Got to the farm to check on progress. Corn and beans planted two weeks ago have popped—I’ll spray gly next weekend. So far, germination appears better than last year. I got 2.5 acres of clover/chicory sprayed at the home plot. I also got 3 acres sprayed with gly in preparation for rutabaga/Winfred planting’s I hope to put in in two weeks. I also mowed 3 acres to try to knock back annuals in my clover. I also got a bunch of lime spread in a strip I plan to plant alfalfa. I’ll mix in a little ladino just in case it doesn’t work out.
Last night, I was watching one of our plots when a mama porcupine and her lil baby came in. She was focused on soybean sprouts, but was interrupted every couple minutes by the lil one who wanted to nurse. This was a first for me. Since putting in our plots, the porcupine population has really grown. People think I’m nuts for not shooting them all on sight. Most of the time, they’re focused on clover...of which I have plenty. Frankly, I like seeing them, and know they’ll keep the fishers around. Wish I’d had a camera.
Today there’s almost no wind. I’ve been waiting for such a day to check some loads in a 7mm STW and a 270 win. I’m always amazed at what an accuracy difference can be made by tweaking a powder charge by a grain or two, or changing Cartridge Overall Length. In the 270, groups doubled in size by tweaking 20 thousandths. A 2 grain adjustment in powder shrunk groups from 1.5” to .5” in the STW. For those that shoot big rifles, you need to give Reloader 26 a try. Superb accuracy and top velocity!
Per Matt’s request, here are some hinge cut photos done 4 years ago. We did 23 acres worth. The thickest new growth is in our sanctuary that I won’t venture into for pics. Last fall, trailing a deer we ventured in. Stem count was super dense and averaged 8’ tall. South facing slopes seem to the best. Even amongst those, there is a wide variance on how they compare.
Time for an update. A number of folks have asked about broadcasting corn. These photos show the good, bad and ugly. These are mixed with beans, broadcast and disced to cover and cultipacked. We plant heavy knowing the turkeys, crows and geese will pull up the young sprouts to get to the seed. We also have to deal with deer browsing early growth. These were planted 4 weeks ago (3 weeks behind farmers down in the valley(it was still too wet up on the mountain)). If you study the photos, it’s thin in places and thick in others. Interesting thing is the thinner areas will sprout bigger and more ears per stalk. I’ve tried to justify a planter...but can’t rationalize it yet.
We found these rock piles on the property. The are both are on top of large rocks. They are nowhere near any section corners and their purpose remains unclear. I’ve wondered if they were winter grave sights when the ground was too hard to dig (there are numerous old in ground rock foundations). The bigger on is >6’ tall. Any thoughts about what they might be? I’ve been encouraged to work with state archeologists but see no upside for having them tramp about 50yds from the edge of our sanctuary.
This clover chicory Plot is 3 years old. I mowed it 2 weeks ago and it immediately flowered. I’d planned on rotating it into to brassicas this summer. It’s my only really pretty plot....but doesn’t get as many deer pics as the ugly ones do
This clover patch planted last fall is adjacent to it. I’d also planned to rotate this into brassicas. I’ll decide the next couple weeks. I mowed the triticale a couple weeks ago and it would appear a few of the plants had enough energy to produce stunted seed heads.
