Wilmington College

I was asked to listen to the presentations of 6 teams of Wilmington College agriculture students this morning for Professor Tom Stilwell's Farm Management class.

Professor Stilwell asked a local farmer if his class could study his farm operation and make recommendations.

The presentations were all excellent!

Three presentations really stood out but all six were excellent, I would rate them all with a grade of A or B.

It was funny they were considering the same recommendations I am seeking and considering for our farm operation.

Corn versus soybeans

More notill soybeans

GMO vs. Non GMO crops

cover crops

more hired help

a sprayer

replacing tractor and combine

drying and storage facilities

All of the Power Point presentations were excellent but of course a few stood out. I started to notice some of the best family farmer names in Ohio amongst those students.

The one thing they didn't pick up on was more notill soybeans. The farmer is about 2/3 corn and 1/3 soybeans so he tills a lot of corn residue. That has worked for him but costs a lot of money to produce the income. One team recommended notill soybeans but not increasing his acres, I couldn't figure that one out.

The way the teams were spending money on machinery and bins you better have a big bank account! Granted those items are needed for more efficiency but only one team has a plan to phase them in.

I am amazed with the technology of the new generation but they really need our expertise and experience when it comes to management and I think they are receptive to it.

Ed Winkle

This Blogging Thing

The blogging thing has been a trip this year. All from one little dare from my wife a year ago.

Thanks Nebraska for the high five! Glad you enjoy the stories and ideas. I learn from others and have my whole life so giving some back is just natural to me.

I just read that UC head football coach Mike Kelly sold out to Notre Dame and won't even coach his team in the Sugar Bowl. What a let down for those kids. Will he turn out like Rodrigues at Michigan. That man had it made at WVU, took the big ten money and look where he is now.

Sad note for the Buckeyes Men's Basketball team, Evan Turner hit the floor the other night and broke his back. Evan was considered one of the best players in the nation. Injury is one thing but walking out on your team for money is a whole different thing.

Hyde posted on the Cafe about planning for retirement. I know that went sour for many of us, probably most of us last year but you have to have a plan. He is thirty something and has four boys and I know he must be scraping by like I did in my 30's. But my plan is still pretty intact and now I can enjoy it in later years.

Even the old stanby's like State Teachers Retirement lost one third of their portfolio last year. You can't make your pension or Social Security your only plan anymore, hasn't been that way in years.

I enjoyed the Blanchester FFA Breakfast yesterday but felt a little out of place. Some old acquaintances didn't even say Hi. "What does he think he is doing farming that much at his age?" is what I felt. I think five people shook my hand. No I am not farming 100 acres anymore. I got an opportunity and went for it.

Maybe that is what Brain Kelly is doing but shouldn't you work out a deal to finish the job you started? That is my plan with alternatives available when I can't or won't do that any longer.

Get yourself a Google or other account please and leave your comments like Nebraska did and Budde does. That's inspiration that keeps some of us going.

Ed

Grain Premiums

I received my first grain quality premium. The trucker called quite excited and said your crop was tested at 12.8% moisture, 58 pound test weight where 56 is standard on corn and 60 lb on beans, which hardly anyone gets. The damage was .2% and foreign material was .4%. In short, that is very high quality grain, especially this year.

The trucker said they pulled him off into a special line with no one else in line, he had never seen that before. I bet the buyer is going to blend my load into some lesser quality grain. Les said they had 3 rail cars full of black corn yesterday where he was unloading and he thought they would blend the good with the bad. My friend Eddie from Missouri said I bet they paid the farmer $1.50 for the damaged corn and the local markets are around $3.40 for corn, over $10 for soybeans.

I planted non genetically modified seed again this year, or you might call it old fashioned seed compared to the GMO seed that has taken over the marketplace in the US.

I know my seed quality helped but I think my fertility program and modfied planters for early notill made the difference this year. T-22 helped all crops root properly and my America's Best Inoculant made 3-4 bushels more than untreated strips again this year.

I still fight weed control so I am going to plant some Liberty Link soybeans next year and try to tune my herbicide program.

I called Keynes Brothers Milling this morning and we talked about my 400 acres of wheat. When I told them the variety and conditions, they were even more interested. We agreed there isn't much soft red winter wheat this year in Ohio, farmers were lucky to get the soybeans out. They bid $5.31 today, 35 cents under Chicago but they almost hit my goal of $6 two weeks ago. I guess I wasn't ready then.

So I may have another new vendor. I like my previous vendors as I have a relationship with them. With new ones you have to learn where each other stands. That learning curve can be steep.

I have to admit it felt really good to sell a premium crop. That's a nice compliment to the work I have put into it.

The thing now will be to get enough income to at least break even on taxes this year and not carry much into 2010. That is a constant battle for farmers.

That's about it for today,

Ed Winkle

Fear is useless, what is needed is trust.

Every morning I try to tune into http://www.sacredheartradio.com/ to listen to Father Corapi. That is his opening line.

Fear is useless, what is needed is trust.

I am a very trustworthy soul. I trust everone and get burned sometimes doing that. Some of my near ones are much smarter than I and not so trustworthy. I envy them somedays.

I am all wound up about farming, notill and cover crops after yesterday at Plain City. What a great group of farmers seeking the same thing, how to make money improving our God Given resources, soil, air and water.

When it comes to new technology like notill farming, cover crops, your new TV, fear is useless, what is needed is trust.

So many people are not trustworthy, it makes us vulnerables subject to them. That isn't right. I have to be burned a couple of times before I deem someone non trustworthy.

Lots of products and ideas were being "sold" yesterday and I am open to about anything. But some things work for me and others just do not.

For your gardners and landowners, I can tell you with no reservation you can trust me on cover crops. When that crop comes off, plant another crop. If you aren't wanting more food, plant a cover crop. I recommend the tillage radish. I used rye before I discovered the radish idea.

Lots of farmers asked me yesterday about the radish. I asked have you ever seen them grow? They all answered NO. I said get some seed and sow it before Sept 15 in our area. Those radish need about 60 days before 3 nights around 18 degrees to die. I think our garden and the Turning Point garden is really going to shine after this fall's sowing.

I was asked about my radish in wheat seedings. The first time it happened by accident, radish was still in the drill when I planted wheat. We got 12 more bu of wheat where there was a little radish mixed in. Then we tried it on purpose and 12 more bu of wheat again. The radish really helped the wheat aerate, tiller out and make bigger heads.

Fear is useless, what is needed is trust.

Ed

Ohio NoTill Conference

It was a good day at the Ohio NoTill Conference at the Der Dutchman in Plain City. For the second year in a row, it was standing room only, they may have to move that conference.

First off was Steve Groff, my friend from Lancaster County Pennsylvania. He always has such a good down to earth, notill farmer friendly presentation. It is great to be on the same program as him and we have done it many times now.

He showed the benefits of the Tillage Radish and the 40 different cover crops he is experimenting with. He is a key part of my cover crop network. The main vendor in the country is my friend Leon Bird, Bird Hybrids, Tiffin, Ohio. Leon had a good display there, answered questions and supported the state notill effort. Many good notill supporters were there with their products, giving a little money to the council's effort.

Dale Minyo had a good interview with Steve that a friend in New Zealand heard before the conference was over! Look for the NOTILL license plate!

Then I tried to show the benefit of cover crops of scavenging nutrients. I don't know if I got it home or not but I come from the larger farmer standpoint and farm management, if it is so great how do we get it done? Cover crops definitely pay but many farmers were lucky to get one crop in the ground and out this year. Just try and plant 1000 acres of cover crops!

My big point was how to balance nutrients. If your soil isn't balance, you can't expect the cover to "cover" for you. D is a bad grade on my tissue test, it means I am deficient in that or those nutrients I need to pay more attention. Hidden hunger in crops is still a concern wherever crops are grown. I don't want to see that big ugly thumb that shows when it has been deficient for years.

"ABN Covers The Ohio No-Till Conference in Plain City
Tuesday The ABN, Ohio's Voice for Agriculture, was in Plain City for a live broadcast of The Ohio No-Till Conference. Coverage brought to you by Ohio State University Extension. Here are just some of the guests featured on the broadcast.
Bill Richard has been in the No-Till conversation for some time now and was the Chief of Conservation under the first Bush Administration. He talked to Lindsay Hill about his experience with Cover Crops, including radishes.
Mark Wilson discusses Manure Management with Lindsay at The Ohio No-Till Conference.
Ed Winkle is with HyMark Consulting and he and Lindsay talk about Nutrient Management with No-Till.
Randall Reader is an Extension Ag Engineer with OSU and he shared his insights on Soil Compaction."

Another huge point was reduction of compaction that enables the cover crop to explore the soil and release valuable nutrients. The reduction of compaction and aeration of the soil is a bigger feat in my mind but the value of harvesting nutrients is a big one at today's fertilizer prices. It's called green manure, something I learned as a child. You always planted wheat when a crop came off, especially if it was early.

The best compliment was all the questions during the break after me. I asked farmers have they ever seen the tillage radish grow? Most never have. I said get a bag for your garden for you or your wife to plant and watch how they grow. Then figure out how to put them in your rotation.

Next was Alan Sundermeier, extension agent, Rafiq Islam, soil scientist and David Brandt showing slide after slide the numerical and physical impact my talk could reveal. I thought it was really good.

ABN Radio interviewed me live on their Ohio network and Lyndsey and I talked about what I was doing and what I have learned. It was a good exchange. Lyndsey and Andy really know agriculture and it shows on their network, website and the Broadcasting award they just received. Andy was the DJ at my oldest boy's wedding and was one of the best State FFA officers I worked with. Class act.

Then the fun began, a group discussion with David, Steve and I answering farmers questions. If we didn't know we shot the answer to someone who did. I knew it was going to be fund and it worked out well. Dave kept teasing my about backhoe'd soil pits. I said that is my old soils instruction, dig a pit you can walk into with the soil at eye level. Many have not seen this viewpoint.

The NoTill Awards were presented and then my friend Dr. Mark Loux gave a really good rundown on herbicide choices for 2010. Lots of us are looking at Liberty Link soybeans so Liberty herbicide, not sold in a concentrated form called Impact, started many discussions.

It was a good day. You can't beat a meal at a Der Dutchman in Ohio. Good ole farm cooked food, roast beef, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn and homemade bread. MM good!

And those pies!

Sorry Doc, I ate too much again but it was worth it!

Ed Winkle

Waldorf Salad

We picked up our FFA Fruit last night. I have never seen Golden Delicious shaped like that. They are shaped like a pear and so crispy, nothing like local Golden's. I wonder if it is a new variety? The box said Golden Delicious and I took a look and asked Matthew are you sure?

I love apple salad with soup or chili or about anything.

4-5 apples sliced, apple slicer works great
almost a stalk of celery, I love celery
walnuts and/or pecans to your taste
enough mayonnaise or Miracle Whip to just wet it, not too heavy, maybe a cup or less.

Back pocket recipe, serves one, me for about two days. Lots of recipes on the web under apple salad or Waldorf salad.

Don't forget the lemon juice to keep the apples from turning brown but I usually don't have that problem!

Since we received our FFA fruit last night, it is time for apple salad.

"Waldorf salad [WAWL-dorf] Created at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1896 not by a chef but by the maître d'hôtel, (dining room manager) Oscar Tschirky, the Waldorf salad was an instant success.

The original version of this salad contained only apples, celery and mayonnaise. Chopped walnuts later became an integral part of the dish. Waldorf salad is usually served on top of a bed of lettuce."

http://www.kitchenproject.com/history/Waldorf_Salad.htm

Ed

Ah, Winter!

The first snow arrived this morning, road is white, cornstalks are white. Pretty, I know, but a long way til "Ah, Spring!"

The best part of this area is the change of seasons. I guess that is why I never wandered too far from home. Sixty years in this part of the country!

The county salt truck just went by for the first time this winter. Visions of last winter just went through my head.

Mother Nature is getting the soil ready for another planting season without much help from us. We just sit back and watch and try to enjoy.

I need a picture of my rotting cornstalks with next years fertilizer applied versus the stalks where no fertilizer is applied.

The rotting stalks are turning dark and crumbly for a better break down. The untreated stalks are bright, glassy and shiny just like they came out of the combine weeks ago. Which one do you think will be better to plant into?

I know, I have been there these many years.

Sable and I just took another batch of Christmas Cards and invites to the Martinsville Post Office. The place is full of packages, people must really be shopping online! There are almost overwhelmed in that little building but they are managing it.

Since they closed down the Midland Post Office 5 miles to the west, the Martinsville office is almost overwhelmed with work. I guess that makes for efficiency and the lower cost we all demand but I know the older folks in Midland sure miss their Post Office.

USPS is really strong here, I don't see as much UPS and Fedex and of course DHL Express is gone.

At least we have our Post Office still and I have a big pile of dry firewood on the porch and two tons of wood pellets and 60,000 bu of corn to heat with so I can just sit back, think, plan, feed the stoves and enjoy.

Sable has been waiting on the mail lady now since she has been giving her doggy treats. One day she went to the truck to give her one and she wasn't there. Where is your dog? She is in her crate, Karen, she got into the garage and tore up the garbage again.

Tomorrow I hope to report on the Ohio NoTill Conference late in the day. I need to be in Plain City, Ohio before 10 and give my talk on cover crops and nutrients.

Dave Brandt, Steve Groff and I on a panel answering questions should be a hoot. We all three think and farm pretty much alike. The moderator emailed in a panic and said we will have a full house and may have to turn farmers away! Boy has that changed over the years and a good problem to have!

Ed