a lunch time break

[jimg]

Just before lunch I dashed home and teddered the hay in my back field. Here are a couple pics. Anyone see the 3 hay 'thieves' in the first one? The 2nd is a just b/c pic...wished I was there right now...not necessarily on the tractor but the porch swing would be nice. This is perfect hay making weather...dry, warm, sunny w/ a light breeze. I love days like this!!!

 

[teg]

Nice place you got there... Here's me "working"... Planting a couple of our cotton tests.

 

[Oleozz]

Great pics guys, thanks for posting. I agree, it was a beautiful day.

 

[jimg]

Teg,
Is that your farm or a university project? Sure is flat there is that E of Raleigh?

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evenin Jim,
Very nice !!! Something therauputic sp? in that type of work, nice pics Thanks !

 

[teg]

I wish it was mine but it's a research station east of Rocky Mount, NC. (60 miles east of Raleigh) Upper coastal plains research station. We have about 5 acres to play... err, um, "work" in. These first three tests we're looking at what we call "at-planting" insecticides to control Thrips. Lots of tractor driving and turning around in small alley ways (alley 30 ft. vs. tractor and planter 23 ft long). Makes you actually *want* to go to work

 

[jimg]

Scott -- It can be therapeutic when the machinery is running well. That particular day was very pleasant.

Teg -- Thats really interesting. Is this w/ the university system, USDA or some one else? When I lived in NC I was familiar w/ several of the ag research stations around the Raleigh/Durham area. I was surprised how much land the university owns! So, how long ago were those pics taken?

 

[teg]

The photos were taken last Friday and I'll swing by this Friday to see if everything came up correctly. I'm with NCSU - Entomology Dept. and been running cotton research for 17 years... and I love planting time . New year, new research and this year... new TRACTOR. The tractor has been on the station but I usually get to used the older tractor (seen here, last year... with the one I drove this year in the back ground).
Cotton Planter1

That photo is from our gallery but the main site for us is:
2007 Cotton Insect Corner North Carolina

 

[jimg]

Had a good friend in entomology back in college. He was a hoot, always talking about his favorite pest...stinkbugs. Man, could he talk you blue!! Course I learned lots and lots about stinkbugs.

BTW last spring was at the NTB over in Cary and struck up a conversation w/ a retired prof from NCSU. He spent his entire career studying the cucumber!

Are you located on the ag campus near the fair grounds?

ETA: So who determines what machinery you get to use? Also does the university own the gear or is it leased?

 

[Bill Barrett]

Just before lunch I dashed home and teddered the hay in my back field. Here are a couple pics. Anyone see the 3 hay 'thieves' in the first one? The 2nd is a just b/c pic...wished I was there right now...not necessarily on the tractor but the porch swing would be nice. This is perfect hay making weather...dry, warm, sunny w/ a light breeze. I love days like this!!!

Nice field, what kind of hay you have?

 

[jimg]

Agreed, the field is pretty nicely laid out but its growing nothing too spectacular -- endophyte infected fescue, a dab of orchard grass, native grasses & weeds. This is the first time Ive hayed it and before that it was grossly mismanaged, lots taken little given back. I was planning for first cut to be cattle feed and wasnt disappointed. Just contracted w/ the coop to burn it off next week and after the withdrawal period will plant Teff. That should make a good crop for my target market...horses.

 

[teg]

The Vet School is by the fair grounds... they are expanding with new buildings. We don't have anything that nice. The university owns the tractors and I use what ever is hooked up for the day. I'm just glad they let me use the equipment. The research stations are short handed, so planting your own tests helps them. ...and make me very happy .

You can find some "interesting" professors that study (or focus) on the smallest nitches. I really like working in Entomology but my major was forestry and the U.S. Forest Circus... oops, Service... brought me to NC. I just try and think of Cotton as a very short forest...

BTW, where abouts is your Hay Field? (state location is fine )

 

[jimg]

Ah, I thought all of the ag school was over at the fair grounds. Good to know this b/c Id wind up getting lost. Ive been to the vet school a couple times as well as the fair grounds. Here I thought all of the ag school was as nice as the vet campus. Must admit Ive never seen more of the campus than the vet school.

"think of Cotton as a very short forest."


Its over in E TN not too far W of Athens. Im going to be over in your neck of the woods next week though. I do some traveling w/ this job between here and RTP. My daughter still lives in NC so I stay w/ her when Im over there.