Yippee!!  The grain is sold and delivered.  Now the planning starts for next summer.

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Big thanks to Jim Staples of Moon Walker Spraying for spraying nutrients this fall.  Spray mixture included:

• GSR Dormant Calcium                                      44 grams / acre
• Organic Cane Sugar                                          0.9 kilograms / acre (1.9 pounds / acre)
• Organic Molasses                                              4.6 litres / acre (1 gallon / acre)
• Softrock Phosphate                                           2.0 kilograms / acre  (4.4 pounds / acre)

Mike Gray of MGI Trucking out of Kenville, Manitoba hauls the first load of Organic Oats to Grain Miller's in Yorkton.

This year combining dragged on until the middle of September.  The oats were thick, and there were some mechanical issues with the combine and swather.  With the talents of Tom and Fred, we persevered and got 'er done!  At the end of the day, we filled four 1800 bushel bins. 

Completed seeding 30 acres of Fall Rye (Hazlet variety) on August 22, 2020.  Seeding rate was 2 bushels per acre.
Fall Rye germinates and grows in the fall until the snow flies.  The established plants will have a jump on all the weeds in the spring, and rye is usually harvested in mid to late summer. Also, rye secretes a substance that discourages growth of other plants, thus controlling weeds.

This spring seeding went smooth!  The weather cooperated, and there were no break-downs.  Seeding summary is:
120 Acres of Camden Milling Oats
25 Acres of Arborg Milling Oats

Sowing was done at a rate of 3.4 bushels per acre in two passes of 1.7 bushels per acre on each pass.  The two passes were sown at 90° to each other.
Let the growing begin!

Finally finished combining in late October!  Quality of the Yellow Peas and Red Spring Wheat are very good considering the summer, but the yield was low.  The summer weather was a challenge:
1.  The spring was very dry with only 0.3 inches of rain in May and 0.75 inches of rain late in June.  Germination was not even and some plants got a late start.
2. Finally, during the latter half of July, there was a reprieve with 2.5 inches of rain. :)
3. Late in August (harvest time for peas), the rains came.  :(
4.  From late August on, harvest was a challenge with less than ideal weather conditions and numerous equipment break downs.

The summer DID, however, bring some blessings:

2. Over the years, the weeds here have changed to “softer” varieties like lambs quarter and grasses, but these are still weeds that compromise the yield.  On the bright side, the weed changes means the soil nutrient program is working.

3. The guardians are still here!

For 2020, it is back to the drawing board with more research to increase yields while maintaining quality!  Never Give Up!!

This spring we planted:
Yellow Peas - 100 acres
Red Spring Wheat - 70 Acres
Soil moisture was good during seeding, so we expect good germination.