We are down to 8 heifers, all of which are sold and are just hanging around eating

the last of the corn silage while they getting closer up on calving. It has been too wet to haul manure most of the winter. Thankfully we no longer have 5

0 head piling it up! The hay is slowly leaving the barn. Prices have been good this year and for that we are thankful!

It is always amazing how fast winter goes and we are yet again planning for the next crop year. For 2012 Sweeten Farms has decided to do some crop scouting and soil sampling in addition to our forage crops. We are getting supplies together portable handheld computer, visiting interested farms, and deciding on a software package. Unlike other areas, agriculture is limited in software choices. I plan to do some agronomic updates throughout the scouting season for our clients and other area farmers. I may do that on this blog, or

We are also seeking cattle to custom raise for the season. With a little more work we will have 70 acres of pasture ready to graze in 4-6 weeks. If we do not find a custom contract we will make silage and hay off of the acres. Jeremy has been debating between planting beans, corn for silage, or a sorghum X sudangrass. Of course it all depends on if we will be feeding animals here or if we will be selling the entire crop.

One interesting field I will be scouting this summer will be in Switchgrass for a biofuel research project by Purdue. I am not sure what they will be looking for, but I will take and share pictures. It is supposed to be a very heavy biomass crop.

We have been fighting sinus infections this winter. The

kids are growing well and enjoy playing out in the cold mud a lot! What plans are you making for the 2012 season?