Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Last Friday, we met with our fertility consultant, Greg Anthis of CPS Wheatland, to go over the fall’s soil tests, and to map out a strategy for the 2018 fertilizer program.  We settled on plans for the 2018 corn crop, fall applications of lime, and made a preliminary plan for 2018 soybean fertilizers.  They got started right away to begin applying those fertility products.  We will meet with Greg again soon to finalize the soybean plan.  We also built three specific tests or experiments into our 2018 plans.

CPS’ good operators apply specific fertilizers (mostly P & K along with micronutrients) for next year’s corn crop. They are applied according to a map developed after the grid- sampling of the soils.

The final implement to be cleaned after harvest is on the wash pad today.  It is much less pleasant out there today, for the warm and sunny days seem to be behind us.  It is windy and chilly out there, 49F (9C) with a 20 mph wind.  But when this JD 640F header gets put away today, that will be the final part of #harvest17.

John washes the 640FD header, even though it’s windy and cold.

Brandon and Bill have been delivering some corn to GPC each morning, to fill some contracts that were sold months ago.

Loading the Pete with corn this morning

We have been spending some effort to evaluate our older grain elevator, which just finished with its 45th harvest.  We remember how exciting it was to see that being built in the summer of 1973.  We think it may be getting toward the end of its useful life.    Also, it has become a limiting factor in the capacity of our grain dryer, and in moving grain from storage to the load-out bins.

This grain leg was built in 1973. It would be difficult to accurately estimate how many gazillion bushels of grain have been run down its downspouts.

We have now begun a series of meetings with a number of vendors, both local and regional, on the replacement of this grain leg.  We are planning for one with larger capacity.    With two more meetings on tap, we are nearing a decision on how to proceed.  It is amazing how much more expensive this replacement will be compared to its cost in 1973!  But it has been very reliable, with very little maintenance cost over the years.  The internal belt and buckets have been replaced only once, as has been the 10-hole distributor up top.  This Creamer brand leg was originally painted orange, but when we had it repainted, aluminum coating was used.

Sure feels like summer’s over today.  Brrr!