A Year On The Farm
While every day is different at Lantzky Farms these are different activities that get completed throughout the year.
A summary of a typical year with our farming system:
Late Winter - Early Spring
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Select corn hybrids and soybean varieties by soil types and field drainage to optimize yields
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Analyze soil tests to determine fertilization rates for each field
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Review herbicide practices from previous year to determine major weed pressures to be controlled
Spring
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Pick up large rocks
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Apply fertilizer and pre-plant herbicides
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Work fields once with a field cultivator or vertical till machine prior to planting
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Plant cornfields as field conditions and weather allows
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Prefer to no-till plant beans into standing cornstalks. Will work soybean fields if conditions warrant
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No-till plant soybeans as conditions allow
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Spray all fencerows with 2-4D to control broadleaves (giant ragweed) and brush killer if needed to control trees and shrubs
Late Spring - Early Summer
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Post spray corn and soybean fields based on weed pressure
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Side dress liquid nitrogen to post emerged corn
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Spot spray ditches and fence lines for weed control that was missed earlier
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Pick up rocks on all corn fields
Late Summer - Early Fall
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Scout fields for insects, weeds, disease control and pre-yield estimates
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Mow accessible waterways and ditches
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Spray our insecticide/fungicide pass on soybean ground
Late Summer - Early Fall
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Harvest soybeans normally late September to early October
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Harvest corn normally mid-October to early November
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Soybean ground would only be In-line Ripped caused by compaction due to wet conditions
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Corn ground that will be planted back to corn is chisel plowed
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Soil samples are collected as needed for the following year (usually 3-4 year rotation)
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Hog manure is applied on fields requiring additional soil tilth based on an Iowa DNR approved manure management plan. This is applied to the ground that will be corn the following year