I lost the bet. If we wouldn’t have had several weeks in high 80s it may be been a good bet, but this one was not in my favor. The season and landscape is definitely changing from summer to fall. Harvest is here. My duties pretty much consist of being the primary kiddo Uber and help plant vehicles in fields, when called on.
Harvest Season
Jokes aside, our operation has kicked off harvest starting with cutting soybeans. Our initial yields sound very bountiful on the soybeans, which can be a gamble. We hope all the beans yield how they are starting. We could use a shot of rain to add some moisture back into the beans, they are pretty dry, almost too dry.
Starting harvest with the soybeans feels like dipping a toe into the season. Thankfully due
to weather, they don’t tend to run as late at night. It makes it tight during the day for the guys to cram in chores, feed, haul grain or pick up bean meal, etc. Thankfully there was a small break in the schedule of selling market hogs, but that is short lived.
Beyond the Harvest
It also gives a head start on manure application that will start up soonish. Hillside Partners hauls the majority of our own manure from the hog buildings and pumps into the ground for next year’s corn crop. Hog manure is quite literally liquid gold, as nitrogen fertilizer.
Ryan and I wrapped up hay season, we have a field we crop share with my dad since he has cows and needs the hay and we have a few club calves that we can utilize some small squares for. Ryan and I join in on the action for one cutting with my dad and it’s something we both grew up doing and enjoy still, we might be crazy but we accept it. This year was a treat, the day we bailed weather was mid 70’s and perfect. I can’t recall ever being so comfortable tossing small squares on the wagons.
For those kicking off harvest, we wish you a safe and bountiful season!