We're back. It was an extremely busy summer and something had to give and it was the blog. There are days when you wonder how you will get through all that needs to be done but it always seems to work out.
We are now in full fall mode. Jim and Eileen are both back at college. I drove out to Iowa with Jim and flew back. We spent a few days touring equipment dealers looking for a combined corn and soybean planter. Iowa agriculture is certainly on a grander scale than New York.
Mary has really gotten into running. She and Jim did the 15K Boilermaker in Utica for the second year. They are with a group that promotes beef in the race and have pretty nifty beef running shirts. Mary has been training hard for a half marathon. She's pretty amazing.
We are finished haying and glad to be done. Mary mentioned that she saw more of Jim and I during haying this year than usual. I told her it was because the balers were actually working this year and we weren't messing around fixing them. We now have a New Holland square baler and a Kuhn round baler and I'd recommend them to anyone who would listen.We took three full cuttings and could do a fourth if we wanted. I feel it's better to let the plant rest and get its reserves in place for the winter. The hay was excellent and we have all that we need for the winter. We started feeding some baleage to supplement the pastures on September 10.
We have planted forage radishes again on our conservation area. This is ground that we are trying to restore to fertility after a previous owner sold he top soil. I inter seeded them with winter rye and clover. We'll take the rye for straw in the spring and see if we can plant something then with economic value.
The soybeans have grown very well and are now losing their leaves and drying down for harvest. We are hoping for an excellent harvest but lots can go wrong between now and when they are in the truck heading for the bin.
The cattle are also doing well. We delivered two steers last week to one of good customers. We also have several other steers coming along so that we should be able to keep up with meat orders.
We have added two Boer goats to the farm. They are presently living in the barn until I am satisfied that they think this is where they live. Then they will head out on the pasture to follow the cattle eating the leftover plants.
I went last Sunday with our Beef group to tour the Genex facility in Ithaca. They showed us the entire process of semen collection and preparation for distribution. They now have the ability to distribute the semen by sex. It was an amazing contrast of the virile bull and high technology.
Things have been pretty quiet in town. No major issues to be decided in the diner. The barber is still standing behind his work. Two of my friends have been battling some serious health issues. Our hopes and prayers are with them.
We are now in full fall mode. Jim and Eileen are both back at college. I drove out to Iowa with Jim and flew back. We spent a few days touring equipment dealers looking for a combined corn and soybean planter. Iowa agriculture is certainly on a grander scale than New York.
Mary has really gotten into running. She and Jim did the 15K Boilermaker in Utica for the second year. They are with a group that promotes beef in the race and have pretty nifty beef running shirts. Mary has been training hard for a half marathon. She's pretty amazing.
We are finished haying and glad to be done. Mary mentioned that she saw more of Jim and I during haying this year than usual. I told her it was because the balers were actually working this year and we weren't messing around fixing them. We now have a New Holland square baler and a Kuhn round baler and I'd recommend them to anyone who would listen.We took three full cuttings and could do a fourth if we wanted. I feel it's better to let the plant rest and get its reserves in place for the winter. The hay was excellent and we have all that we need for the winter. We started feeding some baleage to supplement the pastures on September 10.
We have planted forage radishes again on our conservation area. This is ground that we are trying to restore to fertility after a previous owner sold he top soil. I inter seeded them with winter rye and clover. We'll take the rye for straw in the spring and see if we can plant something then with economic value.
The soybeans have grown very well and are now losing their leaves and drying down for harvest. We are hoping for an excellent harvest but lots can go wrong between now and when they are in the truck heading for the bin.
The cattle are also doing well. We delivered two steers last week to one of good customers. We also have several other steers coming along so that we should be able to keep up with meat orders.
We have added two Boer goats to the farm. They are presently living in the barn until I am satisfied that they think this is where they live. Then they will head out on the pasture to follow the cattle eating the leftover plants.
I went last Sunday with our Beef group to tour the Genex facility in Ithaca. They showed us the entire process of semen collection and preparation for distribution. They now have the ability to distribute the semen by sex. It was an amazing contrast of the virile bull and high technology.
Things have been pretty quiet in town. No major issues to be decided in the diner. The barber is still standing behind his work. Two of my friends have been battling some serious health issues. Our hopes and prayers are with them.
