The plowed field is just right for rolling. (See the dust)
Linky wanted to ride with Grandpa.
The roller smashes all the plowed dirt chunks down and soften up the soil, readying it for leveling.
This is one of The most important aspects of getting the ground ready. The window to roll is very short; requiring the soil to be dry but not so dry the roller can’t break up the clods.
Clods are the bane of farming. They take more water to soften them up, the seeds have a harder time getting a foothold or to put their little heads through, and when you irrigate the plug up the furrows.
Just as we got done and pulled in for the evening meal a huge black cloud came up and dumped snow.
Everything came to a stop until the wind and sun could dry stuff out.
We started plowing again last night. But another storm is heading our way. We hope to get the manure spread before it hits here. Water/snow makes for a nice fertilizer combination.
I sure hope this is the last storm of the year. The onion farmers are three weeks behind and the sweet corn guys are two weeks behind. Everyone is really stressed, but there is nothing we can do about it. Farming is a gambol based on the weather, always! Then the next gambol is what the prices are for harvest, but that is another subject for a different time of the year.
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
Geez, that is a tough timetable to work under. I hope you get it all done!!! It looks brrr cold there!
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Sorry for the bad weather. It did me so much good to see that you folks were on the land….kind of hope for the future. Hope it warms up and gets right for planting soon.
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I hope this is the last storm of the season for you too. However, we are getting a wave of them here right now. Not sure how that translates to what reaches you. My guess is you’ve got at least another couple or so fronts that will make their way from here to you. Hopefully not more. It’s been a strange winter for all of us. I wish you luck.
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Hope the weather you get doesn’t stick around for long! It is nice to see that you are on the ground! We are pretty darn wet and still no where near ready to do much here yet. Good luck!
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Snow snow go away!!!!! Farming is definitely like gambling!!
I make for a bad farmers wife as I am not a gambler! : (
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Glad you are finding windows in the weather to get the fields ready. We have an everything day here. Rain, cold, wind, sun–with snow and then BIG WIND predicted. Hi to Linky.
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Hope you get it all done………spring IS coming!
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Hi Linda, We can’t win when it comes to what Mother Nature gives us, can we???? We all just do the best we can. I remember one summer when we had a horrible drought. We were having to water things in the yard almost every single day. Luckily, it didn’t get bad enough for us to have a water rationing on yard watering… They did limit things like swimming pools, etc. It was a hard summer since we grow about 50 beautiful roses –which HAVE to have water.
So interesting to learn about how you have to do in order to get the fields ready… I’m learning so much! Your granddaughter is gorgeous. Love that blonde hair. Tell me more about your kids/grands. Do they live nearby???
Hugs,
Betsy
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The fields are looking great. Love the photo of Linky w/Grandpa 🙂
The weather is making things nasty everywhere. I sure hope that snow passes over you.
We are inundated with rain – 3 inches so far since yesterday. Flooding and high water everywhere. Good thing the ducks like mud!
Take care and good luck!
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you know the photo of the tractor by the grain bin reminds me of the smell of the dirt out west that does not get wet often and yet when it does has a unique smell found no where around where I live. Thanks.
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We are supposed to get 6 more inches of rain… I was born in Oregon so I love the rain, other people here in Pa. not so much. lol
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Nice pics Linda, Thanks! I am always amazed that so much field work can get done in short order or so it seems. I know it takes alot of dedication and money to make it all happen. I’m always appreciative of farmers and ranchers who provide so much for all. Freedom is a wonderful thing.
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Glad you’re in the field. My renter worked the rolling cultivator today. We had 90 degrees and 25mph winds, definitely the warmest day so far. Sorry I cannot send some of this to you, but the winds might have dried you out too much to use the roller. I’ve not seen one of those before. We would plow then disk then run a ‘floater’ over the ground to level it out then would bed up to get ready for planting and irrigating. Seems like we have to run over the land a number of times doesn’t it? Do hope the weather hold for you all so you can get those crops in.
Blessings!
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Hope the storm will move through quickly and not dump much rain or snow. We have another one coming Wednesday so you better duck. Sorry! Like you said I hope these are the last storms of the season so you can get planting done.
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Linda
Your reports on farm life get better every entry. Your analysis of what is done, why it is done, and the hopeful result of all the hard work. Of course, “Mother Nature” has some say, which we, poor mortals, have no control over!
I often wonder, do the “bureaucrats” who sit in judgement in their “ivory” city offices and put out “edicts” to the farmers, have any idea? The answer as all country folk know is – NO!
Maybe introduce them to your excellent reports? They may, hopefully, get some ideas? Then again, after writing this, I just noticed a “flight of pink pigs” flying over Brisbane! They don’t have a clue.
Hope “Mother Nature” is more co-operative than the “bureaucrats”.
Cheers
Colin (HB)
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That gamble is exactly why I could NEVER be a farmer. I admire the farmers that, even though they can´t control the weather or prices, still remain true to their professions. It must be love! 🙂
Happy Easter Linda!
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I’m blown away with all the work you guys have to do and how difficult it is juggling jobs and the weather.
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Nature really is always in charge, isn’t it. Farming is tough. But what a great way to live.
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