Farm Improvements

I just read the European Ag Business Barometer and it is down. Way down. I would say the US Ag Barometer is just the opposite. Up, way up.

It is good to see all the farm improvements going on around here. Lime applications must be number one. I have never seen the evidence of so many lime piles in my life.

Drainage and water improvements are going on everywhere. You couldn't hire someone to tile for you now if you had to, you would have to buy your own tile plow and do it yourself.

When you come across a field wheat, barley or cover crop in this arid desert we are in, the color really stands out. I think we lost our last water pocket in June and I haven't seen one since.

I could have all my fields covered with a crop this fall. Last year I was at about 75% which was the most I had ever had covered. It was a wet year too, and a real challenge to get growing.

They recommend fall spraying to keep the weeds at bay but I can cover the ground with rye for about the same amount of money and get so much more benefit from it. That keeps me on my toes to kill the rye and put down my residual chemical before planting next spring or you can drill and roll the rye if it stays this dry.

Two neighbors are spreading poultry litter on every field, hauled 100 miles from Mercer County, Ohio's poultry capital. There is no excuse for full manure pits this fall!

It is good to see the harvest done and all of these farm improvements going on. That means we have good weather and a little money to invest.

Ed Winkle