The Grind

[Trampis]

Hi all at acrop.Thought Id start a topic for once.
As a few of you know I farm for a living and this time of year I like to call The Grind.I've been working pretty hard since April and I'm getting worn out tired and I still have 2 months more of important crop plantings,descisions and such to go.
Its up at 5 to 6 in the morning and working till 8 or 9 every night for awhile now.Usually we get a few days of break around labor day then we hit it hard for another month till all the major work is done.Then its relaxation mode with some MX thrown in for a few months. It doesnt help that crop prices are at there lowest for us this year too.Oh well,Im still in the black so I cant complain.

Any of you guys have that time of the year you like to call The Grind?,be it school or work?

[SHATOUSHKA]

oi.... makes me wanna ask you what your crop(s) is/are

i find your farming VERY fascinating [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

[Trampis]

I'm a hay grower,thats how I label myself.I grow alfalfa to mainly be exported to Japan to feed Japanese dairy cows.About 75% of the hay I harvest goes to Japan.The rest goes to local dairy's,feedlots or feedstores to be fed to peoples horses.

I also grow wheat,soft white winter wheat,which is the variety used to make noodles and pastas.For rotation I rent a field every year to someone who grows potatos.Those potatos usually end up as french fries at a fast food place.In the past we've also grown dry beans,such as Kidney,Red or pinto varieties.Not much money in dry beans.

The price I sell my hay for is pretty much determined by supply and demand.To much supply and prices go down.Right now theres an over supply of hay and also the price of milk being paid to the dairies is low so the dairies arn't willing to pay much for hay.

The wheat market is much more global.Our major competitors are Austraila and Canada.Say Austraila has a drought and there wheat crop sucks,...thats good for me,same with Canada,supply and demand.

blah blah blah,dont get me started on this stuff,lets keep the acrop lighthearted shall we Trampis

[img]graemlins/wonder.gif[/img]

[SHATOUSHKA]

ok ok ... you've busted me

i have alterior motives for asking.

however, there are lots of farms around here
and i've always been curious as to the processes
n' such.

it IS interesting that you are a hay farmer...
as maybe you can settle a dispute for me.
(*dispute* meaning -- something i've been battling
in my head for years -- but only just recently
mentioned to tg)

most of the time you drive by various fields...
you see them somewhat lined with hay bales...
those big, round ones.

is this due to the fact that those people are
farming hay? or is the hay used for some other
reason??

[demon chloe]

I am totally amazed by farmers. I live in farm country. I have students who want nothing more than to grow up and be farmers... and I have students who havent stepped near a farm.

SUch hard, hard work for such an uncertain outcome......

I am dying for fall..photos of fields of wheat....and beans...and...corn....


and when you see fields for miles..and how they are planted..and a zillion different shades of beige and tan and brown.... its just stunning...


wow ! cool

[SHATOUSHKA]

one of my favorite things about field viewing
is looking at the irrigation ditches....
i love the designs

(and yes, i DO know why its done like that...
*glares at tg* )

[GravyTrain]

those fields there right between maumelle and mayflower are pretty small, but a very nice view for the drive to and from conway.....

i'd be interested in knowing why they do the irrigation lines like that shatzy....please share

[SHATOUSHKA]

to utilize the area to the most efficient advantage
while helping to prevent and/or slow the errosion process

[Trampis]

Nobody in our area puts up hay in roundbale form.It might be a moisture issue.I think you can bale round bales with more moisture.My hay has to be dry and then I add a little dew to soften the hay up a bit.Most bales here are either the "Big bale" variety,meaning 4'x4'x8' or 4'x3'x8'(1300lbs to 1800lbs),or like I put up,threestring or small bales as some call it.My bales are typically 130 lbs.I think in your area,and Im guessing,that the farmers might have cattle also,and they grow there hay to feed to there own herd,whereas I grow for others.

We have circle,or center pivot irrigation which by air looks neat.

Theres a scene in the movie Gladiator where Maximus is walking through a wheat field letting his hands touch the tops of the wheat,and thats something that I do also.Its neat to walk through a mature "gold" field of wheat when the wind is gently blowing,..the sound,the rustling of the wheat in the wind is calming.So I urge everyone here to go walk through some farmers field and feel his wheat. [img]wink.gif[/img]

[demon chloe]

i cant wait to talk..pictures...


ooh ..and feel some wheat... [img]wink.gif[/img]