Combines Gorden combine products in fescueIJ

[redman]

I put gorden bars on the front every other row so I have gorden bar then 2 rasp bars then gorden bar. I really like this set up. I do not have the helical cut concaves though. Make sure your gorden bars are weighted the same at 180 degree intervals (the weights should be written on them) or else you'll have one hell of a un balanced rotor. The only reason I found out about the Gorden bars is because I bought a 2188 out of Idaho and it had them on it. I tried it and really liked it so I put them on the other machine. I am on irrigated ground here. although the late rains made me pull back on irrigation and made me wonder if I should have irrigated in feb. All in all I think the year will be average at best but that's ok. hopefully prices will reflect it. Fescue is definately on an upward trend. I hope perennial holds firm. I also have some orchard grass and that's one grass I don't understand. Very few acres grown, cattle market is up pretty good, and price keeps falling. I think maybe too much Canadian import I guess. How's the clover thing doinIJ I have grown some crimson in past years and did pretty well yield wise but took a bath on the price. after cleaning and the bees there was ,I think, a net loss on it.I need another rotational crop but am afraid to stick my neck out. Right now I use wheat and peppermint as my other crops. We've been growin mint for 35 years but it is so expensive to grow that it just isn't feasible on a very large scale anymore.

 

[Old_Pokey]

Ok, I'll keep that balancing idea in mind. I really dont want to spend half a day relocating the bars, so I better watch the weight when I install them the first time. I plan to run the helical concaves too, so I'll report on the results. The clover thing is hit and miss. Right now the price is great for red, but I dont know how well the stuff does on mint ground. Is'nt there some sort of fungus that is hitting the mint plantsIJ For rotations, we've started to sublease out the irrigated acres for beans or corn and then go back to fescue on a modified crop history. With the price of fuel heading skyward and cost of the equipment to take out a field of grass, it pays us very good to just sub it out for a year. Our equipment mainainence cost has been allmost nothing since we started doing it this way. And it makes for good seeding in the fall with the moisture allready being right there. How in the world do you get your machines clean enough after orchard grass to run fescueIJ Most of the orchard grass is cut and in the swathe up here now. Just waiting for the weather to clear so they can get going with the combineing.

 

[redman]

HA!!! cleaning combines is interesting isn't itIJ we usually have a few day break between OG and fescue so I spend a very long time at it with air comps. and vacuum cleaners. Been at it for several years with very little trouble so I must have something right anyway. Mint does get a verticillum wilt but I don't think it would affect any other crop that I know of. We used to be big into the rowcrop thing,Beans, Corn, table beets. But we were a large grower for Agripac. So I guess you know the rest of the story. Fortunately at that time our bread and butter was about 800 acres of pepprmint and a ok price so we made it through. I do know if you follow beans with fescue or perennial ryegrass, you will have a very clean and nice crop . It is a great rotation. One I wish we still had. Trading ground around here is not very common, I don't think there is enough row crop grown in our area anymore so substantiate it.What there is, is all for National foods out of Albany. I would assume your growers are all Norpac growers. I have found No till wheat to take away from the cost of tilling up any of the grasses. I just use 3-4 quarts of roundup, let them die down and notill right into it. It works awesome and the wheat loves it and does very well. Just gotta watch for Slugs though.

 

[Old_Pokey]

Hey redman could you email meIJ I'd like to visit about this notill wheat idea you have. My email is above, or just farmerd@aracnet.com

 

[steve_farmer]

What product do you use as a growth regulatorIJ Does anyone put a growth regulator on barleyIJ I was told that "with Cerone, you're on your own."

 

[Old_Pokey]

Hi Steve. Well, the main 2 here for grass seed are Apogee, and Palisades. One thig with the apogee is you get some herbicide action on anual bluegrass if you use a higher rate. I have no idea what it would do with barley or any grains, but it sure works great for grass. So far we've been lucky enough to be able to tank mix with our rust spray. I remember using cerone about 20 years ago on a new wheat variety that was prone to go down. It worked out great that year. What is it that you're trying to get done with regulator on barleyIJ