The Official Farming Thread...

[karrl]

I had the neighbors plant 25 acres of feed corn in one of my lower fields in order for them to kill the weeds and re-seed. They get free land to plant corn, and I get a newly seeded field. I already have too much farmland to keep up with!

If we have a hay field get too weedy we’ll put corn in for a couple of years to knock it back. Definitely helps with a fresh start.

 

[nbbt]

I like to think I'm a micro framer. Usually end up with 15-20 tomato plants , peppers of different varieties, garlic, onions, berries(red and black rasp, strawberries), rhubarb, apples, asparagus and spices.
This is one of the garden plots that was worked on today.

I still have room for a couple more medium peppers, but we'll see.
And the long narrow patch on the side is radishes.

 

[karrl]

I like to think I'm a micro framer. Usually end up with 15-20 tomato plants , peppers of different varieties, garlic, onions, berries(red and black rasp, strawberries), rhubarb, apples, asparagus and spices.
This is one of the garden plots that was worked on today.
View attachment 380064
I still have room for a couple more medium peppers, but we'll see.
And the long narrow patch on the side is radishes.

Nice backyard setup. You do any canning? 15-20 tomato plants can make a good amount of sauce.

 

[nbbt]

@karrll

Nice backyard setup. You do any canning? 15-20 tomato plants can make a good amount of sauce.

I switched from canning to vacuum seal about 6 years ago and haven't regretted it yet. I've improved my process such that even tomatoes that are skinned by pulling the sharp side of a knife across, last as close to fresh for 3 years. However nearly everything from one year to the next has been consumed b4 it get to a second year of freezer duty, by the time the new harvest starts.

So, Yes I do long term storage, but I 've removed the extra cooking/processing stages needed for typical canning. We think the flavors remain way closer to fresh with the vac seal/freeze. We also add a second layer of product protection to the vac sealed bag by placing in a freezer storage zip loc, and remove as much air as possible from the zip loc.

 

[Mastermind]

Hay.

 

[jakethesnake]

Hay.

View attachment 380090View attachment 380091

Rank

 

[Only the Tony]

Hay.

View attachment 380090View attachment 380091

Hopefully next week for us.

 

[nbbt]

I forgot to add this root to the grow list.

I've been working to get the final process/grind to the point it takes your breath away and clears you sinuses with the smallest of portions. I'm close but have have had better than I am preparing. Oh well, maybe next time.

 

[farminkarman]

Didn’t have to re-rake the hay after it got rinsed yesterday

 

[farminkarman]

Got Dad’s baler cleaned up pretty well before hauling it back to his place. Sure would be nice to have one like this, but they are out of my league.

 

[jakethesnake]

Got Dad’s baler cleaned up pretty well before hauling it back to his place. Sure would be nice to have one like this, but they are out of my league.View attachment 380173

Out of mine too. I bake 100-150 bales a year to play with a dozen beef cows. I have never sold a bale of hay. Gave the neighbor 10 earlier this year. He ran short.

 

[karrl]

Same here Jake, we do about 200 at the most in a given year and sell maybe 50. The old Hesston is good enough and has paid for itself many times over. Not our actual baler but the same model.

 

[karrl]

What’s everyone’s preference for raking hay. I’d love to try something other than the tandem roll bar rake we have. It’s great when it works but ours are always wearing out ujoints on the drive axle and bearings on the bars. Has anyone switched from a roll bar rake to something easier to maintain? We grease ours every day but these new bearings don’t seal or last like the old ones

 

[Only the Tony]

This was last year. Using a John Deere 467 with 8 series gears.

 

[Only the Tony]

What’s everyone’s preference for raking hay. I’d love to try something other than the tandem roll bar rake we have. It’s great when it works but ours are always wearing out ujoints on the drive axle and bearings on the bars. Has anyone switched from a roll bar rake to something easier to maintain? We grease ours every day but these new bearings don’t seal or last like the old ones

Hydraulic driven and really haven't had to do much to it. Teeth of course and an occasional hose. Not a cheap option but once I pull the pins I can go between fields without getting out of the seat. Ran an 8 wheel H&S bi-fold before this and this is a world of difference.

 

[Mastermind]

Same here Jake, we do about 200 at the most in a given year and sell maybe 50. The old Hesston is good enough and has paid for itself many times over. Not our actual baler but the same model. View attachment 380180

I have that same baler.

 

[Mastermind]

What’s everyone’s preference for raking hay. I’d love to try something other than the tandem roll bar rake we have. It’s great when it works but ours are always wearing out ujoints on the drive axle and bearings on the bars. Has anyone switched from a roll bar rake to something easier to maintain? We grease ours every day but these new bearings don’t seal or last like the old ones

I use a Kuhn speed rake. Damn fine tool.

 

[Mastermind]

Cut this field this morning. That makes 35 acres down. 20 of it is tedded....and we will bale it tomorrow.

 

[Lnk]

Cut this field this morning. That makes 35 acres down. 20 of it is tedded....and we will bale it tomorrow.

View attachment 380188

What are you mowing with, discbine or haybine?

 

[farminkarman]

Same here Jake, we do about 200 at the most in a given year and sell maybe 50. The old Hesston is good enough and has paid for itself many times over. Not our actual baler but the same model. View attachment 380180

I’d be happy to have one. Growing up I ran a Vermeer 504G…really liked that machine, but I like the Hesston balers too.