We have now been living in the Delta for a year, so I thought I would write a little bit about the farm. David's family's farm is called Arant Acres, and it is located between Greenwood and Cleveland. We grow corn, soybeans, and rice. I say we, and by that I mean the family members that take part in the farming process. I do not drive a tractor, combine, or any other piece of equipment, but every member of a farm family gives in some way to the operation. Farmers work long, hard hours, and farmers' wives also put in long hours at home. Farming in the Delta is probably a little different from what most people think of when they hear the word "farm." We have no red barn, cows, horses, pigs, goats, etc. The farm operation is industrialized, which means we use large, complex equipment to plant, grow, and harvest crops. The crops produced on our farm help to feed animals and families all over the United States of America.
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| Corn |
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Soybeans
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Close-Up of Soybeans
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Rice
Farm boys |
Farm life revolves around the four seasons and the various tasks that must be accomplished in order to have a successful harvest. I have never in my life cared so much about the weather, but now it affects my family's livelihood and everyday schedule.
Spring/ Planting:
Corn, soybeans, and rice are all planted in the spring when the ground warms up enough for a seed to germinate. Usually, planting begins in March, and the first crop to be planted is corn. This year's spring was quite rainy and much cooler than usual, so planting was a little more difficult. We were able to see more of David than we normally would during planting because he couldn't do as much work in the rain. He was really busy running water furrows in order to drain the water off of the fields. A water furrow is a small trench cut in a field with special tires on a four-wheeler. This process prevents the water from staying on the field and damaging the crop. Rice was the second crop planted, and the last was soybeans. After the seeds are in the ground, the wait for them to germinate begins. After 10-14 days, the plants emerge from the ground, and the stand is evaluated (the stand is number of plants per acre; you don't want too many or too few plants). For example, the ideal stand for corn is between 30,000- 34,000 plants per acre, depending upon the variety.
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Carver with the planter
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If you look closely in that hole, you will see a tiny pink corn seed.
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The light green in the background is the beginning of a stand of corn.
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Summer/ Irrigation and Growth:
As the weather warms, the crops begin to grow steadily. The corn gets taller, puts out tassels, and makes an ear. The soybeans get dark green and bushy, bloom, and produce pods. The rice grows tall and produces a seed head. The crops need the warm weather to grow and to pollinate, but it also gets tricky with the weather. The corn needs temperatures under 85 degrees in order to pollinate. Like I said before, everything relies on the weather. Ideal temperatures produce the best yields. With summer's hot temperatures, the need for water also increases. Farmers irrigate their fields in order to water the crops when rain is scarce. David is in charge of irrigation this year, and it is a busy job. Watering crops requires constant monitoring. Irrigation at Arant Acres begins by running polypipe along the upstream end of a field; polypipe is made of a thin plastic material and looks like a big water hose with holes punched into it. The pipe is then connected to a water source and holes are punched into it so that the water flows down each row in the field. A good rain alleviates the need for irrigation and also conserves water and fuel on the farm. David has been working really hard to evaluate the farm's water use efficiency and has implemented new strategies for conservation this year. Summer is also the time when crops have to be sprayed with chemical in order to prevent weed growth and bug infestations. With such a large farming operation, the use of chemicals is a necessity in controlling these yield-robbers.
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| This is polypipe. Notice the water shooting down each crop row. |
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| David swapping a line of pipe. These are not his normal work clothes, but the water must be checked all day every day/ night. |
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| David working on a power unit. Power units provide a source of power for pumping water. |
Fall/ Harvest and Field Prep:
Once the crops mature, it is time for harvest. The combines are rolled out to begin bringing in the crops. The combine is a huge machine that cuts the stalk, separates the seed, and transfers the seed to grain trucks or dollies. The seed is then taken to the grain bins for drying and storage. David drives the combine, and let me tell you, the hours are LONG. They cut the crops from sun up to past sun down. The combines run non-stop (minus breakdowns), and he eats lunch on the go. During the long days, the kids and I go for visits. Carver loved riding last year, and I know Walker will be so excited to ride this year. He has a love of buttons, and the high-tech combines have TONS of buttons. After the fields are harvested, they have to be prepared for the next year's crop. They must be disked (tilled) and rowed up for beans and corn. Rice fields are left flat. The more field work they get done in the fall, the less work they have to do before planting in the spring.
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| Combine without the header attachment |
Winter/ Shop Work, Hunting, and Family Time:
Winter brings a welcomed break around the farm. The pace is slower and allows for more family time. During this time of year, David, his dad, and uncle work on repairing and constructing new equipment to use during the busy parts of the year. David is an avid hunter and is able to pursue this hobby in the winter before work. On most early winter mornings, he can be found in a deer stand or a duck blind. In the winter, we are also able to go on vacation. Spring, summer, and fall are busy for farmers, so David is not able to get away. We utilize the winter to spend lots of time together and enjoy our family.
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| Vacation with David's family |
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| Vacation with my family |
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| One of David's hunting conquests |
