Farmin' 2

[DMenscha]

My grandfather was a tenant farmer and raised potatoes around the edges of the Van Nuys airport when I was 4 or 5. He wanted me to farm like he did, and he would sit me on his lap while he plowed the fields. All I remember is the aircraft flying by and I think from that point on I wanted to be a pilot. (which I did).

He also raised chrysanthemums on a 40 acre parcel on Sepulveda Blvd. in the SF Valley.

Fond memories.

[Fontucky]

Wow... taters in the Valley. You're OLD.

[.highnlite]

Originally Posted by TrueTimbers

Or climate change..

Your winter rains have been starting awful late the past few years yes? Falls seem to last longer, possibly that has to do with the calves coming early?...
-----------

Hmmm, field is looking good... Thats what I like to see nice mold-boarded rows....

Tis true, drier falls, later rains. the rows look good. I suspect Monday we will see planting. Although today there are a bunch of workmen at the well pump.

[TrueTimbers]

Get any planting done yet?

[.highnlite]

yes, 5 acres were planted the other day. I have not taken a photo as the field is muddy, and I am leaving town this am for a backcountry horse trip, so no photos till next week. The process of planting is interesting, largely automated.

A truck from the greenhouse comes in loaded with trays of plugs. The trays are put into a mount on the tractor and as the tractor moves down the field the fancy mount and plant system takes the plugs and sticks them in the ground..

the rain we had will help the little guys get started.

[Capt. Dan]

Originally Posted by .highnlite

The next step after deep ripping is to fine till using a disk plow, Took 4 days after the rain for the field to dry enough to run the tractor. Disking uses a much smaller tractor, a rubber track layer.

We use alot of "no till" farming here in West Tennessee.