Culmination of Fall

As we head into Fall, many of our endeavors start to culminate. In fact, we have been so busy that I didn't even have time to snap any pictures over the last week. The turkeys are getting big. We will start taking random live weights this week so we can track our projected processed weight. We started doing this 3-4 years ago, and it helps us dial in the last few weeks to get as close as we can to our target weights. As if we weren't busy enough in the Fall, last year we started growing strawberries. We enjoyed it, and our customers/community seemed to like it too. As a result, this year we are growing even more berries than we did last year. This is another thing I should have photographed. We have all the beds formed up, but we haven't laid the plastic yet. Hopefully that will happen this week. The 60,000 strawberry plants will arrive in early October and need to be planted within a few days of arrival. It's a super busy time of year, but a very fun time of year. I'll try to take more pictures this week so we can bring you along on the journey.

My Last 10-Year-Old Adventure

Each of my children gets an opportunity at age 10. They get a 10-year-old adventure with Dad. The idea was that they come up with something they want to do or see, and I agreed to facilitate that request to the best of my ability. At ten, it's time to start figuring out that this world is a big, beautiful place. I wanted them to think big. Be a little audacious. I wanted them to start learning that whatever big dream they want to accomplish, I will be here (with Julie, of course) as their biggest encourager, supporter, facilitator, and cheerleader. These are trips of just Dad and one 10-year-old child, chasing whatever adventure they landed on. Jersey- Jersey turned 10 in December of 2019. The world got turned upside down before we could take her trip, so we postponed it for a while. But her request was to see a play on Broadway. We saw 2. In addition to all the sights and magnificence of NYC. Atticus- Atticus is an old soul. He loves history. He had the quickest answer when I asked him to start thinking about his adventure. He wanted to see Ford's Theater, where Lincoln was shot. We saw it, toured it, and got a walking tour of the events surrounding the assassination from an actor in period dress. We also viewed Washington from the top of the Washington Monument, saw the Declaration of Independence, and all of the other larger-than-life sights of Washington, D.C. Wren- Wren had the hardest time deciding what she wanted to do for her adventure. Mostly because she just loves being home and close to Julie. I felt this trip would be important for her and me, so I stuck to the ground rules when she tried to add Mom to the trip. Wren is an athlete who loves sports, particularly volleyball. I try not to influence the destination of these trips, but I found out her favorite college volleyball team (Nebraska) was playing a match at Historic Wrigley Field, and I mentioned it. That's all it took, and she had her adventure. We made plans for Chicago. Last week we completed that trip, and it was great. We saw Chicago's great architecture from a boat, viewed the city through the clouds from the 103rd floor of the Willis (Sears) Tower, and rode the Ferris wheel on Navy Pier. Of course, seeing the first volleyball game in historic Wrigley Field was the crown jewel of the trip. Each of these trips holds a very special place in my heart. I was a little sad when Wren and I got home because I realized that the 10-year-old-adventure chapter was over. The way each relationship grew in just a few short days of being intentional, direct, and fully engaged was amazing. I would do it all over again if I could, but they are only 10 once. I think I'll look for another milestone and build a new system around that. * Credit where credit is due: I originally discovered the idea of a 10-year-old adventure from the book Love Does by Bob Goff. It's a great book, and he does a better job of hashing out the ins and outs of this idea than I ever could. If you are interested in implementing 10 year-old-adventures in your own family, I highly recommend reading it.

Early Morning Turkey Walks

The turkeys are loving life out in the open pasture. They are busy eating lots of grass and bugs, taking dust baths, and lounging in the shade. I've had the opportunity to be over there quite a bit lately, working on fences and clearing land. Those early morning walks with the turkeys do not disappoint. There is a practical purpose. These walks allow me to evaluate the birds and the pasture. If anything needs attention, I can usually find it on these walks. The birds find me interesting at first. They all come running to inspect this new "thing" in the pasture. After a turkey-appropriate amount of inspection time, they decide I'm not that interesting and spread back out around the pasture. They go along their way making my favorite farm sounds, the putting and purring of grazing turkeys. I find a calming peace in those walks. As a livestock farmer, you always want to know that the animals you are entrusted with are thriving. Things could change at any minute, so I try to stay ready to battle the next proverbial fire, but for a few minutes on a nice pasture walk, everything is good. That makes me happy. Y'all have a great week, and take a walk if you can... pasture or otherwise.

Strawberry Planning

For the last week or so, I have been making a lot of plans for next year's strawberry crop. We will be increasing production substantially from last year's inaugural season. As I have been making plans, I have rediscovered Google Earth. I used it years ago for small projects, but since then the satellite view from Google Maps has been sufficient. Google Earth has improved dramatically since the last time I used it. For someone who works with the land, it is so cool to lay out fields or pastures, see the exact acreage, analyze the slope, and even review imagery from previous years. I only say that to show a little appreciation for this time that we live in. Yes, technology can be quite annoying sometimes. But the things that we are able to do today that were unthinkable just a few years ago are nothing short of amazing. Each new technological advancement layered onto the previous one is simply a testament to human creativity and the spirit of innovation that has served this country well. I am happy to have my feet firmly planted on the farm, but to those of you who work in technology, I tip my cap to you. Very useful tools are created as a result of your labor.

Wedding Bells

20 years ago this past May, Julie and I got married on the farm. Yesterday, Brad's daughter Sara exchanged vows with her now-husband, Andrew, right there on the farm. A farm is not just a place you work. It's a place that allows your roots to get a firm grasp. It's a place where generations of children are raised. It's a place that witnesses your highest highs and lowest lows. A farm can become so important to you as a person that it sort of becomes part of who you are. When you feel that deep connection to a place, it's only natural to want to celebrate your most important days there. I felt that 20 years ago. Yesterday I saw in Sara's eyes that she, too, felt that same connection. We are so happy for this young couple with the world in front of them. May your farm roots always keep you grounded.

Ingenuity

Last year I purchased this push planter that plants seeds through plastic mulch weed barrier. Let me note here that the mulch we are using is Bio360, a biodegradable, plant-starch-based product. The planter did a pretty good job, but it was awkward to push straight without standing on the mulch-covered bed. I got it done last year, but I had very crooked rows and a sore back every time I used it. This year I had a brainstorm. When I was about to plant, I looked over at our hay fork. I thought, "If I strap a board across that fork, I could use it as a seat." That way I could be right above the row and guide the planter while the tractor driver drives over the row. We planted straighter rows with less backache in a fraction of the time. I'd say that's a win-win-win.

Dog Days

If you want to experience a fun observation, go outside around 5:30-5:45 a.m. on August 6-8. Find a place with a clear horizon toward the east/southeast. Just before sunrise, you will have a good chance to see Sirius. It'll be the brightest star in the sky. Ancient people thought that Sirius rising synchronized with the rising of the sun increased the temperature. Sirius is also called the Dog Star, which is where the moniker "Dog Days" of summer comes from. If you didn't know, well, now you know. On the farm, the dog days are a slog. People don't post #farmlife social media pictures from the depths of the dog days. Despite not being the picturesque romantic version of farm life, the work has to get done. So we just press through, knowing that the lifestyle's positives mostly outweigh the challenges. Soon Sirius and the sun will get less and less synchronized. Some morning fairly soon, we will step outside to inhale a breath of crisp Fall air, and there will be one more summer in the books. Enjoy it, even if it is a grind. Even better, find a way to enjoy the grind.

Turkey Talk x2

The turkeys are growing great. They only have a week or two left in the pasture houses, then they will be big enough and wise enough to go out into the full free range pasture. For now they are being advanced across the pasture each day. They stay protected by the pasture houses, while still being able to eat fresh grass and bugs. The top picture is the turkey named Atticus that stole my seat in the hay cutter and wouldn’t give it back. Obviously I’m kidding. I did offer to let him cut some hay for the first time and he ended up finishing the field. He did a great job and provided me a small glimpse into a future that is approaching all too rapidly.

Summer Forage

Our summer crop of sudangrass has turned out to be amazing. You'll remember the trouble we had with our ryegrass volume due to the early spring drought. Well, the story is different here in midsummer. We have had ample rain, and the sudangrass shows it. Most of this forage will be stored as baleage and used to feed the dairy herd throughout the winter. If you've ever wondered what a field of milk looks like, this is it. We still have about half of this crop to get harvested, so I won't count my chickens too early. Tomorrow will be all hands on deck for the final push to finish up the baling and wrapping. Once that's done, I'll take inventory of our stored forage and make predictions for our winter needs. There is the opportunity for a second cutting of sudangrass if we continue to get enough rain. This past year, we barely had enough, so I'd like to avoid that stress again. It's worth doing the extra work now to go into winter knowing the cattle will eat well no matter what that season holds.

Turkey Time

Turkeys are now out on pasture. This is the earliest we have ever gotten turkeys out of the brooder, but the conditions and weather were right. At just 2.5 weeks old, these poults have been doing great on pasture. They are still protected by our mobile pasture pens, but they have lots of space, grass, and bugs to enjoy. We move these structures every day so that a new plot of forage and bugs is always available to them. Eventually, they will outgrow these shelters, at which time we will move them to an open pasture that has special fencing to protect them from predators. For now, they are as content as can be, scratching and pecking through their fresh allotment of pasture each day.

Turkey Time

It's hard to believe the turkeys are already here. They arrived in the mail as usual. With a few hundred turkeys chirping in the back of our little country post office, we don't have to worry about them forgetting to call us when they arrive. As soon as the post office calls, we hop in the truck and go pick up the little baby poults. They travel surprisingly well due to one distinct physiological trait. Right before they hatch, the baby birds will absorb the remaining yolk into their abdomens. The yolk is their nutrient source while inside the egg, but any remaining yolk is absorbed and serves as their nutrient source for the first couple of days of their life. They arrive here less than 48 hours old, all cozy and comfortable. We hand-place each one into the brooder, showing them water and feed immediately. They live in the brooder for a couple of weeks, then get introduced to pasture. Y'all know from years past that I love having these turkeys on the farm. They are curious, interesting, and bring tons of personality. Getting to take care of them is a privilege I take seriously, and one of my favorite times of the year.

Ole Glory

There is a guy in town who deals in metal. He has scrap metal that we often need on the farm, but he also usually has lots of surplus metal stuff. You never know what he'll have, but it is always interesting to peruse his lot to see if there is something we "need". Back in 2022, he had some surplus streetlamp poles. They were really nice, heavy, and about 30 feet long, even still wrapped in the factory shipping foam. I felt like we needed a flagpole at our farm on Live Oak, so I bought one. Unfortunately, like many of my projects, I had a good idea that just couldn't make it to the top of the priority list. I tried to give myself a couple of self-imposed deadlines, but that never worked. I was born in the bicentennial year of 1976. Hence, I have a fondness for the big round number birthdays of this great nation. The 250th birthday of the USA seemed like a natural deadline for the flagpole that had been languishing in my shop for a few years. So a few weeks ago, we pulled the streetlamp pole out to the very front of the shop and started its conversion into a flagpole. A little welding here and there, some hardware, and a nice gold ball on top completed its transition. Standing this sucker up with only the assistance of a farm tractor was a challenge, but like America herself, we persevered and overcame. Even though I had a new flag sitting in a box, the pole stood empty for 2 days as I waited for my light to arrive on an Amazon truck. As soon as I got the notification that the light was out for delivery, Atticus and I hoisted Ole Glory to the top of this pole. As far as I'm concerned, she'll fly here as long as my name is on the deed.

Summer Forages

You may remember that our ryegrass production suffered this year due to the very dry spring. We need to supplement more than usual with warm-season annuals to ensure we have enough stored forage to carry our dairy and beef cattle through the winter. Warm-season forage production is underway. We planted this sudangrass earlier this month. Summer forage is different because the soil is so warm. This seed will sprout, emerge, and be a few inches tall in just a few days. Then our first harvest will be approximately 45 days from planting. That's a big difference from our ryegrass, which is planted in October and harvested in April. They both have their place, and it takes both some years. The bottom line is that the cattle need to eat 365 days a year. We want to make sure they have the best quality forage each and every day, whether it grows in winter or summer.

Garlic Harvest 2026

A couple of weeks ago, we started harvesting our Garlic crop. In October, we planted over 2,000 row-feet of garlic. I really enjoy growing garlic, even though it is a long, slow process. This crop has been in the ground for over half the year. A few weeks after harvesting the scapes, the bulbs are ready to be dug. They are literally hand-dug. We take a tool similar to a shovel, but it has teeth like a fork. By inserting a few inches into the ground near the garlic and lifting the dirt, the soil usually cracks around the garlic bulb, making it easy to lift out of the ground. After it's harvested from the ground, it's still not ready for market. We cure the garlic by laying it out in the shade of the barn. If there isn't a breeze, we keep a fan to provide a gentle breeze. It takes about 2 weeks for the green tops to completely dry out and for the garlic wrapper to become "paper-like". At that point, we trim the greens and roots and cure for a few more days, and finally, after 7 months, it's ready to sell. We had 2 varieties this year. The first one has already been harvested and has just finished curing; it is now online for purchase. The second variety is ready to be dug. We will be starting that process early this week. Y'all enjoy some fresh garlic.

A Right of Passage

I needed to get a few acres of hay baled on Saturday. Before I baled, the hay needed to be raked into windrows. Atticus was happy to take on this job and get a little tractor seat time. He is always willing to jump right in, no matter what job we are in the middle of. Like most young boys, though, driving is his favorite job. He has driven tractors around the farm, but mainly under my supervision. Saturday was the first time I was able to turn him loose in a field on his own. Later, I was in the field starting to bale while he was raking. It was a proud moment for me. My heart was full as I looked across the field from my tractor to his. I saw a 13-year-old boy learning responsibility and work ethic, character traits that transcend farming and will prove beneficial wherever life takes him. I also saw the next generation working alongside me, learning to participate in and have an appreciation for this lifestyle we are so blessed to have the opportunity to live. It was a good day.

20 Years On

On March 3, 2006, we sold our first gallon of Raw Milk For Pets. The economics of our commercial dairy business were beyond unsustainable. I don't think it's a stretch to say that if this hadn't worked, we wouldn't be farming on this land today, which has been in our family for over 100 years. Thankfully, it did work. We have spent the last 20 years producing dairy, beef, poultry, pork, lamb, veggies, and now strawberries for so many like-minded people who have become much more than "customers". I'll be happy if I have the opportunity to continue this for the next 20 years. And that wasn't even the best thing that happened to me in 2006. 👇🏽 On May 20, 2006, Julie and I were married right there on the farm. We exchanged vows in front of the house where my grandfather was born. Guests sat on hay bales instead of church pews, and we toasted raw milk at the reception. As Bobby More and the Rhythm Aces played "It's a Wonderful World", we danced. This weekend, we celebrated 20 years of marriage with a quick trip to New Orleans. We had breakfast at the Camellia Grill and a special dinner at Antoine's. We got to see the Tall Boats at the Sail 250 celebration and hear some good live jazz. Generally, we just enjoyed each other's company. After 20 years of farming and 20 years of marriage, I seriously wouldn't want it any other way. The song selection for our dance 20 years ago was perfect. It is a Wonderful World. Here's to 20 more, and 20 more after that.

Freedom to Farm

A few years ago, Atticus and I went to D.C. for his 10-year-old adventure. During that trip, we were able to visit Arlington National Cemetery. In that place, the presence of their sacrifice is overwhelming. It's a feeling that I hope we never forget. We are working on the farm today because we have the freedom to do that and because some tasks are just mandatory. After the mandatory tasks are complete, we will spend some time with family and give reverent thanks to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We are using our freedom to chase our farming dreams. Whatever you are using your freedom for, pause for a moment and give a nod of appreciation to the legions of folks who decided your freedom was valuable enough to die for.

Milk and Eggs Abound

Suppose a potential new farmer asked me what the most challenging aspect of operating a direct-to-market farm is. Drawing on 20 years of experience, I would have to say the most difficult part is matching supply to demand. If a farm is "micro," everybody understands if they are "out" of product. If a farm is giant, it sells a commodity into an industrial system that just buys whatever quantity it has. We at Carlton Farms are not micro, but we are by no means industrial. What we do is try to be the farmer that our community relies on, especially for certain products. We take that responsibility seriously and never want to disappoint anyone. When we are short on one of our key products, I lose a lot of sleep trying to figure out how to remedy whatever issue is occurring. The opposite side of that coin is the situation we find ourselves in right now. Milk is flowing great, and the laying hens are producing lots of eggs. Right now would be a good time to throw a few gallons of milk in the freezer. They are nice to have in a pinch, or when production decreases in the summer heat. Eggs are on sale now, so stock up on those as well and make them a more prominent part of your diet. The buy-3-get-1-free deal is active now. If you don't need 4 dozen, take this opportunity to share a dozen with someone who may not know about Carlton Farms. Thanks for your help managing these supply fluctuations as they happen. As farmers and consumers with an established relationship, we can work together to get through both shortage and abundance. The most challenging part of what we do may be matching supply to demand, but the absolute best part is knowing the names and faces of the people who consume what we produce. Thank you for understanding when things are in short supply, and it is our great pleasure to share the bounty when it abounds. Enjoy the abundance this week.

Pollen Flow

As I have mentioned before, we have been on a steep learning curve with Strawberries since the Fall. We are still making observations and course correcting in real time. It's both fun and challenging. One thing I hadn't considered before mid-season was whether we had enough natural pollinators. Around mid-season, I noticed some of the berries were only partially pollinated. The telltale sign is misshapen berries, specifically those with pinched tips, called "cat-faced" berries. When I discovered this phenomenon and put the pieces together, I hypothesized that we, in fact, do not have enough natural pollinators. We can't change the past, but we can affect the future. I reached out to a beekeeper friend of mine. He had some young hives he split this spring and was willing to sell. We met that Saturday morning and loaded up 4 hives of bees. It was early and cool, so the bees seemed to travel well. Later that day, they were active around the hive, and by the following day, I snapped these pictures of them hauling in pollen. I plan to put on my bee veil and take a peek inside the hives today to see how they are doing, but from the outside, they look happy. It takes around 20-30 days for a strawberry bloom to become a ripe fruit, so in a couple of weeks, I should be able to test the pollenator hypotheses. Notice: The pollen on the rear legs of the bees as they enter the hive. I have no way to tell whether this is strawberry pollen, but surely some of it is. In fact, you can see the different colors of pollen on each bee, indicating that they are feeding on a diverse mixture of flora.

Ryegrass Wrap-Up

Sunday evening, I cut the last of our 2026 ryegrass crop. We will bale and wrap this in the coming days for use as feed for our cattle throughout the year. Our early crop was light due to a lack of rain, but the quality was very good. The last portion you see in the picture, cut and in the rows, was heavy, but the quality will not be as good. When we did finally get some rain, it delayed the cutting of this section. As the grass gets older, it enters the reproductive stage by shooting up a seed head. This older grass has more lignin, which gives the plant structure and rigidity. This is great for the plant's ability to stand and hold up this seed head. However, it turns out lignin is not very digestible for cattle. Younger, more tender grass makes better quality hay with more digestible protein. So, how do we handle this? To make good management choices for our cattle, we need to keep up with which hay is of what quality. We know that the most nutritionally demanding thing we ask any mammal to do is to lactate. Therefore, we earmark the best forage for the dairy cows. Once there is enough high-quality forage designated for the dairy cows, we allocate the next-best forage to our beef cattle for post-calving. They, too, will be lactating, just not as intensely as the dairy herd. All additional forage will be fed over winter to young stock, dry cows, and pre-partum beef cattle. That is why it's important that I take notes and label the forage as it is stored tomorrow. The old lie that we sometimes tell ourselves, "I'll surely remember that," just doesn't cut it.