Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Yesterday afternoon, I was able to get done with the planting of soybeans!  The day before, Brandon did a field of replant corn, and now that’s all done.    One caveat:  Yes, there will be some replanting needed in a couple soybean fields, so technically we are not fully done, but at least every field has been planted.

Monday morning, I went out extra early to plant soybeans at our most distant field location, the Freddie farm. I got done there about 4pm.

This is what the soybean planter looks like from the tractor seat

Here, I’m returning home yesterday afternoon after finishing off that last field of soybean planting.

John has done some first-pass post-emerge herbicide spraying in the earliest soybean fields.  He feels it is now “caught up” for a while.

Now, our full attention turns to the wheat crop.  There are reports of some being harvested around the area.  We are delaying a bit in hopes of the grain being dry (13%) when we start.  Brandon and John are preparing the dryer, grain leg, and bins to receive the wheat crop.  It’s a big job to get those cleaned out, lubricated, and readied.  The combines are ready.  I will have to have a guy come from the dealer to assist me in starting the new S780 combine on its first day. (Maybe Friday).   As soon as the wheat is cut, we have a neighbor who has inquired if he could bale some of our straw.   And then, the double-crop soybeans (DCB) will need to be planted ASAP.  Among all that activity could fall some replant soybeans.  I guess the next two weeks will be packed.

Preparing the grain cart for wheat harvest.

The weather for the past week has been very pleasant.  Nights in the high 40s and low 50s have felt ‘chilly’.  But the forecast is that summer temps are on the way.  We should reach 86ºF (30C) today, and into the mid and upper 90’s for the weekend.  While we harvest wheat, it’s gonna feel like the typical hot days of wheat harvest.

We continue to move through the work of crop time for 2024.  We are looking forward to the July days when the planters are cleaned and put away, and there are occasional days to run the sprayer.   The pressure of daily needs seem to reduce a bit, and we can have evenings to enjoy other activities.  John will be away for his family’s summer vacation in early July.

VBS is coming to our church next week.  It will be a wonderful event, but with the timing of wheat harvest, I may not be able to enjoy it this summer.  Sometimes, I just have to work my day job!

Keep cool on the hot days that are coming.