When to plant????

[Okiefarmer]

Hey guys and gals i have a question fer ya. I have had horses for over ten years now but the whole self sustaining thing is new to me. I would like to start growin my own fodder (non-GMO) but am unsure what and when to plant. I am in very southeast Oklahoma and would like to know what ideas ya’ll have. i have researched corn and other grains and have tried growin corn in the garden… I can’t seem to grow corn(non_GMO) but can grow oats..although i didn’t get to harvest them before the hoses. Would oats work as a good grain along with hay to winter livestock and working stock? I am tryin to feed my family (2 legged and 4 legged) a healthy non commercial pesticide, herbicide, and hormone free diet. Any suggestions on the type of grain and the genus? best time to plant?
Thanks
Jerry aka: okie farmer

[Andy Carson]

Hi Jerry,
Let me recommend Gene Logsdon’s book “Small-Scale Grain Raising.” It’s a very informative book that lays out many options. The devil is in the details, but this book will introduce you to options and might help you set some goals. As far as planting times, your climate is so different from mine, I’m not going to be of much use. All I can say is that if you watch your neighbors, and talk to them, you can get a good idea of the kinds of crops you can grow easily and when to plant. Welcome and good luck!

[OldKat]

Jerry, I am about 350 miles or so south and a little west of you & hope to end up about 175 to 225 miles north and a little east of you. Therefore, I can’t help you out in any way & probably will have some of the same questions that you have if I am able to get relocated to NE Oklahoma.

If you are after small grain production I’d endorse using the approach Countymouse suggested. I am not quite sure why you want to plant grains for your livestock though. You are right in the middle of one of the finest grazing regions of the entire nation. Generally adequate rainfall, nearly ideal climate for grasses, long growing season and pretty decent soils. All point to a forage based operation that is far cheaper and more efficient than anything you can do with small grains.

Oats and/or wheat may be a nice crop for supplemental grazing in late winter or early spring before your native grasses or Bermudas green up, but it is not a cheap crop to establish and good luck getting anyone to come combine it unless you have at least a couple of hundred acres planted. If you plant a small patch I would add in some clover and graze it completely out, then establish permanent pasture in that area if you are so inclined.

As far as other resources, don’t forget about the Noble Foundation. I haven’t been on their site in several years, but their reports and printouts use to be free to people in Oklahoma and Texas. Also, spend a few bucks and subscribe to the Stockman/Grass Farmer Magazine. Get on their website, they use to send a free copy for you to look at before you subscribe. Plenty of useful stuff in their publication, much of it tailored for mid-America. Your County Extension service will also have info on planting small plots. Almost anything that is set up for wildlife should have application to what you are looking for in way of your 4 legged friends. Can’t help you what-so-ever as far as what you are trying to do for the two legged members of your outfit!

Good luck.

[Okiefarmer]

Thanks guys. Great info. I will check the suggestions.
As far as neighbors, they all think i am crazy for trying to go self sufficient. Only the big farms plant grains( wheat or corn) and i am sure they are genetically altered. As OldKat pointed out we are in a good place for native grasses and get about 48″ of rain per yr. My pastures come up in late feb. early march in rye followed by vetch and clover. About the time the rye is done the Bermuda is growing strong. I usually don’t have to start putting hay out till dec/jan depending on rain. My idea was to grow oats to supplement with the workload. I may not need them.
Also I wasn’t very clear earlier……i grow a garden to feed the family…..and only grow heirloom seed and use only organic matter in there. I can remeber when i was a kid the cancer, heart diseases, diabetes, ect. wasn’t near as bad….i figure it is because of all the junk sprayed on our food before it gets to market. There are no others around here that have the passion to grow organic…..they think buyin plants from wal-mart and buying posions to spray with is close enough.

[OldKat]

Sound like you are getting along fairly well already. Heck, I may have to come learn from you if I ever do manage to make my move “up narth” (local joke).

[Okiefarmer]

Your welcome to stop by anytime. Anybody willing to learn is. There is still alot I don’t know but i am willin to share what i have.

[Anonymous]

I just got on here and so I know its way late to be talking bout planting, other than winter wheat. Im in Creek Co, so at least were on the same side of the same state lol. I can grow good corn here, along with oats. Dad said they used to feed a work horse, in the morning 3 ears corn. if working 4, and in the evenin 3, and all the hay they would eat. Ive got all the horse machinery, just havnt got the horses., and at 64 doubt if i ever will have them. I bought a corn binder and husker shredder, and hope to be makeing corn fodder next fall, min us the ears which ill save for chickens, hogs, goats, I just cut my hay. Got 28 bales of really good looking hay. People say ya gotta cut hay in June here. HEck with that. I like to cut hay when I aint dying of heat stroke lol. People say the qual;ity isnt as good. Dont know bout that, but at least I wont be feeding corn stalk bales with crab grass in iot as Ive seen advertised in Tulsa Craigslist. Good luck

[Anonymous]

In rereading this I have to make a redaction. Dad said, If they were working a horse, it got 4 ears at noon along with the 3 morning AND night. If not working, it got 3 morning and night

[Author]

Posts