At the cemetery I recorded these birds this morning: Franklin's Gull, Song Sparrow, Pheasant, Red-winged blackbird, Robin, Grackle and Chipping Sparrow.
I came across this good description..."The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a program administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to conserve farmland for future generations while providing habitat for wildlife, reducing soil erosion, and improving water quality." It was a CRP field that I burned last week.
Servicing the corn planter this morning I was reminded of sage advice Mark gave me when I acquired it many years ago. It's likely a product of the late 1950s. Corn kernels (seeds) are placed in a round metal box. In the bottom of the box is a plate with serrated edges. As kernels drop into the serration, and as the plate turns, one kernel at time drops into a tube leading to a disc that creating a small furrow into which the kernel drops. A device then covers the seed.
Mark warned me, that in winter, spiders spin webs that choke off the tubes where kernels drop to the soil. Today three of four tubes had spider webs closing the entrance. His advice saved much trial and error frustration.
Takk for alt,
Al
In response to comment's questions: I don't know if $300. is a good price. My 80,000 kernels plants 8 acres. The old planter's rows are 38" apart. Now corn is planted at 30", 15" even narrower rows. Thus, 80,000 would not cover many acres. Assume a farmer plants 1000 acres his corn seed will cost a lot. Kernels are so uniform I assume the 80,000 is arrived at by weight. Seed corn sales is now measured by kernel count.
This picture of the planter shows the round seed boxes. A pole on either side drops (theoretically) when turning to scratch a line to follow as one returns across he field so rows are evenly space.
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