Change in Rotation

[furrowtickler]

This was far more damaging in mid October than the nice dry peas we did in August last year .
But ya most times you’re right bigzee

[farmaholic]

BigZee....

Things have changed a bit recently. Disease is a major concern and durum on durum on durum would be a recipe for a wreck if all three sides of the disease triangle are present with that kind of a rotation. Disease pressure wasn't too much of a real problem years ago.

Even the tight canola rotations are stoopid. Clubroot isn't an absolute death sentence but for anyone farming long term why would you want to tempt fate? ....then complain about seed costs that have the latest and greatest "resistance".....ahem...I mean "tolerance".

I would like more pulses in our rotation but root rots are wreaking havoc.

I would like soybeans but they have issues here.

I HATE growing flax but it is a very good break from other plant hosts that are affected by the same pathogens.

Continuous cropping has been a good thing but it has come with it's own set of new challenges. What works in one area doesn't necessarily work in another.

More sprayer time isn't a goal of mine, so if I can help mitigate some issues with a decent rotation...why not?

No one made money summerfallowing or chem fallowing. So even if the margins are a bit tight on some crops in the diverse rotation, I still think it's better than a tight rotation or idle land. Haven't even considered a forage in rotation, there are fewer and fewer livestock guys around and even fewer dairy farms of which there was once many in this area, even the cattlemen here have resorted to growing annual crops for livestock forage ....seems they yeild more tonnes.

[Sheepwheat]

No such thing as a perfect rotation, have to keep up with changes in demand for different crops and production, also input costs as well as own farm ability to compete.
Local area has seen switch out of grass alfalfa mostly for beef production to straight grain growing, with simple canola-cereal rotation most common.
Not seeing many new fences or newly seeded forage fields.

Very true on making due with different crops, for one’s own situation. Some of us though like trying new things, wheat and canola is fine, but boring. Fine if boring pays the bills, but I am one of those who love studying and trying things others don’t try.

Like your area, fences are generally coming down, cows get sold as new generation takes over. Barley canola oats is the order of the day around here. Bit of wheat.

Makes me wonder personally as I am the only one building fences and planting land down to forages. Kinda nervous. 😂

[woodland]

Very true on making due with different crops, for one’s own situation. Some of us though like trying new things, wheat and canola is fine, but boring. Fine if boring pays the bills, but I am one of those who love studying and trying things others don’t try.

Like your area, fences are generally coming down, cows get sold as new generation takes over. Barley canola oats is the order of the day around here. Bit of wheat.

Makes me wonder personally as I am the only one building fences and planting land down to forages. Kinda nervous. 😂

Sounds like our neck of the woods too. More fences disappear than are built around here too. We’re bucking the trend too and some days I question it as well. At least yearling prices bounced back in the last couple weeks.
Put up a mile last fall and 3/4 mile this year.

[grassfarmer]

Woodland and sheepwheat - fence posts are the best thing you can plant LOL. Put up over 30 miles in 2 years - taking a breather with only a couple of miles of barb to replace with electric this year.

[blackjack]

Nice fence woodland... do you guys use woven wire on all your fences.

[Sheepwheat]

Woodland and sheepwheat - fence posts are the best thing you can plant LOL. Put up over 30 miles in 2 years - taking a breather with only a couple of miles of barb to replace with electric this year.

I hope you’re right! This year is the first year we are stealing grain land to make pasture. Grain farmer in me says take it easy you dummy. Shepherd in me says only that much?

Good to have encouragement, grass, thanks.

[woodland]

Woodland and sheepwheat - fence posts are the best thing you can plant LOL. Put up over 30 miles in 2 years - taking a breather with only a couple of miles of barb to replace with electric this year.

30 miles .......... was that yourself or a contractor? Hats off either way as there’s a lot of other work besides just the posts and wire. Usually we have to pull the old wire and doze fifty year old poplars to get back to square one before starting over which is more work than building it here.


Our fence is on the right and the left is what it would’ve looked like before we started.

[woodland]

Nice fence woodland... do you guys use woven wire on all your fences.

We’ve started doing that as it’s frustrating having calves out in the ditch especially along the pavement which is quite a few miles for us. The cost is a little more but the maintenance seems lower on the stretches that have been in for 30 years at home vs barb wire. Gone to 8 foot posts as well which helps in the hills a lot. Hopefully it’ll be a generation or more before it needs attention......... 😉

[blackjack]

Woodland...We have a new highway being built through our area so was thinking five wire but your fence ideas might change my mind.Thanks.