Frequency of Soil Sampling

We like to sample every year.  We do not squawk too much when clients want to go with every other year.  If  you go further out than that it is difficult to track changes accurately.  It is also difficult to determine if your soil test results are influenced by environmental issues.  In reading my Corn Soybean Digest this week  found an article with the headline that Grid Data improves decisions.   While I take exception to the thought that grid sampling is the best way to monitor fertility levels,  found it interesting the Antonio Mallarino of Iowa State University advocated for sampling more often than every 4 years.   Dr. Mallarino is probably the foremost authority on soil testing.  He had done lots of research on soil testing and sampling from just about every angle you can think of.  His opinions are to be respected even when I disagree with him. 

Crop Progress in Brazil

By Eduardo Paim:

I wanted to write to you to tell you how the soybean planting ended in most of the Brazilian states. In the South there were many rains and it disrupted the planting, mainly the corn was very harmed. In the Central-West (Mato Grosso) The rains had a slight delay to arrive, that delayed the planting beyond the ideal window in about 35%. Delay in planting historically means that there is a high chance of production dropping by about 15-20% in these non-ideal planted areas. They have not yet planted the states of Bahia, Piaui, Maranhão and Tocaontis and part of Minas Gerais, these states make up North and Northeast. There is a lot of caution because La Ninã is firming and has forecast of lack of rain or little rain from 15/12/2017 until the end of January of 2018, that would be a greater aggravation because we already had problems to plant within the ideal window. As the planting of soybeans has spread beyond the ideal, consequently the planting of second-crop maize will be less, because the producers will not risk much.

Swamper Tales Book Review

A family friend wrote the book below about his coming of age in the 60's and 70's showing dairy and beef cattle in Southern Illinois.  The book contains the stories of the characters he met and worked for on the fair circuit.  His stories cover farm life and times.  Every tale is true.  It is a quick read and very enjoyable.  Photographs enhance many of the stories.  Roger Peach is selling the book on his facebook page.  This would make a great Christmas gift for the livestock exhibitor in your life, or anyone who grew up in the 60's.  

Compost Moving Day

Today I emptied out my compost bin by carrying to the garden.  It contained 2 years of decomposing vegetable waste.  By spring it will be further decomposed and ready to be spaded in.  This includes sweetcorn husks and cobs, pecan shells, coffee grounds with filters, and shredded paper.  The bin gets completely full when we freeze sweetcorn, but that breaks down fairly quickly.

Compost Bin

Compost in Garden.