Farm Journal -Cider Hill Farms

[CCF]

FARM JOURNAL #3

Thankfully, we are almost caught up with our farm work. Warm temperatures with a combination of a little rain have helped get everything done. The trees and the grass around the farm are starting to show new signs of life around the farm, and the hay field is beginning to show some signs of life. If the weather continues as it is, we will hopefully be able to perform the first hay cut at the end of May. After all of the rain showers stopped on Saturday, we spread manure on our fields at Cider Hill Farms. The fields that we are renting out around the area are still too wet to drive on, so they will be saved for the following week. We are glad that the manure spreading was completed, and we hope to do a bit of plowing on some of the new fields next week.

Dave was put on the IH5288 and Case IH manure spreader for the day. Down at the barn area, he drove the tractor out of the barn, hooked it up to the spreader. After filling up the fuel tank, he proceeded down to the field to begin spreading:

Down at the field, Garret was already busy turning over the manure with the excavator. The manure has been sitting for a week since delivery, so we though that it would be a good idea to turn it over before spreading it on the field:

Once Garret was done turning over the manure, Martin hopped in the skid steer and began to fill up the manure spreader for Dave:

Once the spreader was full, Dave opened up the spreader gate, and headed off:

As the IH had problems getting around in some of the steeper sections of the field, Marky was put on the Massey Ferguson and the John Deere spreader. The John Deere spreader was purchased at a local farm auction back in March:

Marky headed off to the end of the field to spread the areas that Dave could not easily spread with the IH:

Once he finished, he headed back down to the front of the field:

Unfortunately, Marky hit a wet spot in the field on his way back and got the tractor stuck:

As Dave was busy spreading and the tracked tractor was in the shop getting several dead light bulbs replaced, we used the next largest machine we had on hand...........:

It was quite obvious that the Massey Ferguson was extremely stuck:

After several minutes of pulling the tractor with the excavator, the tractor came out of the rut. We will have to go back and fill in the rut before we do any plowing. Marky parked the tractor at the front of the field area after inspecting the machine for any damage that may have been caused while stuck in the rut:

Meanwhile, Dave was still spreading the larger portion of the field:

Once Dave finished, he parked up at the front of the field beside the Massey Ferguson:

As Dave and Marky were about to pack up for the day, they heard the load roar of an engine coming from the barnyard. They ran up to see Gavin hopping on the now running IH300U. Gavin said that the tractor would not start just because of a dirty fuel filter!:

Gavin hooked up the rotary mower, and drove down to test the tractor and mower in the trails in the woods. The tractor and mower worked like a treat:

Once he was done, he parked the tractor back up in the barnyard. We think that we will keep this tractor on the mower throughout the year to keep the farm tidy:

Hate to say it, but that's all for this week folks! Next week's journal will focus on a flashback to the farm in the first week in May of 1976, and a few farm projects that the farm is currently working on.

[CCF]

FARM JOURNAL #4

Welcome to another week of progress on Cider Hill Farm in the week of May 2- May 9, 1976. Work on the fields has finally begun in the fields after the long winter, and is surprisingly almost done. Hiring two additional farm employees and buying an additional tractor have helped immensely so far this year, it is quite evident that many hands make light work. We have fortunately had no tractors get stuck so far this year...towing out our Farmall A with our pickup truck did not end well for the truck's gearbox last year. The weather is looking up, and a good yield is predicted for this coming year.

We started out the week by ploughing up the small vegetable field. We are plowing even less land this year, because we are taking away 5 acres of our corn fields for apple trees. Apples have been selling better than corn for the past few years:

As we are now done with using our manure spreader for the year, we towed is back down to the farmyard and parked it off to the side where it will not be in the way until it is needed again next spring:

One of our new employees is checking the newly planted apple trees for any signs of beetles. Although it is still early in the season, it is better to catch them early before they cause any damage to the trees then later when the trees are devastated:

The next day, we brought out or disks, and several of our tractors. These tractors were disking land for vegetables, and flowers:

As we did not have to return a local farmer's rotary mower for a few hours, it was hooked up to the Farmall Super M to do a bit of tidying up on the farm. Winter had set in quick last year, so we did not have a chance to tidy up some of the longer grass in the undeveloped areas of the farm. The rotary mower was hooked up, and the tractor was driven down to the apple tree orchards to begin mowing:

As the grass was already growing and most of the grass around the apple trees had been cut before winter set in, the mower was dropped to it's spring cutting height. In no time, the grass around the apple trees was mowed:

Next we headed to the barren area of the farm that had not been used since the 1800s. It was estimated that in the mid to late 1800s, most of the farm was used as cattle grazing land. We hope to make use of some of the areas that have not been farmed for long periods of time within the next 10 years. We hope to eventually dig a pond for irrigation in the areas that we are brush cutting:

After the unused area of the farm was tidied up, we drove the tractor back  to the farmyard to load the rotary mower on the flatbed. It was almost time to return it back to it's owner:

Finally on Saturday to end the week, we dragged away a tree that had fallen in an apple orchard last winter with the crawler:

This concludes the progress on Cider Hill Farm from May 2 to May 9. Next week we hope to get some vegetable plants in the ground if the weather permits.

2007:

Rain and warm temperatures have helped the farm along the past week, and have also slowed it down at the same time. As the field were too saturated to do any work on after manure spreading, we took the time to work on several farm projects that needed to be completed before the middle of May. Even though we could not get on the main field, we still managed to be productive down on the farm throughout the week.

Our main field now is spread with manure, and ready to till:

Meanwhile, some of our fields outside of the farm were dry enough for manure spreading. We managed to spread all of the fields that we were renting outside of the farm this week:

Although the grass needed cutting, we would have left ruts on the ground from the wet soil, even if a walk behind mower was used:

Gavin decided to fix the wobbly 3rd furrow on the four bottom plough up in the barnyard:

Garret is up by the pond finishing off the duck pen. The pen should be ready by next week:

The farm owner had a look at how the apple trees on the road up to the farm were coming along. The leaves were finally coming out, and the trees were finally growing.. The trees will need to be pruned soon this year before they grow any more:

Meanwhile, Martin graded off the last four loads of sand on the pond beach with the Massey Ferguson and rear grader blade. The purpose of the beach is to soak up any water that floods over the edge of the pond:

Marky was busy in the excavator finishing off cleaning up the sides of the pond. The pond is almost finished:

After he was done, he got a call from his boss on his cell phone; he was wanted in the farm office. When he got there, the farm owner told him that he wanted him to plough up the new back field, as it was dry enough to drive on. He warned Marky that the rain was coming soon, so Marky headed straight off to the field to start plowing:

Just as he was a bit more than 3/4 way through plowing the field, the rain started:

Marky, knowing that his boss would want the field ploughed that day, slammed the tractor in top gear to quickly finish plowing before any water got in the exhaust. Unfortunately for Marky, he hit a rock with the plow, completely breaking the furrow that Gavin had just fixed:

Knowing that he would get in trouble if he kept plowing as the furrow would eventually break off of the plough, he raised the plow and headed back to the barn. As luck had it, the sun came out and the rain began the slow down just as he was pulling into the barn:

Hate to say it, but that's all for this week folks! Next week's Journal will focus on spring tillage.

*I would greatly appreciate your input on this journal; I can see whether it is worth doing this type of journal in the future.

[Old Ford]

wow Tim fantastic mate love the black and white pictures and the rain very good. you've put all lot of time in to it, well done 8)

[smallclaas]

Another great read Tim Like the auction section, thanks for the overall pictures it gives a great idea of the scale of your operation. Looks great Tim excellent stuff

[CCF]

wow Tim fantastic mate love the black and white pictures and the rain very good. you've put all lot of time in to it, well done 8)

Cheers Mark, glad you liked the journal. 

Another great read Tim Like the auction section, thanks for the overall pictures it gives a great idea of the scale of your operation. Looks great Tim excellent stuff

Thanks Garret, glad you found the overall pictures useful and enjoyed the journals. 

[Lord Ferguson]

FARM JOURNAL #3

Thankfully, we are almost caught up with our farm worm.

Two superb journals one again Timmy B...

You must have some really fast moving worms in the states Timmy B... our are so slow you can catch them real easy  :D

Seriously though... Some great pics there mate... just my luck to be on a cabless tractor just as it starts to rain  - I hope my hair-dye didn't run  :D

I've not seen that topper before... that looks like a great piece of kit mate... how does it attach to the tractor... it looks like its got real 3pt linkage  \

[CCF]

Thanks........

The mower, like many other Ertl 1/16 3 point hitch implements, has it's own spring-loaded 3 point hitch. When you press down on the spring button, the hitch pin will lift, and you are able to mount it to a tractor hitch. When the hitch is mounted, you let go of the button and it locks in place. The arms can also be raised to adjust the height of the implement.

[Lord Ferguson]

Ah.... I see now Timmy B... thanks for that mate... I wish they did a Massey Ferguson one of those  \

[CCF]

FARM JOURNAL #5

Finally after three weeks of standstill in the fields, we were able to get out into the fields to cultivate the land. Over the past three weeks, the ground has been too dry to till as there was no moisture in the ground, or the ground was too wet from rainstorms. The whole farm was not on standstill however during the past few weeks. We were able to tidy up the grass around the farm, finish the new duck and goose pen. Much was accomplished over three weeks time. We are a bit behind schedule, but the late start should not overly affect the yield of our crops.

By the time the ground dried up enough to drive the lawnmowers on the grass, the grass was extremely high:

Marky was sent out on the John Deere X585 to cut the grass in front of the farm. Unfortunately the tractor kept stalling out for some off reason, so he retired the lawnmower to the lawnmower barn, and got out the push mower:

Gavin cut down some of the longer grass with the topper:

The farm looked much tidier after the grass was cut:

Garret hauled out some flowers in front of the farm for Memorial Day. The flowers sold quickly:

We finally finished putting up the sides on the new duck and goose pen. The only part that remains to yet be finished is putting the top netting on the cage. The top netting is more for protecting the birds from hawks and owls than securing the birds:

As the ground around the pond was too soft to get the excavator in, Garret cleaned up around the pond with the backhoe so the pond would be ready to be ready for the excavator when the ground eventually dries up:

The field had quite a few weeds growing in it when we were able to till the ground:

The farm owner made short work of the ploughing with the John Deere tracked tractor and mulch ripper:

As always, Martin hung around the field in the loader and re located any large rocks that the mulch ripper unearthed:

Gavin ploughed up the back field with the John Deere 4620 and 4 bottom plow. Most of the filed had already been ploughed by Marky, so there was not much ground left to cover:

Both of the fields looked much better after being ploughed:

Although most of the ground was covered, there were still a few wet spots in some of the fields that cannot be driven on for at least another week:

Zane was sent out to the back field on the Farmall A to disk up the field that Gavin had just ploughed:

Meanwhile, Marky disked up the field that the boss had just ploughed:

After they were all done, they parked the tractors at the front of the large field for the night. The tractors will be used again soon to plough and disk the parts of the field that were not completed today:

The fields look much better after they were ploughed. We hope to start planting them next Tuesday:

Hate to say it, but that's all for this week folks! Next week's journal will focus on the remainder of the ploughing and disking, and planting.

[Lord Ferguson]

Brilliant Timmy B... I want to know how come I am pushing the blooming mower AT MY AGE and Gavvers gets to lord it on the tractor  :D

[CCF]

Brilliant Timmy B... I want to know how come I am pushing the blooming mower AT MY AGE and Gavvers gets to lord it on the tractor  :D

Because he can be trusted with the tractor! 

Cheers Marky 

[CCF]

FARM JOURNAL #6

Now that hay cutting of our largest hay field has been accomplished, we can now focus on more tasks around the farm. As June wraps up and July begins, we are planting the rest of our fields, and finishing the first hay cut of the season. After all of the bad weather that we have been getting for the past few weeks, we were finally able to get out into the field and plant our onion and carrot crops. Although we have not been able to get onto the field, we have still been as busy as ever down in the farm yard, mainly trying to clean up bumpy parts of the road, and organizing parts to various pieces of farm machinery that was left around. Although the planting took place several week later than normal this year, we should still be able to get our crops harvested on time. More warm weather and rain showers are predicted for the coming week, so the seeds should get a jump start.

As Gavin was mowing by the pig and sheep pens two weeks ago, he suddenly heard a loud bang, and the tractor stalled. As he had several more important tasks to accomplish that day, he left the tractor without taking a look at it. Two weeks later, nobody has had the chance to look at the tractor, and the grass is already growing all around it. The farm looks like a mess again, the grass is badly in need of cutting:

On Friday, Zane plowed up the rest of the field that had not been plowed as of yet:

On Saturday before everyone went off to their jobs for the day, the farm owner let the pigs down into their larger pen in the hopes that they would mow down some of the grass that was growing in the pen:

Garret moved all of the haying implements out for the first hay cut at our smaller field next Friday:

Since the weather has been less than satisfactory, we have spent a great deal of time cleaning up around the farm over the past two  weeks:

Marky was sent out to plant the onion and carrot crops with the corn planter and the Massey Ferguson at noon:

Making a second pass:

Finishing the final pass:

Parking right in front of the field. The field took a little over three hours to plant. We will be planting some fall crops in the other half of the field in 2-3 weeks:

A view of the field after it was planted. Overall, it was a very productive day in the field:

Hate to say it, but that's all for this week folks! Next week's Farm Journal will focus on the first hay cut at the smaller field, and a bit of farmyard work.

[NewHolland2]

Two excellent journals there mate........Sorry I missed the previous one........That Massey 3630 is a real nice tractor........

Keep it up mate........

[Tractorman810]

good to see your keeping marky busy mate, dont want him slacking do we :D

[Lady Ferguson]

Super pics... especially liked the pig enclosure.

[Old Ford]

FANTASTIC Tim mate as allways very very good pictures :P

[CCF]

Thanks Martin, Sean, Mandy, and Mark...Glad you all enjoyed the journal. More to come hopefully next weekend 

[Lord Ferguson]

Brilliant as always Tim.. I am proude to appear in it mate... as ever 

Am I up for a pay rise soon... or a medal for longstanding service or something

[CCF]

Brilliant as always Tim.. I am proude to appear in it mate... as ever 

Am I up for a pay rise soon... or a medal for longstanding service or something

Thanks mate 

Afraid no pay raise right now...looks like you will be the one paying something in today's journal though... 

[CCF]

FARM JOURNAL #7

Over the past week...many things have been happening down on the farm, even after some of the extreme weather temperatures. On Wednesday, the Farm Owner called work off at 9am, when the temperature was already 30 degrees and still rising. Even though the week has been extremely dry up until Saturday, the farm is still working as fast as they can to get the first cut of hay done at their own field, and to finish a few other projects that needed completing down on the farm.

By the time the farm owner had a few spare minutes to try to look at what was wrong with the 300U, the grass had grown all over the tractor so that it looked like it was sitting there for years:

After about 15 minutes, the farm owner finally got the tractor to start. He concluded that the tractor was very overheated, and the blade had hit a large rock causing the tractor to stall out. Fortunately the mower body and the blade were not damaged, so he called Marky down to come mow around the farm. The farm looked much better after Marky finished mowing around it:

After much waiting, we finally put out the John Deere 250 skid steer to go to the dealer for a servicing. Throughout the month of June, the engine had been making funny noises, and the machine was not operating satisfactorily. Hopefully a simple tune up at the dealer will be the end of our problems with this machine:

On Tuesday, Garret was sent to re-plant half of the onion field. Unfortunately due to warm temperatures and no rain, none of the plants sprouted from the ground. If we do not get rain by next Sunday, then an irrigation system will be rigged up to water the plants. First he hooked the planter up in the barnyard, then went down to the field to plant the rows:

On Wednesday, The Farm Owner called work off on account of the unbearable hot weather. On Thursday, a new employee joined the farm team. Seeing as the farm needed a safety officer and someone to take care of the farm animals, Mandy, the new safety officer was hired. So far, the boss is very pleased with her service to the farm. On her first day, she has already given Marky a $20 fee ticket for doing donuts on the John Deere ZTR lawnmower.:

The Farm Owner is also pleased that she has been taking care of the farm animals daily:

On Friday, Dave was sent down to the field to cut the hay:

As always, the 4995 made quick work of the small hay field:

Friday night had apparently been colder than normal, with the temperature dropping to 10 degrees. We found all of our pigs sound asleep inside the barn on Saturday morning:

On Saturday, Garret and Marky went down the the field to chop and bail the hay. As it has rained Friday night, they waited until the afternoon when the grass would be drier:

Garret only chopped half of a wagon for silage, as the farm already had more silage than they would need from their large field:

The rest of the field was baled by Marky:

Just as he was finishing, Dave came down with the Gator. Once Marky finished, Dave put away the haying machinery in the barn area, and Garret and Marky took a few hay bales up to the barnyard in the Gator:

When they got up to the barnyard, Marky jumped in the skid steer, and Garret climbed up to the loft. Once Garret opened the door, Marky passed up bales to him in the skid steer to be stacked:

By the time they were done, it was already closing time for the farm. They packed up the machinery and left for the day. Thus concludes another busy week down at the farm:

Hate to say it, but that's all for this week folks! Next week will focus on a bit of work in the fields, and a bit of work down around the farmyard and barn area.

[Lady Ferguson]

Absolutely brilliant Tim - I am so honoured to be a part of your awesome journal.....

Thank you soooooooooooooooo much

[Lord Ferguson]

Brilliant Timmy B.. as always mate...

Now Garrett... not being funny... but one of my sandwiches has gone from my box this afternoon... did you bring a packed lunch...

As for Mrs Safety... you can whistle for your $20 Wilson 

[Lady Ferguson]

Brilliant Timmy B.. as always mate...

Now Garrett... not being funny... but one of my sandwiches has gone from my box this afternoon... did you bring a packed lunch...

As for Mrs Safety... you can whistle for your $20 Wilson 

Now, now Mr Ferguson.... rules is rules and if you want to find any sandwiches in your lunch box ever again... I would suggest you cough up

[smallclaas]

Brilliant Timmy B.. as always mate...

Now Garrett... not being funny... but one of my sandwiches has gone from my box this afternoon... did you bring a packed lunch...

As for Mrs Safety... you can whistle for your $20 Wilson 

No problem Marky I might have a spare sambo or 2 another great read Tim

[smallclaas]

Brilliant Timmy B... I want to know how come I am pushing the blooming mower AT MY AGE and Gavvers gets to lord it on the tractor  :D

Lucky you Marky I'm selling flowers like a big girl  :D :D only kidding Tim great stuff