What To See In The June Sky

There is an old saying about making hay while the sun shines - a recognition that farm chores last as long as there is daylight.  The last four weeks have been witness to my neighbors fetching their first cutting of hay; along with spreading manure, tilling, discing and planting.  It has been a busy place here in flyover country. 

We know that the summer solstice tomorrow marks the longest day of the year yet the latest sunset of 2025 doesn't occur on that date.  Let me explain.

Solstice Stone - Stonehenge, UK

The solstice marks the farthest point of advance in the sun's relentless march to the north, delivering the maximum daylight hours of the year for the Northern Hemisphere and the minimum daylight hours of the year for the Southern Hemisphere.  The solstice this month marks the beginning of summer here in the Northern Hemisphere and the winter in the Southern Hemisphere.  

The word solstice literally translates to: sun standing still.  Following this event the sun begins to march in the opposite direction and heads south with our daylight hours getting shorter.  Daylight will continue to dwindle until December 21 - The dark days of the winter solstice - and the first astronomical day of winter after which the process reverses and repeats itself.    

All of this aside, there is a curious paradox in play as a few evenings immediately following the solstice seemingly and inexplicably get brighter.  

If you were to check your Farmers' Almanac sunset tables on pages 150 and 151 you would note that at latitude 40 degrees north the sunset occurs at 8:33 every day from June 21st thru July 3rd.  On June 27th it will set a few seconds later compared to the 26th or 28th.  

What gives?

We all know that following the solstice the days grow shorter so logically the sun should be setting earlier, no?

Here in the northern hemisphere, where you live halfway between the equator and the north pole, on the 27th of June the sun will set just a few seconds later.  While this would seem to defy both logic and the science about days getting shorter; as a consequence of our elliptical orbit around the sun and the phenomenon astronomers call analemma the earth is several million miles farther from the sun and moving at the slowest speed around it. Which would explain the hiccup in the sun setting.

Most of you may not be making hay today; nevertheless, on Friday of next week enjoy a couple of extra seconds of sunlight as you take-in another sunset.

Cheers! 

Tour de Ferme

Only a few minutes from where I live is Brey Cycle Farm, LLC.  Recently I had an opportunity to pay a visit and receive a tour of the dairy operation.

Cycle Farm takes its name from the cycle of sustainability which is central to what they do.  All of their beef and dairy animals are born and raised on the farm here in Door County.  

Cycle Farm was established in 1904 by George Brey Sr., great-grandfather of Tony and Jacob  who purchased the farm from their parents Bill and Clarice Brey in 2016.  Today about 1,500 cows are milked and calves and heifers are raised.  Cycle Farm also raises Angus/Holstein crossbred beef animals along with custom heifers for other farms.  As stewards of the land high quality forage crops are grown on 2,000 acres of owned and rented land for livestock feed.  In addition to family members there are an additional twenty full-time employees and several part-time employees.

Cycle Farm is a  member of Peninsula Pride Farms, a farmer-led conservation group, and are participants in the Door-Kewaunee Demonstration Farms Network. 

Calves are fed mother's colostrum at birth to provide immunity and nutrition.  Housed in individual hutches for individual attention and health they are fed pasteurized milk twice a day along with fresh water.  After a week a grain mix is introduced to supplement the milk.  Calves are weaned after 60 days and moved to a group pen.  Feed is a total mixed ration (TMR) of forage, grains, minerals, vitamins, minerals and protein for balanced nutrition.

Maternity ward

Couple of hours old

Cows like moderate temperatures so they are housed in in freestall barns keeping them shaded and cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  This set-up allows the animals to eat, drink, move-about and lie down as they please while protecting them from inclement weather.  Cows are fed a custom TMR and have access to fresh water all the time and their pens are cleaned each time they are in the milking parlor.

TMR Cuisinart

 

Girls returning from milking parlor

Speaking of which, cows are creatures of habit consequently they are milked three times at the  same time each day.  The parlor can handle 26 cows at a time and machines keep track of pounds, temperature and quality with each animal producing an average of 10 gallons of milk daily.  Milk is shipped to Agropur in Luxemburg, WI for the production of mozzarella and provolone.

 

Bulk milk storage

Acreage is routinely tested for pH, organic matter, phosphorus and potassium.  Manure from the animals is stored in a pit until conditions are appropriate for application by spreading, injection or drag hose.  Testing is GPS managed, collecting 1 sample per 2.5 acres to determine nutrient levels impacted by soil types and previous crops grown.  An agronomist determines application rates depending-upon soil needs.

In 2021 - 140 acres were converted to paddocks for grazing heifers and beef cattle.  Management-intensive grazing is a flexible approach to rotational grazing influenced by paddock size, stocking density and length of grazing.  Adjustments are made throughout the grazing season balancing forage supply with animal demand.

In 2024 a screw-press separator was acquired to recycle manure solids for bedding instead of purchasing sand.  The device removes undigested fiber in the manure from the liquid and through a simple drying process produces green bedding to keep the animals comfortable in their stalls.

You won't find Brey beef sold in a local grocery; you can call or order online for pick-up at their farm store located at 2190 County Road O, Sturgeon Bay.  They offer Bargain Bundle and Freezer Filler packages for a volume discount or you can purchase a package of burgers, wieners, or a steak or roast.  Breyfamilybeef@gmail.com or (920) 639-4742.   You can learn more on Facebook and visit Brey Family Beef. 

French Vosgienne breed - solitary animal

 

 

First Tractor

In my life I've owned two of these; a 1950 and a 1952 8N.  They're both gone now; but they were my workhorses in the early years.

The Ford N-Series refers to a line of tractors produced by Ford from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. These tractors revolutionized farming with their affordability, reliability, and ease of use. The series includes some of the most famous tractors in history.

Key Models:

1. 9N (1939-1942)

   • First model in the series, introduced in 1939.
   • Featured a 3-speed transmission.
   • Used the Ferguson three-point hitch system, which became a standard in the industry.

2. 2N (1942-1947)

   • Introduced during World War II with minor improvements.
   • Had steel wheels and magneto ignition in some versions due to wartime material shortages.

3. 8N (1947-1952)

   • The most popular of the N-Series, with over 500,000 units produced.
   • Featured a 4-speed transmission and improved hydraulics.
   • Increased horsepower and other refinements made it one of the best-selling tractors of its time.

Impact of the N-Series:

• The Ford N-Series tractors were pivotal in mechanizing small farms across America.
• They introduced affordable, easy-to-maintain tractors to a broader market.
• The success of the N-Series helped establish Ford as a major player in the agricultural equipment industry.

Thankfulness

As per usual the Thanksgiving Holiday falls during deer camp.  This year it’s just Jill and I as nobody wants to be with us.  Which is just fine.  It’s a relaxing day of filling the wood box, drinking coffee, stuffing and roasting a big, fat chicken, maybe chilling-out in a deer stand for a couple of hours followed by sitting by the fire.

I've been counting my blessings because I've got a great deal to be thankful for.  My family, my friends, neighbors, reasonably good health, my marbles, a comfortable retirement, a new hunting dog and the great outdoors.  Let's face it - we live in the best country on planet earth.

 

An additional ray of sunshine is this bit of news:   According to the American Farm Bureau Survey this year's Thanksgiving dinner will see a dip in price for the second year in a row.  Thanksgiving dinner for ten will set you back $58.08, down 5% from last year; yet still 19% higher than five years ago.

 

Over the 39 years the Bureau has kept records the turkey has accounted for an average of 43% of the total dinner cost.  This year is no different - a 16-pound turkey accounts of 44.2% of the 10-person feast.  2024 brought a 6% decrease in turkey prices - a surprise considering  the USDA reported that growers raised 6% fewer birds this year and the lowest number since 1985.  In further evidence that presidents do not set the price of your turkey dinner contributors to the decline in turkey numbers have been the highly contagious avian influenza along with a drop in consumer demand.  This drop in demand has caused prices to fall.

 

There is some stuff in our world that can be improved-upon; yet on balance this is a terrific time to be alive.  If you glass is half-full like mine take a moment to count your blessings.  We have much to be thankful-for.

 

The staff here at The Platz extends their best wishes to you on this Thanksgiving holiday.   

Gobble, gobble...

 

Blueberry Kingdom

 

 

Growing-up as a kid blueberries were a seasonal treat. And my recollection is that most of them came from Michigan.

Nowadays, blueberries are available virtually year-round. And they come from South America; mostly Peru.

Carlos Gereda was the spark that lit Peru's blueberry boom of the past decade. He asked a simple question: "Can blueberries grow in Peru?"

In 2006, he brought 14 varieties from Chile to see which ones adapted well to the Peruvian climate. He narrowed it down to four and, in 2009, founded Inka's Berries. The company's service consisted of assisting the development of plantations that adhered to the growing standards Carlos had conceived. The blueberry revolution ensued.

As a consequence of Peru's coastal location along with a wide selection of growing elevations blueberries can be grown all year long. Peru is now the the world's second largest supplier of blueberries.

Who Owns Our Farmland?

There's been plenty of chatter lately on the interweb about foreign ownership of US farmland - much of it singling-out China in particular for scorn.  Anyone who follows me here or knows me on a personal basis would tell you that I am no fan of Communist Red China.  We can have a discussion another day about all there is to dislike about these commies and the teetering and dire condition of their economy and social state resulting from insular autocratic rule.  Today I would like to set the record straight on the foreign ownership matter.

Foreign persons or entities held an interest in over 43.4 million acres of US agricultural land as of December 31, 2022.

This is 3.4 percent of all privately held agricultural land and nearly 2 percent of all land in the United States.  The Top Ten countries who own the most acres are as follows:

Canada (12,845,000 acres)

Netherlands (4,875,000)

Italy (2,703,000)

United Kingdom (2,538,000)

Germany (2,269,000)

Portugal (1,483,000)

France ( 1,316,000)

Denmark (856,000)

Luxembourg (802,000)

Ireland (760,000)

According to a USDA report from 2021, China owns roughly 384,000 acres of US agricultural land.  Of that, 195,000 acres, valued at almost $2 billion at time of purchase, are owned by 85 Chinese investors, which could be individuals, companies or the government. 

Of the 109 countries that own US farmland, China ranks No. 18, far behind No. 1 Canada (12.8 million acres) and even the Cayman Islands (672,000). 

Chinese agricultural land ownership increased significantly under the Former Guy.  Only about 550 acres were purchased from 2015 to 2019.  Chinese ownership jumped 30% from 2019 to 2020, from 247,000 acres to roughly 352,000.

You're welcome.....

 Source:  Forbes

Making Hay

There is an old saying about making hay while the sun shines - recognition that farm chores last as long as there is daylight.

We know that the summer solstice marks the longest day of the year yet the latest sunset of 2023 occurs today.

The solstice marks the farthest point of advance in the sun's relentless march to the north. A week ago , June 21, the advance ceased.  The word solstice literally translates to: sun standing still.  Following this event the sun begins to march in the opposite direction and heads south with our daylight hours getting shorter.  Daylight will continue to dwindle until December 21 - The dark days of the winter solstice - and the first astronomical day of winter after which the process reverses and repeats itself.    

All of this aside, there is a curious paradox in play as a few evenings immediately following the solstice seemingly and inexplicably get brighter.  

If you were to check your Farmers' Almanac sunset tables on pages 146 and 148 you would note that from June 21 thru July 3 the sun wil set a few seconds later today compared to yesterday or tomorrow.

What gives?

We all know that following the solstice the day grow shorter so logically the sun should be setting earlier, no?

Here in the northern hemisphere, where you live halfway between the equator and the north pole, on the 26th, 27th and 28th of June the sun will set just a few seconds later.  While this would seem to defy both logic and the science about days getting shorter; as a consequence of our elliptical orbit around the sun and the phenomenon astronomers call analemma the earth is several million miles farther from the sun and moving at the slowest speed around it.

Most of you may not be making hay today; nevertheless, enjoy a couple of extra seconds of sunlight as you take-in another sunset.

 

Making Hay

There is an old saying about making hay while the sun shines - recognition that farm chores last as long as there is daylight.

We know that the summer solstice marks the longest day of the year yet the latest sunset of 2022 occurs today.

The solstice marks the farthest point of advance in the sun's relentless march to the north. A week ago , June 21, the advance ceased.  The word solstice literally translates to: sun standing still.  Following this event the sun begins to march in the opposite direction and heads south with our daylight hours getting shorter.  Daylight will continue to dwindle until December 21 - The dark days of the winter solstice - and the first astronomical day of winter after which the process reverses and repeats itself.    

All of this aside, there is a curious paradox in play as a few evenings immediately following the solstice seemingly and inexplicably get brighter.  

What gives?

Here in the northern hemisphere, where you live halfway between the equator and the north pole, on the 26th, 27th and 28th of June the sun will set just a few seconds later.  While this would seem to defy both logic and the science about days getting shorter; as a consequence of our elliptical orbit around the sun and the phenomenon astronomers call analemma the earth is several million miles farther from the sun and moving at the slowest speed around it.

Most of you may not be making hay today; nevertheless, enjoy a couple of extra seconds of sunlight as you take-in another sunset.

Cheers!

Truth in Labeling

Food labeling is confusing.  But do not be deceived.

When orange juice says it's non-GMO, it is useful to know that all oranges are non-GMO.  The only potential GMO products in the USA are papaya, corn, alfalfa, soybeans, cotton, potatoes, squash, canola, sugar beets, and apples.

When organic milk is labeled antibiotic free, remember that all dairy products, including milk, are always antibiotic free.  Same applies to meat.

Those bananas advertised as cholesterol free?  That's because all bananas are cholesterol free.

When a jar of peanuts says it is made in a plant that processes peanuts just use your common sense and roll your eyes.

When a bag of apples says it is gluten free, remember that gluten comes from wheat.

When you see a Facebook post that talks about hormones in beef, please understand that an 8oz serving of beef has 2-3 nano-grams of estrogen, an 8 oz serving of white bread has 136,080 nano grams of estrogen, and 8 ounces of soy flour has 342,468,000 nano grams of estrogen.  All living things produce estrogen,  it's science.

When that carton of eggs says that they came from vegetarian fed chickens, don't forget that chickens are naturally omnivores.

So yes, eat healthy, but don't be swayed by deceptive advertising.  Be informed.

No farms, no food.  Know your farmers, know your food.

 

The Dignity of Farming

Seen by the side of the road.....

Grain Moon

From yesterday there was this.

Harvesting of oats using some bonafide farm equipment from the 1960s.

If I had to hazard a guess the threshing machine is an International Harvester McCormick Model 80 Combine.

Tractor was likely machined and assembled in West Allis, Wisconsin.

Encouraging to observe some retro farm machinery in use five decades or thereabouts  later......

Making Hay

What with all of the rain lately - when there is a stretch of a couple or three days of dry weather - making hay is the first order of business.        

While I don't particularly mind the smell of manure being spread on the fields - nothing beats the smell of freshly cut hay.

Sunset

View from the west porch. 

Sun is now setting at 290 degrees West Northwest. 

Days continue to lengthen. 

Local farmers are planting.











Edit to add - And it all of a sudden got way better,,,, 

Contemporary Republican Farm Policy

2019 was a tough year to be a farmer. 

Or was it? 

For sure the Republican tax increases (tariffs) cut off farmers’ access to China’s ginormous market and as a consequence commodity prices remained in the tank.  Nevertheless, the largess of the Market Facilitation Program - the farm bailout – strengthened the already badly-flawed agricultural welfare state. 

Without Republican welfare payments farm income last year would have fallen about $5 billion from its already-low 2018 level.  As a consequence of the $16 billion in bailout funding 2019 actually wasn’t as bad as it seemed.  Most farmers benefited from the relief assistance; nevertheless, it is instructive to know that the government subsidy payments are not needs-based.  Instead, payments are based on acreage.  The result was about half of the money (47 percent) being paid to the largest 10 percent of farm operators.  Amazingly, these payments were three to four times larger than actual farm losses.  Sweet deal if you have the acreage! 

Having trouble keeping this craziness straight?  Republican tariffs (tax increases) result in trade losses.  The Republican response is a government subsidy (welfare) to ameliorate the economic pain resulting from their tariffs (tax increases).  Cluster fuck ensues.  Contemporary Republican farm policy has raised the art of picking winners and losers (Soviet central planning) to an art form. 

It sure ain’t your daddy’s GOP anymore.  Donald Trump is a transformational swamp-dweller.  And Ronald Reagan is likely spinning in his grave. 

Don’t take my word for it – you can learn more about it here.

The Incredible Edible Egg

In an Irish supermarket you will find chicken eggs in these convenient six-packs.  And they are not refrigerated.     

I’ve taken note of this in France and you will find it to be generally true throughout Europe.  You go the grocery and you’ll find the eggs either at the end of an isle or on the shelf along with routine canned goods, pasta, rice or other nonperishable foods.  In the US the eggs are found in the refrigerated dairy case along with milk, butter, cheese and orange juice.     

Why is this?      

In the states egg production occurs in large-scale vertical operations. We go big.  Nevertheless, while this occupies less space the eggs are more susceptible to contamination by hen feces raining down from above.  As a consequence they have to be washed and decontaminated.  In Europe free-range systems are preferred.  The priority is to produce clean eggs at the point they are collected instead of cleaning dirty eggs after the fact.  It is also useful to know that washing an egg damages the outside layer known as the cuticle.  Without that natural protective barrier it becomes easier for bacteria to penetrate the egg.  Finally, vaccination has been linked to a rapid decline of salmonella cases in the EU.  US regulators have still not mandated immunizations - although many eggs producers do vaccinate their hens nowadays. 

In the end a freshly-laid Irish egg can hang-out on your kitchen counter or in a cool dry pantry for more than a week.  Although once you put it in the fridge it has to stay in the fridge.      

I’m not suggesting one paradigm is necessarily better than the other – they’re different.  And anyone that has barnyard, free-range, or backyard chickens already knows this. 

Clean eggs are next to godliness. 

And they taste great.     

According to the US Food and Drug Administration salmonella remains the most common cause of food poisoning in the United States.

Manure Management

Four months ago I published my observations and impressions of a manure management practice that is becoming more common around here – namely liquid manure soil injection.  That post is a good primer and background for what was to come as I have learned much more about this injection process of nutrient management. 

One of the primary benefits is a reduction in odor.  Getting the manure off the soil surface and into the ground goes a long way in maintaining neighborly relations.  Liquid manure injection also reduces the loss of nitrogen as a consequence of volatilization. This means more of the nutrient being made available to the crop.  This reduces or eliminates the need for the purchase of commercial fertilizer.   

Injection – contrasted with splashing the manure over the surface and returning to till it in – also reduces the risk soil erosion and runoff (well contamination). This additionally makes it compatible with no-till planting preserving more of the soil organic matter. 

The injection equipment I observed being used consisted of tractor-mounted injector with a draghose system delivering the product.  Just like this... 

click on images for a closer look

Liquefied manure is supplied by a caravan of semi-tanker trucks.  Since you’re not driving the truck onto the field to inject the manure this reduces the risk of soil compaction and saves transportation costs attributable to labor and fuel. 

Last July I had an opportunity to watch the process in action - immediately across the road from where we live.  

It took about 30 minutes to stage and assemble the distribution equipment at the roadside. What followed was a parade of semi-tankers. 

After the initial queue of tankers was emptied of their odiferous contents they returned at regular intervals – only moments apart – to refresh the pump tank. 

These tankers are called nurse trucks and have roughly a 6800 gallon capacity.  They can discharge their load in about a minute. 

They were a constant presence throughout the day – so many that we lost count.

This technique of shallow manure injection has features and benefits well-suited to Door County's soils and karst geology. It also saves money.  It is a fascinating form of waste management to my eyes and a veritable ocean of cow shit to move. 

Who knew?