Eden Shale Farm
  • Blog
  • About
  • Pictures & Virtual Tour
  • Producer Resources
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • BLOG SIGN UP
  • FAQ
  • Calendar of Events

From one cent donations to groundbreaking research: a look at Eden Shale Farm

4/13/2023

 
Taken from Sweet Owen Magazine's Facebook page: 

Sweet Owen Magazine's spring edition focuses on agriculture in Owen County. When considering the community's farming history, it would be impossible to overlook Eden Shale Farm.

Did you know:

Eden Shale Farm was home to the first u-pick strawberry operation in Kentucky.

Eden Shale pioneered work in the state's Christmas tree production. As it turned out, Scotch pines for the holiday season were adaptable to the Eden Shale hills, and by its sixth year in operation, 43,000 Christmas trees grew throughout the farm’s acreage.

Years of research at Eden Shale Farm eventually resulted in production of the John Deere Power Till Seeder.

Learn more about Eden Shale Farm in the spring issue of Sweet Owen Magazine, in stores and online now!
Click Here to Read the Article

April Update

4/13/2023

 
Other than the four days at Christmas, there has not been any winter weather to speak of this year. While those four bitterly cold days did kill some of the young plants in my landscaping, I’m afraid it was not enough to kill off some of the bugs hibernating for the season. I have even noticed a significant number of flys on the cattle already!  There is no doubt that our climate now acts in a series of extremes, which can be very challenging to manage on the farm.

One concern I have right now is the lack of rainfall that we have received this spring. It has been very dry the second half of the winter. Our cattle have not had to fight mud at all, and we have not had to bed the calving barn a single time. I will have to say it has been nice calving without the muddy conditions.

But I am worried about moisture starting into the growing season this dry. I compared the rainfall data from our Mesonet weather station for this year and the 2022 season. There was not as big of difference as I had thought there might be. From January 1, 2022 to April 12th 2022 we had received 15.1 inches of rain. This year from January 1st, 2023 to April 12th, 2023 we received 13.3 inches of rain. A mere two inches less this year. But one difference I will note is that for 2023 there were more large rain events (single days with 1.5+ inches) where 2022 had more total days with rainfalls of smaller amounts. Again, more extreme patterns in our weather.

The biggest difference this spring has been the wind. It seems as though we have moved to the great plains where the relentless wind is constantly blowing dust into your eyes causing you to seek shelter behind the nearest wind break that will offer some relief.

Again, lets compare the Mesonet data. In 2022 from January 1st to April 12th we had three measured wind gusts that reached at least 40 mph with the highest of those gusts being 50 mph. In 2023 during the same time we have had eleven gusts that were recorded at 40+ mph and the highest gust was 68.5 mph. All this wind has wreaked havoc on our old buildings at the farm. Nearly every barn has some level of damage, ranging from some loose metal flopping around, to one barn that had the entire corner blown off! There are also countless trees down on fences and in the edges of hay fields that have to be cleaned up. Now we are working to get quotes gathered so that the insurance can help make the needed repairs.
​
These extremes certainly make it harder to manage things on the farm, and I’m sure we will see more of it moving forward. I mean, we’re liable to have a hard freeze in late April and then rain the entire hay season…
Picture
Picture
    Copyright © Kentucky Beef Network, LLC. All rights reserved. This content may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, or used in any manner without written approval from Kentucky Beef Network, LLC. For Informational Purposes Only. 

    Archives

    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Kentucky Beef Network

    Subscribe to Eden Shale Farm blog posts!

    * indicates required

    Categories

    All
    Cattle
    Forages
    Misc
    Monthly Wrap Up
    Water

    Welcome

    Hello, my name is Dan Miller and I work for the Kentucky Beef Network. KBN took over operation of the Eden Shale Farm in April of 2013. We are using the 961 acre farm as a demonstration and learning center for beef cattle producers. This blog serves as a place to document daily farm activity and host discussions about the demonstrations being implemented. I hope you find this information useful and that you come visit us at Eden Shale Farm.

    Archives

    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    RSS Feed

CONTACT US

                           EMAIL SIGN UP

Eden Shale Farm     
245 Eden Shale Rd.        Office: (859) 278-0899
Owenton, KY 40359       Fax: (859) 260-2060
© 2021 Kentucky Beef Network, LLC.. All rights reserved.
Picture
Sign Up Now
Receive our blog updates
  • Blog
  • About
  • Pictures & Virtual Tour
  • Producer Resources
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • BLOG SIGN UP
  • FAQ
  • Calendar of Events