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Hard red winter wheat is planted in the fall in late September and October, depending on the moisture. The seed germinates, and grows into a small plant which remains dormant through the winter. As soon as the growing conditions are right in the spring, the small plant hopefully grows and matures in late June and July. At that time the wheat is harvested.
Many natural perils can reduce or annihilate the wheat crop:
The climatic conditions are tough:
It takes two years to grow a wheat crop in Southeast Colorado because of low moisture.
Half the acres are planted one year, while the other half acres remain fallow accumulating moisture.
The following year the fields reverse.
Transportation is another factor that has to be considered in this area. The farmer has to deduct anywhere from 10 cents to 60 cents per bushel from the Kansas City Board of Trade price because the wheat has to be moved to market.
Several conservation practices in order to enhance the soil and production, to conserve moisture, and to reduce erosion are used:
Wheat varieties we have planted include
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Southeast Colorado is a good area for livestock production. Stulp Farms manages a Cow-Calf operation and a Feeder operation using English cross breeds. Calving begins in the spring with the difficult deliveries needing assistance. The calves are weaned as yearlings and additional yearling calves are purchased in the fall. Purchased calves begin their feeding cycle in the feedlot after being vaccinated, dehorned, and processed.
A mixture of corn silage, grain, and protein supplement with sorghum or alfalfa hay are fed in a rationof approximately three percent of their body weight on a dry matter basis.
Depending on the moisture and the weather, the calves are either kept in the feedlot and fed twice a day or they are turned out to pasture. Volunteer wheat is an excellent resource to feed during the winter if enough moisture has been received to have a good stand, and if not covered with snow. In the summer months the calves graze primarily on buffalo and grama, native grasses.
Under average conditions the carrying capacity for a cow during summer months is from 15 to 20 acres; for year around pasture the number of acres per animal unit increases to approximately 40 acres. Supplemental feed and protein is needed in the winter months. On an average yearlings can be run for about 5 months on about 10 acres. Each year is different depending on pasture conditions.
Surface water is not available on most pastures. Water in stock tanks must be pumped from wells (anywhere from 20' deep to 400' deep) by windmills or electric pumps.
Several options are considered for the cattle when they reach 700 to 800 pounds. They may be fed out in a commercial feedlot or sold to a commercial feedlot; heifers may be bred and calved out the next spring or sold as bred heifers.
Determining factors:
Many factors determine profitability:
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John - CSU mechanical engineer graduate -
Control Systems Engineer for
Woodward Governor in Industrial Controls
Lyndsey - North Central University
(Minnesota) graduate in Psychology and Bible Studies and currently is a counselor
for Larimer Center in Fort Collins Janea - CSU Mechanical Engineer graduate, Sunit - NMSU Electrical Engineer graduate -
Univ of Mass Computer Engineer Masters Janea is engineering manager with PELCO...and Sunit is switching careers from engineering management
to brand new business startup OakTree Financial Planning
both CSU Mechanical Engineer graduates---Jason University of Utah
Engineering Masters in robotics control systems Megan and Jason both hold engineering positions with Alliant Techsystems (ATK)
aerospace division
Jeremy a CSU Mechanical Engineer graduate was a mechanical engineer for Deere & Company in the Waterloo Iowa engines controls group,
but has returned to manage the family farming operation in Colorado Christi has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural communications from Texas Tech University and the University of Florida --- Jensen - Graduate studies in the Professional Veterinary Medicine Program at CSU with
undergrad degree from Colorado State University in Animal Sciences Meghan - BS degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion - 06 cum laude graduate from Colorado State University Pueblo Meghan currently working as certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist After practicing 2 years in Pueblo, and a year at the Redstone Clinic in Littleton, Dr. Jensen and Meghan are in the process of beginning
a new independent mobile practice in the Lamar area Meghan will soon be asissting in the Stulp Farms main office
