Tuesday, July 22, 2025
We’ve been seeing on X and other platforms pictures from farmers showing very poor corn pollination. We’ve seen pictures of ears of corn with only 3 or 4 grains developing on the cob, and the best ones have only about half the grains developing. So, it was with some concern that Brandon pulled an ear yesterday on one of our April-planted fields. The picture below shows both our relief and gratitude.
This ear looks pretty good as far as pollination goes. 16 rows around.
I mowed our yard yesterday afternoon. It was quite hot, 92ºF (33C), and the sun was blazing down. The grass was dry, but big areas of the yard were not dry. I made some muddy tracks in spots, but I felt it was urgent to get the grass (or weeds) mowed down. It had been 5 days since the previous mowing, and it was looking really shaggy. With all the rain in July, we’ve had to mow more frequently. In some years, during July and August the yard is brown and crunchy and doesn’t require much mowing… but in 2025 (at least so far), that’s not the case! To verify how wet it was, as I began around the edge of the yard, the first pass along the wheat/DCB field was really soggy, with some water standing. The mower slipped a bit to the left, and I got mired down in that mud. Brandon had to come over with his 4-wheeler and he pulled me out! I stayed away from that field border after that and finished the yard mowing in a couple hours.
Yeah, I did….
I always blow the loose clippings off the mower and then wash it after every mow. It took a bit longer yesterday evening to get it clean! It may not be quite #Andyclean, but it looks okay, especially the yellow wheels.
We have one final contract of wheat to deliver to ADM in Evansville, in early August. When that is complete, there won’t be much more to deliver. There are 3 bins that held wheat, and those will need the sweep and broom clean-out. The Brandons are using this relatively cooler (80ºF) morning to clean out the #9 bin. Probably they’ll save the other two bins for other mornings. We have a “power sweep” in only one bin… our newest. The others still require the guys to haul in the sweep auger and motor and set them up. Then, they follow the sweep auger with shovels and brooms to get the bin cleaned out. It’s dirty and noisty and hard work. They wear a mask or a respirator to keep the dust out of their lungs. I guess I’ve reached the age where I don’t have to be in there anymore, but I can sure feel for them when they clean a bin!
They’ve carried the sweep and its motor into our bin #9.
The sweep auger is nearly to the floor… then the scoop shovels and broom get busy.
There has been a lot of rain in the area in July. White River here has been at or near flood stage for many weeks (we’ve even had 3 flood events since April!). We’ve received nearly 6″ here at the main farm. In other field locations, there has been quite a bit more, with multiple rain events of over 2″ each! These rainy conditions have compressed the window of opportunity to spray the soybeans with herbicide and fungicide. It has even delayed the aerial application of fungicides to our corn fields! Once the fields firm up again, John will be very busy with the sprayer. And we will be busy supporting him.
The Knox County fair was last week, and it was difficult to hold events. There was rain each day of the fair. The grounds and parking areas were soggy. Many vehicles required a tractor to pull them out of the mud. As you walked around, your shoes and lower legs would get soiled from the soft, squishy ground. Most folks work rubber boots! It’s usually a great event but diminished by the weather. All the events on the closing day Saturday were cancelled. It’s a good thing the buildings and the show ring for all the 4-H livestock are in great shape. At least that could go on as needed. But the evening events in the grandstand arena were not as highly attended. Yes, Knox County has Indiana’s oldest county fair, but it was truly hurt this year by the wet weather. As we often say for lots of things, better luck next year!
Have a good week!
