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Planting delay allows time for other work

It’s almost May and central Indiana farmer Jonathan Sparks has yet to plant a field. He says he isn’t too worried at this point and it’s giving him the chance to work on other projects around the farm.  “My brother-in-law refers to it as ‘this old bailer’,” he says.  “I’ve been reworking my big square bailer and it’s an ongoing process.  So I worked on that.”

Sparks tells Brownfield the delay in planting also gives him an opportunity to look at other crops around his farm.  “So far the pastures look pretty good,” he says.  “The grass is coming on and hopefully in another 10 days or so we’ll be able to turn cows out on grass.  I’ve seen some winter-kill in my alfalfa.  I have an agronomist coming this week to look at it and make a decision as to no-till beans into after the first cutting or to keep it through this year.”

Overall, he says he isn’t too concerned with the date on the calendar – especially with this week’s forecast of highs in the 50’s and lows down into the 30’s.