Wednesday, June 10, 2026
After doing multiple field checks, we have decided to wait until Monday to start wheat harvest. We’ve heard reports from other farmers in the area that tell us of wheat running 14.8 to 30+% moisture. It is our goal this year to harvest wheat dry enough to sell or store, which means at or very near 13% moisture. We are not expecting record yields, but the wheat does look quite good so far. It will take us more days this year to cut the wheat crop, for we increased our acres planted by 60+%.
Wheat at Huey Farm.
Also at Huey, a little closer view.
One indicator of ‘readiness’ that I watch for in the wheat crop is the curling down of the heads. Along the edges of the fields, the heads are curled down like the handle of an umbrella, but out in the body of the field, the heads are only beginning to show a curve. Once they all look like a ‘hook’, the wheat is ready for the combines.
Wheat at Holscher farm.
Wheat at the Waldo farm.
These pictures make us encouraged about the potential yield this summer.
It feels like wheat harvesting weather today, with temps in the low 90s and humidity to match! There is a chance of rain in the forecast each day, but not a very high percentage probability. In fact, a good inch of rain would be very welcome. We did receive .1″ to .5″ (2.5 to 13mm) on Monday, but today, there are only a few “Andy’s room”* clouds in the sky.
This is the weather station report screen in the farm office at about 330 this afternoon. With the temp of 90.3ºF (32C), and humidity of 69%, it lists the ‘feels like’ temp of 102.7ºF (39C).
I was able to ‘catch up’ the soybean replanting on Saturday. I did some small areas of replant a week ago today, and then Friday, I put in a really big day. That made it possible to get “done” on Saturday. “Done” means that we got all replanted that was dry enough to do. There remain small areas in each field that still have water on it, but if I don’t’ get back there to finish it off, it won’t be a great concern. We will make that call when the double-crop soybeans are all planted. If those areas have dried, then I might go back and run in some seeds in those areas.
Replanting soybeans… I had to drive over all the acres, but I was able to lift the drill in areas where there was sufficient ‘stand’ of beans. Notice, there is a such a small green patch just ahead in this picture. For example, I replanted 188 of the 298 acres at the Freddie farm
Brandon has been out with the JD 6145R tractor and R15 rotary cutter (normally called a bush-hog), mowing roadsides in many of our farm locations. We made a change today, when we replaced the blades on the R15… the new ones really highlighted how worn out the old blades were. I’m certain it will cut more evenly now!
New blades are looking very good
Out goes Brandon to make some more field borders look great.
Keep cool out there. The steamy heat makes me want to stay in the A/C!
*Andy’s room clouds here refer to the look of the wallpaper in the room of the boy Andy in the Toy Story movies.
