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 :-)
Turkey Creek
5 year old buck +
Well that does suck, but I have heard that most of the NRCS drills are abused to the point they rarely work as they should so maybe that prevented a long terms headache for you.
356
5 year old buck +
While checking the trap line I noticed the cereal rye I broadcast a few weeks ago is starting to take root. This area of erosion has been a problem since we moved on the property in early 2017. I am hoping to help control the erosion with cereal rye, followed by some NWSG for long term control. I am using a cereal rye/red clover mix for the cover, and will be adding the NWSG later this spring (mid-April).
Here is a view of the area of erosion that I am trying to control.
Here is a view of the area of erosion that I am trying to control.
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356
5 year old buck +
There are breeding populations on pheasants in the county and we have seen covey of quail on the property. The CP2 mix of CRP should be good for deer bedding and quail.
Since pheasants are a non-native species that were introduced to the US, the CRP focus is upon native birds, such as the bobwhite quail. Once we start seeing established coveys, I plan to hunt them. I am also putting in a one acre strip of sunflowers for dove.
