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| Happy with this field. Pretty much weed-free |
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| Happy with this field too. |
So earlier this year I looked at the long-term forecast and it called for warmer and drier than normal conditions. I took that forecast to heart and in
my 2015 crop plan decided that I'd plant some grain-corn, calculating that I'd get enough heat to dry the corn so that I could harvest it as grain.
Well, the long term forecasts were accurate. This is the warmest June and July that I can remember; we've had the longest string of over-80 days in... well, forever I think. At least as long as records have been kept. And the corn is loving it.
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| My worst weed field - after cultivating, even. I'll never get the weeds in the rows |
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My current (not very good) weed solution
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So while I'm happy with the weather, I'm starting to get worried about the lack of rain. We haven't had measurable rain in more than a month; which really hasn't slowed the corn down much, but I can't imagine that it won't soon. It's only planted 9" between the plants in the row, and that's too close, apparently, for drought conditions.
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1 comment:
I've always thought that I'd use something like a roller-crimper in combination with cover cropping to control weeds if I ever switched to an organic system. I've never tried it on more than a garden-sized test plot, but my gut tells me that it would work on a larger scale after a little experimenting with equipment. Of course if I had my choice I'd also rather pull a drill full of rye seed around a field if I could avoid a bunch of plowing, discing, and cultivating.
The best explanation of the whole idea can be found at: http://rodaleinstitute.org/our-work/organic-no-till/
There's also a video showing the entire process with different farmers and equipment (although some herbicide is being used after rolling the rye) at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU-KeKvigMk
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