Steve’s Corn Field
Steve’s Pea Field
There are potatoes planted across from us this year.
Corporate Field
This is the field where the mustard was planted last year. The mustard was ground up and mixed into the soil. It is supposed to kill the nematode that is in the soil that messes with the potatoes. I asked “Why do they allow trucks and tractors from one field into the next to spread the nematodes?” The worker that I was talking to didn’t know the answer to that question. Years ago when I took a Plant Pathology class we put those pretty blue booties on at the edge of a field and took them off when we came out, they were put into a plastic bag and new booties were issued for the next field. We carried nothing in or out of the fields that way.Their new practice is to plant peas and to follow it with mustard…I was told it is to be one of their standard practices to control nematodes..I guess it will be better than spraying the entire field with something toxic.
here you can see fields that are coming long nicely and then down the road are some that are not...strange year
ReplyDeleteI love looking at the fields as they grow. I too prefer smaller farmers fields over corporate ones. Strange growth season here this year.
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering the other day about nematodes and what they do. Now I know. Thanks for the info. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your information about nematodes. I have heard about them but didn't know they caused damage to certain crops. My father (a farmer) used to vary his planting from year to year. He did it to control weeds, but I'm sure it worked for plant diseases too. Farmers have learned a lot through science!
ReplyDeleteNematodes.... no idea of what they do but it makes me think of toads all dressed up in ganster gear.....
ReplyDeleteI love those deep green fields!
ReplyDeleteSteve's fields look as huge as the corporate field. I've never seen such big fields!!
ReplyDeleteBiologic controls are always preferable over spraying chemicals in my book. Minnesota crops are lookin' good!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that down the road the corporate farm will not be able to produce enough food for us. It will not be profitable.
ReplyDeleteOurs are wheat fields. And now is time for harvest so there is lots of cutting being done!
ReplyDeleteIowa farmers are suppose to rotate the corn two years to one year beans. If they get greedy they just keep growing corn. My neighbor lady's land across the street has beans once in a while but she tells the renter that she doesn't like the looks of bean fields. So it is always corn.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely better than toxic spray!!! :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear they are using some 'organic' type methods!
ReplyDeleteNever could understand about nematodes, heard they were in family
ReplyDeletegardens. Corporate was taking over in Arkansas,very few small farms left.
You certainly asked the riight question about the trucks going from one field to the next. It's the same idea as trying to eliminate the spread of eurasian milfoil in the water by NOT taking it to the mpnext body of water. I got hooked on watching the Park Rapids main street webcam for a short time today. :-) I think I will add the link to my blog somI remember to check it when the Christmas tree goes up.
ReplyDeleteInteresting!
ReplyDeleteI still like to see fields of crops too, even though I have lived in the city for all but 18 years of my life.
ReplyDeleteCrop rotation sounds like a smart idea. I know peas build nitrogen in the soil. Growing mustard is better than chemicals, like you said.
Interesting info and the views are amazing. I love your header photos, too.
ReplyDeleteYour post had me looking up nematodes. I now know a very tiny bit about them and that there are both good ones and bad. I'm afraid my old brain couldn't take in much more than that.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos .We have lots of Amish farms here in our area and they grow all kinds of things and the fields are wonderful I love seeing them in their fields with their horse teams plowing or planting . Thanks for sharing , Have a good weekend !
ReplyDeleteI never knew this fact about nematodes. Glad to have read this.
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