This is one way to remember exactly when the new spring seeded alfalfa went into the ground.
It was a C O L D and windy day on Monday. The Amish had a holiday, (they take Easter Monday off as well as Good Friday) so the no-till drill was available for Jim to seed his alfalfa.
Of course, the almost ten acres that he wanted to seed were on the very top fields at the other farm, with nothing to stop the wind...
Mid afternoon, I ran for some more seed. Refilling the drill...
The alfalfa seeds are tiny...
The kids had off school, so Jenna bundled up in her cold weather gear...complete with a scarf...and rode on the back of the drill, to keep the seed evenly distributed, and to tell Jim when it was empty. That way, he didn't have to keep stopping and jumping off the tractor...
Looking behind the tractor at the rows made by the drill...
Some farmers still seed alfalfa the conventional way...working up the soil and using a packer seeder...but more and more are no-tilling. We no-till almost everything else, but this is the first time that Jim has seeded his alfalfa this way, so it will be interesting to see how it grows, and if it makes a good stand.
If all goes well, the first cutting should be sometime in June!
I keep learning from your blog, Alica... I see it going on around us here, but we don't always know what is being done, or why!
ReplyDeleteAnother great post, Alica! It brought back memories of riding on the back of a grain drill some 55 years ago. Walking back and forth along that wooden platform all along the back of the drill, running my hands through the barley or wheat or oats.
ReplyDeleteIt will work great we have done it. That Jenna is an amazing farm woman. Love the smell of fresh cut alfalfa, and opening a hay bale for the cows and that sweet smell. Have a nice weekend.. B
ReplyDeleteHope those tiny seeds didn't blow away, I'm sure it will come up fine. But I don't think I would be able to remember one cold windy day from the next here.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting how you are seeding the alfalfa. I've never seed it done this way. I love showing your blog to my husband. The fields are still very wet and there is still some frost in the ground here so it will be a while yet before we can seed anything in the fields.
ReplyDeleteLet us see the seedlings when they start to grow.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
JB
I hope you have a great crop this summer and good for Jenna for helping out, I'll bet it made things go a lot quicker! :)
ReplyDeleteWe no-till everything! Hope you get a good stand.
ReplyDelete