me but he nicely explained that he was making 

sure the bales kicked out so Cody wouldn't have to stop baling and 

correct the problem that had been discovered earlier.

It was the first time the small square baler has been used this year and 

we were fortunate that the mechanical problem was an easy fix.

We appreciate problems easily repaired!

I'm thankful for the way our sons can work together,  

for the cow that calved easily and waited for us at the gate,

and 

                                                  for the sweetest Halloween visitor that
                                          brings new meaning to "there's no place like home"!
                                       

Fall Harvest

Even though we had our first freeze of the season, we're still working

 to finish cutting hay in a few fields. 

It will take a few days of drying before it's ready to bale but it 

will still be good quality hay  that we can feed this winter.

                                Brown fields with a hint of green underneath are signs of the fall
                                season and also a reminder of how close we are to celebrating
                                the end of harvest for this year's crops down on the dairy farm.
                                                          Bring on the hot chocolate!
                             

Rolling Up October

We're rolling up October in the hay field.

Even though we haven't had a killing frost yet, 

the grass has stopped growing and much of it has already

 turned pale green or brown due to  the seasonal changes but

 it can still be harvested for feeding our beef and dairy cattle.

                                                                     
                                   After rolling up  the hay from this field, we will apply
                                 a measured amount of cow manure (what we call nutrient)
                                                                 to fertilize the field.

                                     Nutrient management plans guide the amount,source,
                                              placement and timing of manure on fields.

                                     Rolling up October  is a sustainability  win for the
                                                 environment and  the dairy  farmer.

                                 

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Harvesting any crop can be challenging  but it seemed totally unfair 

with six or seven loads of silage  left in the field that we had a mechanical 

failure that caused a halt to finishing the job.  

Of course the entire chopper head had to be dismantled to 

find the one broken bolt that created all the problems. 

It was definitely a day of celebration when all the parts were 

back on the chopper and it made it's return journey to the field.

I'm thankful for the working relationship between brothers 

and father to keep the wheels rolling everyday down on the dairy farm.

                            I know just what Paul Harvey meant when he wrote that poem
                                                          "So God Made a Farmer."

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Harvesting any crop can be challenging  but it seemed totally unfair 

with six or seven loads of silage  left in the field that we had a mechanical 

failure that caused a halt to finishing the job.  

Of course the entire chopper head had to be dismantled to 

find the one broken bolt that created all the problems. 

It was definitely a day of celebration when all the parts were 

back on the chopper and it made it's return journey to the field.

I'm thankful for the working relationship between brothers 

and father to keep the wheels rolling everyday down on the dairy farm.

                               I know just what Paul Harvey meant when he wrote that poem
                                                          "So God Made a Farmer."

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

                                                         Happy Fall,Y'all!

                                                        

                                        I love these seasonal transitions down on the dairy farm.

                                          Even though  there's a little bit of farmer frenzy as they

                                   work to finish harvesting the hay and silage crops before winter,

                                                   

                                              I'm thankful for the abundance of hay that will

                                                     feed our cows and calves this winter,

the cooler weather for our calves,

and

                                         the beauty of summer flowers that brighten the fall days.

Happy Harvest

A lot happens from the beginning of harvest until the last load of chopped sorghum  crop is on the way to the silo. Weather changes  and mechanical challenges are constant  reminders of the need for a dairy  farmer to find his happy button and bucket of patience.  Weather conditions definitely stood out on Saturday afternoon as the last round was made by the chopper for  the 2014  harvest season. 

 When we began harvest, the days were longer and much warmer--at least 40 degrees warmer!

Although freezing temperatures over the last couple of weeks   changed the sorghum from green to brown, 

it will still make great nutritional silage for our dairy cows to enjoy this winter.

With the prediction of snow and colder temperatures, 

I'm pretty sure the chopper is happy to head to the shed 

 and settle in for a long winter's nap!

Happy Harvest from down on the Arkansas  dairy farm!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Fall harvest is always an amazing time on the dairy farm. I consider the perfect timing and coordination between the chopper operator and the truck driver to be a form of harvest art.

It does pay to stay alert at all times unless you want a cab full of chopped crop!

                                 I'm thankful for the opportunity to live on an Arkansas  dairy farm,
                                    raise crops for our cows to enjoy and work everyday with
                                            my family to produce wholesome,nutritious milk.

Harvest Wrap-Up

 

We've been enjoying great weather as fall harvest wraps up.   Even though it has frosted and  the days are cooler and shorter, hay can still be cut, baled and wrapped to make silage bales.  

 

 

Today's hay wrapping is  a great example of teamwork that happens on the dairy farm everyday.

Cody baled the hay, Casey moved it from the field onto the wrapper, and

 

 

 

Ryan and his dog supervised!

Harvest wrap-up activities are a part of our  commitment to providing high-quality milk by making sure our cows have nutritious feed. 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvest Harmony Down on the Dairy Farm

Watching the boys chop the silage for our dairy cows when everything goes well  is much like listening to three part harmony--it's harmonious!

 

Harvest harmony includes:

 

 

Crisp,cool October weather,

 

 

No machinery breakdowns,

 

Perfect delivery!

 

Three part harvest harmony results in high quality milk!

Sunday's Harvest Cake

I decided after this week of perfect October weather down on the dairy farm, it must be time to fill the kitchen with the aroma of fall. After flipping through a shelf full of recipe books,  I found  Fall Harvest Cake in Sassafras, The Ozarks Cookbook from the Junior League of Springfield, Missouri.  It seemed to be the perfect fall  recipe  choice  with ingredients of pumpkin, apple and cinnamon!


Fall Harvest Cake

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger (optional)

1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 eggs
2 cups flour,sifted
1 16 oz. can pumpkin
1 large apple, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup nuts,chopped

ICING
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar,sifted
1/2 cup butter,softened
1 8-ounce package cream cheese,softened
2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease and flour a Bundt pan. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix sugars, cinnamon, soda, salt, nutmeg, ginger, oil, vanilla, and eggs. Add flour 1/2 cup at a time, beating after each addition. Mix  in pumpkin. Stir in apple and nuts by hand. Pour into prepared Bundt pan. Bake 70 minutes. Cool 20-25 minutes. Remove from pan and spread with icing prepared by blending all ingredients until smooth. Store in refrigerator. Serves 12.

 

I'm pretty sure a  slice of this cake with a big dip of vanilla ice cream

 will be a perfect harvest treat down on the dairy farm!

 

Happy Sunday!

Season of Thanksgiving

After last week's freezing temperatures, I'm sure this is probably the last rose of summer in my garden. It's a perfect reminder of God's faithfulness  in bringing each season for us to enjoy. As summer becomes a memory, we're enjoying the harvest of crops and the anticipation of winter rest to prepare for spring growth. I find thanksgiving in each season.

 

 

The second verse of the old hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness says it all:

 

Summer and winter,

and springtime and harvest,

Sun,moon,and stars in their

courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness,mercy and love.

 

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.

Great is Thy faithfulness,

Lord,unto me!

                                                                                 
                               Blessings to you and your family in this season of Thanksgiving!

Harvest Round-Up

This year's drought has created a severe shortage of hay and pasture grass for our dairy cows and calves. Harvesting every bit of hay available is vital to our farm.  With the weather man predicting a hard freeze and the chance of rain, we seemed to be going in every direction to complete the hay baling and crop planting last week. I knew oldest son  Cody was desperate when he asked if I could help him get the bales loaded on the trailer in the field.

 

 My job was to drive the tractor and trailer to each group of bales in the field so that he could load them on the trailer.

 

 

 In the olden days (that would be before I married the dairy farmer), small square bales were picked up by hand and thrown onto a truck and stacked. It was then the hay crew's job to unload them by hand and stack them in the big hay barn.  I have a great appreciation for modern machinery when I think about hauling hay by hand in 100 degree weather!

 

As you can see, these bales are loaded by a skid loader with a grapple and stacked on the trailer.

 

 

Once the trailer was full, the hay was taken to the feed barn for storage.

 

 

I love watching Cody unload  and stack the bales --every move is made with precision!

I was also feeling pretty proud--he smiled really big and thanked me for my help!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

                                                                                
    Even though we desperately need rain and  would welcome  it,  I'm thankful for the   beautiful fall days  that are allowing us to harvest hay and  plant fall crops of wheat and rye that  will be used to  feed our dairy cows.

                                                                  

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

Fall is a busy time on the dairy farm as we work to harvest every bit of grass and planted crops that are used to feed our dairy cows.

 

Although we would be so grateful for fall rain to replenish our drought striken area, I'm thankful for the beautiful weather that has allowed us to harvest the crops that are desperately needed.

 

 

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

We've  been baling and wrapping hay this week that will be used to feed our dairy cows. Even though drought has severly affected the amount of hay for harvest, I'm thankful  for every bale that is harvested and for these two sons that work diligently every day on our family farm.  

Scouting Naughty Armyworms

Just before we received our first inch of rain in the midst of our exceptional drought, our tractors and seed planting equipment were kicking up the dust planting haygrazer and millet seed in hope of growing a desperately needed fall forage crop. Thankfully, we have received enough rain to green up the pastures and the newly planted crops are growing. Now we are facing another challenge--those naughty fall armyworms! With a little moisture,warm temperatures and humidity, fall armyworms  have been reported in Northwest Arkansas. Besides being extremely naughty in devastating a crop or pasture, they are also ugly to look at!

According to the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, fall armyworms are one of the most devastating pests of pastures,hayfields and crops with damage appearing almost overnight. Here are a few armyworm scouting tips:

• Diligently scout pastures,hayfields and cropland by examining at least 10 one square foot samples at random across the field.
• Include a few samples in areas of abundant growth because this is where female armyworm moths prefer to lay eggs.
• Chemical control is needed when 3 or more worms per square foot are found. If chemical control is necessary, there are a number of insecticides available for control. It's important to read label instructions before purchasing and follow harvesting and grazing restrictions.

 

As we drove from pasture to crop fields Friday night scouting for those naughty armyworms, I couldn't help but feel like I was on the look-out for a desperate criminal that's out to steal our crop. Exceptional drought continues to provide plenty of challenge as we're scouting for those naughty armyworms!