Farming Update

I know I haven't posted much about farming lately, but it's because not much is going on right now.  Once harvest is over it's basically "work the ground until time to sew wheat". 

Working ground means -  plowing.

We plow for several reasons: 

     1.) To loosen up dirt.

     2.)  To kill weeds and turn straw under so it will rot.

     3.)  To make a good seed bed for sewing wheat.

The only problem with plowing in the summer is getting enough moisture in the ground to be able to plow.  And for those of you who know Oklahoma's weather know that sometimes that's difficult.  The ground can't be to dry or the plow won't go into the ground and it can't be too wet or you'll get stuck. We also like to do this in the early mornings or late evenings and night. Reason being it's just too hot. and sitting in a tractor with all windows is like sitting under a magnifying glass.

Once the ground has been gone over sufficiently, then it's time to fertilize.  We fertilize with anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous actually means without water and Ammonia contains the nitrogen that is needed for plants to grow.  (And it's also what is found in manure!)  It is a liquid under pressure and it's a gas under atmospheric conditions that's why we put it under the top layer of dirt. We always just shorten it and say "puttin' down gas" or "puttin' down anhydrous."  I know, it's all very confusing.  To put down anhydrous the ground can't be too wet or it won't hold the anhydrous; because the anhydrous needs to be able to soak in. 

At this point in time, we have plowed everything.  Now we're waiting on a rain so that we can finish putting down gas.  It just can't rain to much!

Ok, before I get you any more confused I'll sign off!

Your Farm Friend

Amy