Why aren’t we seeding yet?

Why aren’t we seeding yet, and what are we up to?
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[@oldamericaniron5767]

With the different crops and conditions the problems farming may vary across the globe but the one constant is you are at the mercy of Mother Nature.

[@brookdalefarm7986]

Hi, yes that is very true. In the eastern states of Australia they are having trouble with flooding, while we still don’t have enough moisture to even give us a dew. Hopefully Mother Nature will give us a break soon. Thanks from Geoffrey

[@user-ii1di7fy7c]

Its been a ruff year . we planted out our vegetable seeds and will have to reseed alot.we planted fruit trees on swales this year.fingers crossed

[@brookdalefarm7986]

Hi, I hope your fruit trees start growing well soon. Unfortunately a lot of seedlings have not survived the dry. I hope your replanted vegetables go beter. Thanks from Geoffrey

[@petercole5282]

Dry as a chip in the Great Southern, hoping for a solid break next week. Best of luck

[@brookdalefarm7986]

Hi, yes we are hoping too, but it’s not looking promising yet. Where about s are you? Thanks from Geoffrey

[@davidtrollope6644]

Thanks for the updates go and play with fordsons good luck with the rains

[@brookdalefarm7986]

Hi David, thanks. I am looking forward to some rain. I also want to get a chance to play with the Blitz truck. Thanks from Geoffrey

[@davidrobertson376]

Thanks for the update Geoffrey. Really appreciate your explanation of the reasoning behind your management decisions as the season progresses. Really hoping the front coming your way finds its way over to SA. Dave.

[@brookdalefarm7986]

Hi Dave, as soon as we get some rain I will be sending some your way as well. It looks like we are only going to get enough to settle the dust this week. As soon as we have had that I will probably start putting in some oats so it’s ready to germinate with the next front. Thanks from Geoffrey

[@user-vo5mv5qh5z]

Best wishes for some rain. I will wash my car this weekend, then it will surely rain!

[@brookdalefarm7986]

Thanks, it looks promising this week. Thanks from Geoffrey

[@chris-ls3sd2pz5c]

All the best for this years seeding

[@brookdalefarm7986]

Hi Chris, thanks. We are hoping to start tomorow. Thanks from Geoffrey

[@Whatever-ib6ve]

Hello. Can I ask where you are? I was really interested in your video about the salt affected region that you rehabilitated. I am near Merredin.

[@chris-ls3sd2pz5c]

Geoff lives Toodyay way

[@chris-ls3sd2pz5c]

what is the cropping like in Merredin ,use to live there many years ago and did a lot of farm hand work back in the 70/80

[@brookdalefarm7986]

Hi, yes we are just out of Toodyay. We are lucky we only have a small amount of salt. We started with old man salt bush and river salt bush. UWA has an interesting book called I think native fodder plants for grazing. It’s on line now. It’s a great resource. Thanks from Geoffrey

[@insAneTunA]

It is not just the drought that is an issue, but the heat is also an issue. Both issues have the same origin, but they are completely different issues. Yes drought is bad for the plants, but the heat that is causing the drought is also very bad for the micro organisms, even if you had the most fertile and wet soil in the world. The beneficial micro organisms that gardeners and farmers like so much and that contribute to the plant growth go dormant or they die at those high soil temperatures. So at those high soil temperatures the plant will produce less yield even if it would germinate with enough water. A bare patch of soil can easily reach temperatures above 50Celsius or 115F, especially after a few days of high sun intensity. And that is just way too hot for the beneficial micro organisms that live in the top soil layers. So my conclusion is that you are making the right call to wait a bit longer with seeding. Once the seeds have a reasonable chance to germinate and produce the second leaves they will create more shade and that will make the soil less hot, and that will give the germinated plants a better chance to survive and grow.

[@brookdalefarm7986]

Hi, yes you are right. Over summer we had day time temperatures of 46 degrees centigrade, so I am guessing the soil temperature was well over 50 degrees by the end of the hot spell. We still had some stubble cover which gives some shade, but it is too hot for most of the soil microbial. We are now getting some cooler wether with some good rain forecast this week. We will wait and se what we actually get. Thanks from Geoffrey