Sunday, September 28, 2014

Farm Update


        The wheat is planted and up, the hay is made.  The neighbors have proso millet windrowed ready for harvest and corn to pick, but my farm work is basically done for the year.
      I planted wheat September 6-9.  It rained nearly a half an inch on the 9th, about three hours before I would have been finished planting.  I thought it might crust over and I might have to replant, but the wheat came through.

September 15

September 16

September 17

 
September 24

     Watching wheat grow is a little more entertaining than watching paint dry.  I finished planting on September 16.  The drills are cleaned out and stowed.  On to other chores that have been put off.
     The tumbleweeds that plagued the neighbor a year ago also made themselves unwelcome here.  They are a definite fire hazard.

  
        Ford tractor and rotary mower to the rescue.  Keep an eye on the exhaust.  Don't let the flammable  buggers get too close


      The tractor, the 830, developed the annoying habit of using oil, pushing it out the exhaust during the last few weeks.  So, apart it comes.



      The problem doesn’t seem to be with cylinder, piston or rings.  So the head is scheduled to go to the machinist this week.  I hope they will find a problem and fix it.
      A bindweed patch sprang up in the summer fallow.  I could use tractor and machine to keep it under control before I planted wheat. 



       Speaking of pests, the deer are up to their usual tricks.


      The most effective repellant is sprinkling used cooking grease, pan drippings, etc. in the branches about head height.  Unfortunately, that takes a lot of time and is not 100% effective.  It’s not a very flattering self-appraisal that I find myself agreeing with Kurtz in Heart of Darkness,  “Exterminate all the brutes,” he says.  A novel idea.


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