Barley...

Isn't it amazing what happens in just a few months time!

From this...planting barley...October 2011...

Coming up a few days later...

 Just starting to green up...a few inches high...late winter, early spring 2012...

To this...May 2012...

What is that in the field?

Oh...it's just Murphy and Snickers, having a blast.  They have so much fun chasing each other around in the field...

Before we know it, it'll be June, and we'll be combining barley and then baling straw.

Then what ever will the dogs find to do?  Oh yes, that's right...they'll chase cats and dig holes in the yard or lay in front of the big fans in the barn.  They have quite the life!  :)

Watching the Barley Grow...

When you think of planting seeds and watching them grow, do you normally think of this time of year?  This kind of weather?

Barley is one of those crops that is planted in the fall as a cover crop, and harvested in the spring.  A few weeks ago, Jim had some barley seed delivered...

Last Friday, October 7th, he drilled the seed into the field behind the barn where the corn was chopped for silage. 

Filling the grain drill...

I just love looking at a freshly seeded field.  The ground looks so smooth, and the rows are so straight...

The weather this past week was perfect for sprouting the seed...the soil was still moist from all the rain we've had, and with temps in the mid 70's, it has grown quickly....just five days later, those little green spikes are about an inch high!  Jim saw them yesterday, and so this morning my camera and I went to see for ourselves.  And yes, Murphy was along...that's her foot in the corner of the picture...

The purpose of this barley crop will be three-fold...

First...it's a cover crop over the winter to help prevent erosion

Second...we will harvest the grain next June for a cash crop...then we will plant either late corn or soybeans in that same field for a second crop

Third...we will then bale the remaining straw for bedding

So...even though we're headed into the season where most things are dying and turning brown, we have some green to look forward to!