Finally, today was the first day we could start doing some field work. The temperatures were still chilly with a high of 50 F but the forecast seems like it will warm up just a little in the next few days. At least it gives us some time to plant something! Seed will not germinate in soil that is less than 50 F. We want to make sure the seeds have an optimum seed bed and stay warm and cozy 2 inches under.

To prepare the seed bed for corn, we have to go over any field that will be corn with a soil finisher. It is the only cultivating tool Center View Farms has because we no-till our soybeans. No-till causes the least amount of erosion of all cultivation methods simply because no tillage method is used. But we do prepare future corn fields by using a soil finisher that has disc blades, v-blades and harrows to get the top 4 inches of soil ready for the seed.

Many times, painting the soil black is not a good thing, but we brush over it lightly, pulling out weeds as we go along and loosen up the soil right before the seed goes in the ground. For today, I ran the soil finisher and my dad will start planting seed tomorrow first thing. I have to stay ahead of him but not too far so that he can plant less than 24 hours after I till the soil.

I got out of the tractor a few times to pick up some rocks and I wish I could put smells through this blog, because the smell of freshly turned soil is soooo amazing!