Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for the  little bit of rain that allowed

the wheat planting to be completed this  past week.

The  last bit of seed left in the drill was just enough to plant into

the Bermuda and mixed grass  hay field next to the house. 

It will be harvested before the grass begins to grow in the spring.

This is commonly called a cover crop. 

Utilizing the manure from our cows to fertilize both crops is

one of  the ongoing sustainable practices down on the 

dairy farm.

 

                                  

                               

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Spring harvest of our wheat crop down on the dairy farm  started this week.

It's a process dependent on timing and weather from start to finish.

You want to cut when there's no chance for rain so it can 

have a little drying time after cutting and it stays dry until it is 

chopped,

hauled from the field to the silo,

and packed  into the pit silo.

                                       I'm thankful for the great weather we've had this week
                                       and for the good wheat crop that our  dairy cows will enjoy
                                                                   through the summer.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

One of my jobs on the dairy farm is to serve as a taxi driver.

I wouldn't really mind it so much if they just wouldn't call and start

with "Are you doing anything right now?"

We're working to get the last of the wheat crop planted before Thanksgiving. 

As I turned into the field on my taxi run, I could smell the dirt as the disc passed over the field.

It was the reminder I needed of how thankful I am to live

 and work with my family of  farmers down on the dairy farm.

                                          "God looked down on the earth he created and said,
                                               "I need a caretaker for this world I have made".
                                                              So God Made A Farmer
                                                                                                    --Paul Harvey

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

We're a little behind on the wheat harvest due to heavy rains last week.

Fortunately, the cooler temperatures kept it from maturing 

too fast while we waited for the soggy fields to dry.

                             
                                             I'm very thankful that the crop is not damaged,
                                              our cows are loving it in their feed ration,
                                                                                and

the family is happy to be working 

to finish the spring harvest.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

The cows are going to love this spring wheat!

Weather permitting, we plan to chop it and put it in the silo.

This allows us a quality forage feed to mix  in the feed 

ration for the cows to enjoy every day.

Harvesting a crop is a process.

First, the wheat will be cut and allowed a day to dry before it

 will be chopped and hauled to the silo.

We hope and pray for good dry weather during the process 

and no mechanical failures.

I know, I know,  I'm asking for a lot!

                                             I'm thankful for a great spring crop and for my
                                                   hardworking farmer husband and sons.

Dairy Spring Green

          Spring brings a wide variety of green colors for us to enjoy. On the dairy farm, I would say                            that the color of a field of spring wheat is one of my favorite shades of green.
                                                       I call it Dairy Spring Green!

 

It's amazing to see a crop grow daily and we are thankful to know that our dairy  cows will have good feed that provides part of their balanced nutritious diet  to produce high-quality milk.

 

 

You can tell that harvest of the spring crop is not too far away

 when you see this other shade of green!

Dairy Farmer Flexibility

Spring harvest for our farm began  Friday when the first field of wheat was mowed by my youngest son Casey.

 After last year's extreme heat and drought that caused poor yield of our hay and corn crops, we are anticipating a great spring crop.   Wheat silage will make a nutritious addition to our dairy cow's diet and is part of our plan in producing high quality milk. Every bit of this spring wheat crop is crucial to the sustainability of our family farm.

When the silage chopper and truck pulled into the field Saturday afternoon, it appeared that everything was working as planned.  After taking a few pictures, I returned home to do my own chores.  When I heard the chopper returning to the shop, I had a sinking feeling that all was not right. Sure enough, major mechanical problems  required shop work the rest of the afternoon.

With the possibility of rain in the forecast, the chopper still broke down  and the importance of harvesting every bit of this wheat, farmer flexibility kicked in.  Instead of chopping the wheat, it would be baled and wrapped. Thank goodness for multi-tasking,flexible farmers!