I think the corn plans are coming together … better than expected actually. Now I’m actually finding myself wishing that I had more room to plant, but I will just stop with the two small areas I have planned! I must think small right now and keep plenty of grazing areas, but in the future I hope growing some more of my own feed can become a real possibility. This season the corn will just be an experiment and an opportunity to do a little “play farming” with my cousin, uncles, and my grandfathers equipment. Here are the plans as they stand right now …
- It looks like I’m going to be plowing up two areas totally around 4-5 acres. One section is a former winter lot, and the other section is kind of out in the pasture. Initially I wanted to use my current winter lot, but I just don’t think that will work out this year … I may end up seeding it and eventually using it for some sows.
- As of this moment the smaller section is plowed and has been disked once. It will get another disking and probably hit with a harrow before planting. The larger section is in the process of being plowed and then it will go through a similar plan. I will be spreading some homegrown fertilizer on the larger section though since it will not be in the winter lot like I had planned.
- Thanks to my cousin all of the equipment is here ore coming here. As I mentioned some of it actually originated on my grandpa’s farm years ago, so this is the third generation to be using it. The plow, the disk, and the planter are all here and ready to roll!
- I have e-mailed back-and-forth with Laura from Abbe Hills about open pollinated corn. I think this may be my best bet for now because it isn’t too far away from me and sounds good. She has been helpful and suggested they shoot for 55º to 60º soil temperatures before planting (usually after May 15th). That is a good thing to know and gives me time to get everything done!
- Cultivating after the crop is planted … Well, that is still in the planning stages but if all else fails my cousin will bring up his tractor and a three-point mounted cultivator.
- Harvest and storage … yeah … let me get back to you on that one …
Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have thought that I would like growing grain so much.
There is something appealing about putting a wheat seed, a kernel of corn, or a sorghum seed in the ground and multiplying it 30 to 800 times at harvest. It is almost a form of alchemy and an act of faith.
It seems like I have seen a portable corn crib somewhere that is similar to a cotton trailer. Basically a farm wagon with slatted sides (or wire?) that you use for harvest (pick it by hand and toss it into the wagon) and then park it in the barn and use it as a corn crib. Possibly block the frame up so the tires are off the ground and maybe cover the top with a tarp.
How is your corn doing so far?
With the drought, my OP corn experiments will have to wait till next year (which is why I have two year’s worth of seed saved).
No rain and alot of heat equals no corn.