Deer Gun Season Opener 2010

Three years ago most of the local hunters got together for the first Tyler Creek QDM (Quality Deer Management) meeting. They have been working hard to manage the deer population and this year we are really starting to see results in our area.
Crop damage and car-deer accidents are on the decline and the size, health, and quality of the deer that are being harvested are increasing!
Tonight, at our meal-time prayer, I thanked God for His creation and being able to harvest deer, and my 6year old started laughing "You don't harvest deers!!"
Ah, a teaching opportunity!
We had a little talk about how managing the population and health of a species, then utilizing as much of animal as possible is not just harvesting but also being a good steward of our resources.

har-vest- (verb) to catch, or remove for use.

How amazing that some animals can eat crops and grasses and turn them into an essential resource- protein- for our use.
I am sure that these may end up over a mantle or on the living room wall as a trophy mount, but so much more important, as a meal for our neighbors in need (burger and steaks) or a pair of warm leather gloves (a family friend owns the local hide shop).
It makes me think of one of my favorite quotes: "Everything lives. Everything dies. And death with a purpose gives full meaning to life."-Trent Loos

Happy harvest hunters! Be safe!

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Shelled corn Harvest on hold

We are (were) on track to finish harvest about 6-7 weeks ahead of last year.
The corn has been running around 18% moisture and takes no time at all to dry. Last year the corn was so wet and cold it just took forever to dry and we went through a lot of propane-way more than we expected. So this beautiful fall weather that we have been blessed with has saved us lots of time and $$!
We are averaging right around 200 bushels per acre (last year around 160). And corn is selling for about $5/bushel (last year $4/bushel).
So its been a pretty great year but it seems like there's always somethin'....
We have run into a small problem... we ran out of room!! We actually have to build a new bin before we can finish the last 300 (out of 1200 acres of shelled corn)!
They started putting up the new bin and it should be ready to fill in a couple days!

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Politics and Sourghum

We had quite a day today!
This morning our family hosted a Farmer's Meet and Greet with Justin Amash in the Dairy Disocvery barn!

There was a great turn out, especially for a beautiful harvest day- its hard to get farmers out of the field!
About 65 farmers from Barry, Kent, and Ionia counties listned as Justin explained why he is the best candidate for the 3rd District Congressional seat. Issues that impact Agriculture in Michigan (like Immigration, Tax Code, and Government Transparancy, just to name a few) were discussed.


Late tonight the Sorghum Harvest was completed!



This year we planted about 100 acres of Sorghum right after harvesting the wheat in July. This is what you could call Double Cropping. This is a relatively new trend for dairies in West Michigan and it seems to becoming more popular.


Sorghum is a species of grass and it can be used as a substitute for a lower quality hay. We harvest our sourghum pretty much exactly like we harvest and store our hay silage. And use it to feed the younger heifers on the farm. The best quality hay silage goes to the milking cows.