Howboutthemdawgs
5 year old buck +
I see you and I are representing the vintage class of 4 wheelers. What year? Mines a 2005
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New Hope Creek Home
- Thread starter 356
- Start date
356
5 year old buck +
1999 Kawasaki Prairie 400 4x4 automatic. I've had it about 20 years and it has been 100% care free, despite being used hard and put away wet on too many occasions. Just turned 8980 miles.
356
5 year old buck +
March 13: I took the day off to try and get the CRP in this weekend. We've had lots of rain the past two weeks, and the fields are still too wet to plant, but should be good tomorrow. I borrowed a 120 gallon sprayer to pre-treat with glyphosate, per the contract. It is going much faster than using the four wheeler, which took 5 hours for 15 acres. So far I've done about 20 acres in three hours this morning, and have about 20 left. After lunch I am renting a 12' Truax Native Grass drill to put in the CRP tomorrow. That will take several hours, so I am hoping to get the drill home, then finish spraying so I can plant tomorrow and Sunday after church, if needed.
356
5 year old buck +
Afternoon Update: Well, I went to pick up the Caldwell County NRCS Truax Drill with NWSG box, signed the paperwork and paid the deposit only to find that the only drill that was "working" was a 7' Haybuster without a NWSG auger. The Truax was broken (and has been for a month, which they forgot to mention when I reserved the drill), and the county has no money to fix it. Well, that was three hours I'll never get back!
So, the CRP Project Plan A was to use my Tar River drill, which did not work. Plan B was to rent the Truax NWSG drill, which did not work. Plan C involved calling every area NRSC office, only to hear repeatedly that they do not rent out of the county (or only within x number of miles). So, Plan D is hiring the job done. The son of the seed company owner does custom NWSG work, and will be coming over in the next month or two. Of course, that means I will have to reapply herbicide, but at least the job will get done.
So, the CRP Project Plan A was to use my Tar River drill, which did not work. Plan B was to rent the Truax NWSG drill, which did not work. Plan C involved calling every area NRSC office, only to hear repeatedly that they do not rent out of the county (or only within x number of miles). So, Plan D is hiring the job done. The son of the seed company owner does custom NWSG work, and will be coming over in the next month or two. Of course, that means I will have to reapply herbicide, but at least the job will get done.
Badgers80
5 year old buck +
Ah I feel for you! I am thinking you could have saved yourself time if you hired it out from the get go. Assuming cost share fully covers your expenses, that could’ve been the way to go initially? I applaud your commitment though! I know these native grass mixes can be finicky to get in.
356
5 year old buck +
The fields are fallow. It had been on a corn/soy rotation, with soy the past two years. I pulled it primarily due to the farmer, who 1) planted soy two years in a row and 2) refused to use cover crops, despite that being in our verbal agreement. Once the CRP is established, I know I will be glad of the change, as it will be great for wildlife in the area.
I agree (using hindsight). The cost share is 50/50, which will help, but not with out of pocket. Given the cost of the seed, plus planting and pre-treatment, getting the CRP in the ground is running $288/acre plus a three days off days off work (so far).
When I planted the EQIP, I had a very challenging time getting the seeds in the ground. It eventually got in, but I should have learned from that experience :-)
