K2 year 4- pouring everything back in

[K2]

 

It seems just yesterday I was posting here with not an acre of experience and nervous as a mouse stealing cheese from a trap.   Our first year was our best.  Our third year are worst (last year prevented plant and dry weather in same year).   So it came that in order to expand we need to get bigger planter.  Then the lease tractor wasnt going to work and I would have to buy that too.   So what's one to do but close your eyes and start writing checks.

 

Planter:  Trading up to a 1790 12/24 with fert during the summer.   I thought I did ok on that deal but probably under valued my trade.   This machine dwarfs my little 6/11 1780.   I sure hope it just works.  The central commodity would be nice if I had a seed tender, but I dont.   Given the cash flow Im going to have to suck it up and run bags up the stairs.  The coop said they would tender a couple of boxes of beans I have.  Thats sure is nice of them but Im a runner during planting and would probably bucket them on if they dont show on time.

 

Tractor-   ..and this is were is got crazy.  After I bought the planter I started looking for the tractor.  There just hasnt been much available and this planter is a hydraulic hog making choses few.   I figured after December 31 st the tax buyers would be done and things would get back to normal.  WRONG.   The market is gone wild.  Dealers have little inventory and the price is the price.   The JD dealer started bringing up tractors from Florida, slapping a big number, and letting them go.  I would say the market is up 10% since Jan 1st 2012.   The green premium is also impressive.  I ended up buying a Magnum off a farmer in Indiana.   Its way more than I wanted to spend when this started.  Did I mention we need a good year in 2012.  :)

 

Over the top-   We have been burned up the last two summers and finally decided to give a pivot a try.   A pivot would have almost been paid for if in sevice last summer.  Dirt work is pretty reasonable these days so resovoirs it is.   I think this is the first pivot in the county.    The pivot is a 260 degree plus bender that covers 126acres  of bottom ground.  Unfortunately we didnt get the water storage finished before this big rain event.  We wont have enough water for 2012 but will go with soybeans and hit them with some August "rains".  Did I mention we need a good year in 2012?

 

We are all in again with every dime plus plowed back in to the operation.

 

There sure is a lot to get done and planting might only be 70 days away.....

 

nervous

JXK

 

 

 

 

[David Ernst]

I have found that if things are working well enough to grow, it is a vicious cycle of paying money. This will be my sixth year.  Two droughts, two extremely wet years, and one year of both extremely wet and drought.  It's crazy, nerve racking, and a thrill.