Good morning!!!!

[Depmandog]

farmer2009

I found a very interesting article (albeit dated) about bio char and one mans use of the process in his chicken operation.

Practitioner's Profile: Using Chicken Litter for Biochar | International Biochar Initiative

Initial costs would be staggering, but sounds like he got grant money to help offset the costs. Is this something viable in your operation? Could you pay for this with propane savings realized by burning the litter? And is the bio char market price high enough to offset the tonnage loss and replace your litter income?

 

[Redneck in training]

farmer2009

I found a very interesting article (albeit dated) about bio char and one mans use of the process in his chicken operation.

Practitioner's Profile: Using Chicken Litter for Biochar | International Biochar Initiative

Initial costs would be staggering, but sounds like he got grant money to help offset the costs. Is this something viable in your operation? Could you pay for this with propane savings realized by burning the litter? And is the bio char market price high enough to offset the tonnage loss and replace your litter income?

I just talked to a guy whose daughter boyfriend is one of the researcher developing the reactors for making biochar from whole spectrum of bio waste. I will try to see it in near future and report back.

 

[RoyJackson]

2015-06-30, 0330

60 right now...high of 80 today. Maybe it'll be dry enough to finish mowing this afternoon.

 

[Eric Salop]

Good morning. The first lambs to fill out have gone to market this morning, averaging just under 40kg.


When I bought this land it came with an unhealthy amount of creeping thistle (Canada thistle) that well and truly covered over 3/4 of the ground. I have heard the seed lasts well upwards of twenty years, so I expect it will still be showing up for some years to come. Some years there is very little, however for the last 3 years it has come back strong. Clopyralid is the most effective spray, very good but still not 100% effective against regrowth and expensive too.

Last year I borrowed a weed wiper and that was very economical on herbicide, only going where it makes contact with the thistle and almost none on the shorter grass. Unfortunately the wiper control box has just died, so I can't use it until I either buy a new one, or make myself a replacement, possibly using an "Arduino" microcontroller board. No chance of repairing the old circuit board, they potted it in black epoxy. Anyway, I did a bit of reading and it seems that most herbicides are more effective if the thistle is "stressed" to use up the root food stores a couple of times before applying herbicide. Cutting just as the bud has formed seems to be the recommended way to stress it, so I will give that a try this year - it also gives me more time to fix the weed wiper.

 

[Buppies]

63 high of 84 later with a stray storm possible later. Used to be another day another dollar now not so sure, more dollars but they don't go as far

 

[ronjhall]

Drinking first cup of coffee. 62° with cloudy skies this morning. Heading to 72° with possibility of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Weatherman missed the forecast yesterday. Turned out to be a very nice day. Cut the lawn. Today I will get back to garden pond project. Still have to get mower off and FEL on tractor.
Good Morning All.

 

[Thomas]

57F now low 89's for high.
Off to work soon,plan on sharpening mower blades both riders for relax time this evening.

Just notice doe heading for Mrs. flower garden.

Enjoy the day all.

 

[wngsprd]

65 headed to 89 and chance of rain. Finally dried out enough late yesterday for me to get half the mowing done. More today.

Drew, I was over on US 1 while that burning bus was backing up I-95. I feel for you - I heard it got up to a 15 mile back up. US 1 and US 301 are great alternatives through Central Virginia if 95 is crawling.

I've jumped off the deep end on my coffee hobby. I've loved it since I was 18 and tried lots of different beans, and visited a number of roasters. I bought some raw green coffee beans and did a trial roast on my grill last week. Well, I finally bought my own home coffee roaster and roasted up my first batch yesterday. Sipping my first cup now. Mmmmm good. Gonna roast another batch this morning experimenting with a slightly different method.

Guess what all my relatives are getting for Christmas presents?

 

[Jim Shooz]

Guess what all my relatives are getting for Christmas presents?

A flat white ??? :cool2:

 

[KevT]

Good Morning 72 at 6 am, and going to 90 today. Lots of work this week before I go on vacation. Just not enough hours in a day.

Eric - I have to tell you that I have managed to follow your "Queens English" quite well till today... :confused3: What is a weed wiper? I wish you luck with the thistle

Drew- Shop is coming along quite nicely, what are you wanting to do out there? I saw some room for a wood lathe and I just happen to have one I want to part with. :laughing:

Farmer - I was always told that chicken poop is rich in nitrogen, I would think it would be great for the hay fields. No chicken farms around here though so I use good old cow manure from the dairy's. Luckily I only have to pay to truck it, it costs me about $45 a dump truck load.