Field of Dreams

For the past few years we have been chewing on the idea of putting our 30 acre field into irrigated pasture. I say we, but mostly mean me. The folks are open to the idea, though. We wouldn't have to re-farm it each year, probably take less water, and would give us the option to run critters. All that being said, we took the leap of faith and planted grass. 

Grandpa was the first to break this ground out of sage brush about 50 years ago. Since then, it's raised oats, alfalfa, barley hay, pasture grass, corn, sugar beets, and malt barley. To get a good seed bed coming out of barley, Dad plowed the stubble under. 

Then borrowed Luke's tractor and roller-harrowed it up. We were going to level it, but this made a nice seed bed. And the ground is pretty sandy, you don't want to work it more than you have to. 

Then Gerry and I came home for the planting. Started the day out with a good ranch breakfast. 

We had Co-op come out and broadcast the seed mixed with fertilizer. 

We went with Big Horn Pasture Mix #2.

With mellow ground and a pivot sprinkler, we just rolled it in with Dad's 4230. Gerry did most of the tractor work with our Blessed Mother watching over him. 

Of course we had to do some tweaks along the way. Worked in real nice, though. 

Then hit it with water right away. The idea is to keep the surface damp so the the seed has the best opportunity to germinate. When planting a perennial crop, germination and root establishment is the most crucial part. 

Let it grow.

Looks good. I'm excited to see how this crop progresses. Irrigated pasture around the Big Horn Basin is becoming more popular. The cost of planting and harvesting each year just keeps getting higher. If all we have to do from now on is irrigate and watch critters graze, we'll be jolly ranchers. Special thanks to Mom and Dad for their openness to new ag ideas. If there is one key virtue to making family farming work, it's open communication. Through good dialogue, families can discern the next right step for their operation. Without it, frustration and discord will inevitably rear up. All for the Glory of God. Who and what will run in here come spring? We'll find out. But I just keep hearing in my heart the words: if you build it, they will come.