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As the calendar year changed to 2017 so did our focus on crop years. We've been busy making crop plans, budgets and marketing plans in the office for 2017 crops. The guys have been working hard in the shop doing preventative maintenance on our equipment in preparation of spring work. Cold, wet winter days are a good time to check out our equipment to make sure everything is top working condition. Ricky Massey and Jake Mitchell are pictured above making adjustments to a fifth wheel on a truck. They've also been known to put a little shine on the shiny parts too. |
Our crop planning includes taking soil samples in our fields to determine the best fertility program for our crops. We use historic yield data to create management zones with different yield goals and have the soil analyzed from those zones to tell us how to better manage our nutrients for our crops. This is good for the bottom line and the environment. We try to put enough "plant food" through nitrogen, phosphorous and potash to "feed" our crops without over "feeding" them. Over fertilization costs us money and creates the potential for nutrient runoff or leaching into surface and ground water. These practices help us be more sustainable and better stewards of the land.
Chris Marklin and Dalton Crumley replacing no-till coulters on a wheat drill above and Ricky Massey replacing some bolts for a product performance update below. The no-till coulters work the ground in front of the double disc openers to plant the wheat in the row. This row unit technology allows us to direct seed into standing corn residue without tilling the ground. No-Till planting prevents erosion and helps keep the soil healthy.
Jake Mitchell replacing wear point bushings on row units from a wheat drill. It's important to keep wear items like these bushings replaced to keep the drill in top condition for best performance. Ignoring wear items can lead to more costly repairs later on down the road.
Dalton Crumley and Chris Marklin inspecting knives and guards on the cutter bar on a Draper head before putting it into storage until summer harvest season.
Mac and Jack getting a trailer break clinic from Ricky Massey and Jake Mitchell. Each truck and trailer have to be DOT inspected each year to maintain safety and road worthiness. Safety for our operators and those we share the road with are at the top of our list on the farm!
Page Barker from Tri-Green Equipment delivering parts to our shop. A new crate of parts means plenty of shop work for our crew on the farm! An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure!
All of the equipment will get a bath and fresh coat of wax this winter too. Washing combines is a BIG job!
Loading trucks with grain for delivery keeps us busy during the winter too. We have been delivering corn to local feed mills for livestock feed rations, wheat to a local flour mill and seed soybeans to the seed cleaning facility.
I hope you enjoyed a look into what we've been up to so far this winter on the farm. Here's to a safe, healthy and prosperous growing season in 2017!
