Cotton Planting 2013

This is what the planter looks like from the tractor seat-

Talk about gambling. What would you do? Soil temperatures and weather forecast were above average, but there was a storm forecast to come through the Valley the end of the week. Do you plant or not plant? 
    Did I mention there is a lot at stake on this roll of the dice? The University of California has done research that shows the first week can make a bale to the acre difference in yield. Blow this and there is no way to make it up. (Do you see why going to Reno or Vegas just doesn't seem like a challenge?)
   We went ahead, and so far it looks good. By Friday we had an inch and a quarter root on seeds we had planted on Monday. That is very good. We started pulling caps off on Saturday. Maybe by next weekend I can show you pictures of little, baby cotton plants.

In other news-
   Do you remember those almond buds and blossoms from last month?

They grow up fast don't they?
This week we have also been irrigating wheat and re-planting almonds. Spring gets busy on the farm. Next week we will- finish de-capping the cotton, keep watering the wheat,finish re-planting almonds, spread an bait, start watering the trees again ---there's always something to do on the farm.

Baling Wire

            Farmers are notorious for fixing things with baling wire- because it works!

            You can use baling wire to fix all sorts of things. I have seen baling wire-

            Hold on hub caps

            Stitch a fan shroud together

            Used as fence ties

            Tie down tools and tool boxes

            Clean out plugged fertilizer tubes

The list goes on and on. There are times when you are just not near town to get what you need from the store and you gotta get the job done. So, a lot of farmers keep baling wire under the seat in their truck or stowed in the bottom of their tool box with the duct tape and the vise grips.

            Modern life has created a new problem. Hay growers aren’t using wire to tie bales anymore. They have gone to using polypropylene twine. That may be handy for the dairy guys, but I can’t make an emergency muffler hanger out of twine. The heat will burn right through it. So, instead of recycling used baling wire, I now have to buy wire to have on hand for emergency repairs.

            They may not be making baling wire anymore, but that doesn’t mean my need for quickie repairs has gone away.

I hope Y'all have a great week.

P