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THE   STORY - blog

Fall Spraying Complete

10/11/2020

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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)
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First Load of Organic Oats Goes to Market

9/24/2020

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Mike Gray of MGI Trucking out of Kenville, Manitoba hauls the first load of Organic Oats to Grain Miller's in Yorkton.
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Rye Plants Stool Out - getting ready for Winter

9/24/2020

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Combining Complete

9/24/2020

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Combining off to a good start in late August
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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. 
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The head mechanic taking a look - solving the overheating problem.
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Fall Rye Seeded

8/29/2020

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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.
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Freshly seeded Fall Rye Field
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Fall Rye field on August 26, 2020 (4 days after seeding)
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Spring 2020 Seeding Complete!!

5/27/2020

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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!
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The last seed-drill fill!
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Sowing of the final field.
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Shipment of Wheat goes to Market

3/26/2020

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Loading the truck under the watchful eyes of Tom and Verne (trucker).
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Harvest Report

11/26/2019

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Combining Yellow Peas followed by the baler. Cows love pea straw..

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:
1.   An infestation of the Painted Lady Butterfly caterpillars that had an insatiable appetite for Canada Thistles almost destroying them.
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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!
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For 2020, it is back to the drawing board with more research to increase yields while maintaining quality!  Never Give Up!!









We now have a diversified team with two new members  :)
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Seeding Complete

5/25/2019

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This spring we planted:
Yellow Peas - 100 acres
Red Spring Wheat - 70 Acres
Soil moisture was good during seeding, so we expect good germination.
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Picking up yellow pea seed from Swan Valley Seeds Inc.
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Filling the seed seed drill by hand because of the fragile nature of the yellow pea seeds.
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Seeding!
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Fertilizing the Soil

5/22/2019

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Spray Application of the following mix:

Apple cider Vinegar (to balance pH of the spray water)
GSR Calcium*    4.5 grams per acre
Organic Cane Sugar*    1.8 kilograms per acre (4 pounds per acre)
Organic Blackstrap Molasses*    8.3 litres per acre (2.2 gallons per acre)
Pacific Natural Fish Fertilizer 2-3-0*    16.63 litres per acre (4.4 gallons per acre)
Softrock Phosphate*    2.4 kilograms per acre (5.3 pounds per acre)
Water - enough to spray 66.6 litres per acre (17.6 gallons per acre)
*products sourced from Back-To-Your-Roots Soil Solution Inc, Shellbrook, Saskatchewan
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Mixing the molasses with water to make it pump-able!
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The staging area
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Jim Staples of Moonwalker Spraying applying the nutrients.
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    About

    Rusk Ranch is located near the middle of Canada in the Swan River Valley agricultural belt.  This beautiful acreage is totally surrounded by conventional chemical farms.  It is hoped that the information supplied here will aid farmers and gardeners to grow nutrient dense crops in a  sustainable manner which is in harmony with Mother Earth!!

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  • HOME
  • Tools
  • Soil, Nutients, & Plants
    • Nutrients
    • Soil Structure
    • Plant Growth
  • PESTS
  • REMEDIES
    • For Farmers
    • For Gardeners
  • The Story - blog
  • REFERENCES
  • GARDEN TIPS
  • PotatoBugBattle