The time change, the weather, whatever it may be…. work just feels as though we are going at a snail’s pace. It doesn’t help that we are at the point of cycling through equipment repairs for the second time. You know, when there is still stuff to do, but parts weren’t available, or it was a special job.

Nevertheless, we press on.

Today, I am home with a couple of sick kids while Rachael takes the other ones to the homeschool co-op where she is teaching anatomy to 6-8 year olds. As a result I’m getting caught up on desk work. I’ve gone through and sent maps and VRT files for some fertilizer that is due to be spread this spring. I’ve also begun to coordinate final deliveries of seed, chemicals, and fertilizer. Saturday, I organized the seed and storage area to prepare for these deliveries.

We received our corn planter back last week with the addition of hydraulic down force. We are still waiting for the welding shop to finish up with the track conversion. (Hopefully I will have pictures to share soon!) Anyway, we have a display, harnesses, and some modules left over. Those parts will get us about half way to converting our small planter to hydraulic drive (I already picked up some drives at auction this winter).

Help with planting logistics
We use this planter for wet spots and replanting. We will also use it from time to time to ease logistics and get things done when we can’t get the big planter where it needs to be when it needs to be there. With our irrigation and quickly changing soils, lack of variable rate seeding has been a drawback. That issue along with section control will both be resolved with the hydraulic drives.

We are quickly nearing planting time, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of Farm Futures or Penton Agriculture.