How Great The Yield From A Fertile Field

Random musings from an old farmer about life, agriculture, and faith

Monday, March 18, 2024

Marching On

 Overall, winter has been mild, and March has been similar.  A few days that feel like winter, but very springlike.  This morning I saw snow flurries and below freezing temps, but spring is near.  

In February, I did another Sams run with D#2 and kids.  It's always fun, and I bought way more than I intended to buy.  My impulse buy was a little kids green picnic table.





We hadn't visited K.C. since prior to Covid, so we made a quick weekend trip west to see if everything was still up to date.  The Kellenberger house was undergoing basement foundation work again, but it didn't affect our stay.  We enjoyed good visits and even made a trip out into the country to see Brent & Beth's mini farm.  The road trip both ways went smoothly, so it made for a nice, blessed weekend.

Because of the mild weather, the sap started running early this year.  I decided to tap the two maple trees in our yard and try to make maple syrup.  I had a pretty good run and collected about 18 gallons of sap over a couple of weeks. It boiled down to about two quarts of dark syrup.  I think I boiled a little two long because it is pretty thick.  But the wife of my youth says she likes it that way, so all is good.


First boil results.



After many years off, we attended a middle school jazz band night again.  We traveled to T-town for our oldest granddaughter's concert that included coffee and desert.  It was kinda fun to be involved again.  D#1 had decorated our table with a chemistry theme!  There was candy in the beakers to keep a little boy (and others) happy.



Son#1 bought a couple old plows on an auction, so I helped him get them home with a borrowed trailer.  He enjoys antique tractor pulls and plowing bees.  We think both are Oliver plows, one a two bottom, the other a three bottom.  The three bottom looks like it could go right to the field once we figure out how to hitch it to a tractor.




Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.          I Corinthians 9:10



Monday, February 12, 2024

Winter Came and Left Again

 We finally got some winter.  It started with heavy wet snow before the ground was frozen.  Then it got cold and snowed some more.  Then it got really cold for a week, with sub zero temps at night.  I was thankful that I didn't have to take care of hogs.  In the past I would have been out early each day starting tractors, moving snow so I could get to the buildings to do chores, unload feed, and move or ship hogs.  I was able to clear the snow in the driveway so we could get out, then clear the barnyard and other drives at my convenience.  Because the snow came before the ground froze, I moved a lot of gravel and sod while cleaning the drives.  That will have to be redistributed after the snow melts.

 Winter meetings are in full swing.  I enjoy learning new information, seeing new technology, visiting with other farmers, and eating good food.  One morning when I pulled out of the drive heading for a meeting, the road was covered with a frost.  I assumed it would be slick.  After I turned onto the highway, the surface was ice where vehicles had driven on the frost.  There were several cars in the ditch before I reached the sections where salt had been spread, and where the sun was heating the road.

  I did cattle chores for my brother while he was in Florida.  He only had three left, so it wasn't a big deal  and chore timing wasn't critical. The first four mornings the water was frozen.  Fortunately, a bucket of hot water from the shop thawed it out and the cattle kept it free the rest of the day.


Micah P. bought my SBM and DDGS bins.  On one of the coldest mornings, he and Josh brought trailers and the Fehr brothers brought a truck mounted derrick to move the bins.  I was a little worried about the safety of the removal, especially when Jake asked me if I had 911 on speed dial!  But they knew what they were doing, and despite the cold, the bins came down efficiently and safely.  In an hour or so the bins were on the way to their new home.




I still like to play in the snow, so I did some snow shoeing a couple of times on the deepest snow.  I also dug a snow cave for the grandkids, but it was too cold for them to play outside much.  Towards the end of the cold spell, we spent a Sunday afternoon at D#2's lake house.  The kids were sledding down the backyard hill and out onto the frozen lake.  We cleared snow from a large patch of lake and made an ice rink.  Some of the grandkids tried skating for the first time. The following week it warmed up and that was the end of sledding and skating.





The following weekend, Fritzes said there was still ice on their lake.  I was skeptical!  It had rained during the week as it warmed up, and the runoff water melted the edges of the lake.  But the middle was still 6 inches thick. They were still ice fishing.  The next week I headed down for one last shot at fishing.  There was still thick ice, but it was rotting.  You had to enter the lake by walking to the end of the dock, as there was open water around the edges.  You could kick your heel through the ice and into the water; it was that rotten.  But it still supported our weight, and we were able to fish. The group of Fritz family, Virg, and myself caught a half dozen or so bluegills and one bass.


The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.                                         Job 38:30


Friday, January 19, 2024

Winter Camping

 In the BWCA.  

We had a camping trip planned between Christmas and New Years that Isaac spearheaded.  We being Isaac, Micah, Tate, and the old farmer.  We were to head to Northern Minnesota and snowshoe into the BWCA pulling pulks (sleds/toboggan) with all of our gear and camp in a hot tent.  The problem was, the Boundary Waters had no snow.  They had a mild December, an even had a little rain over Christmas.  The outfitter told us that the lakes were frozen with at least 6 inch thick ice, but he would refund our money because of no snow.  We decided to go camping anyway. We arrived in Ely Tuesday afternoon and met with the outfitter and went over gear needs and made our plan.  Because of no snow, we all wore ice spikes or Yak Trax on our boots.  We hired a guide for the first day to make sure we knew ice safety and to help us get our camp established.  We met Joe early Wednesday morning after a night in a local hotel and were on the ice with all of our gear by mid morning.  

The loaded sleds pulled very easy on the ice, but the two portages were a little more of a challenge.  Where there was grass, we could pull the sleds across the grass.  Where there were rocks, we had to carry the gear and sleds across.  We crossed Everett Lake, traveled the length of East Twin Lake, and then camped on the far side of West Twin Lake.  After setting up the big canvas tent and wood stove, we went back out on the ice to drill holes for ice fishing.  We brought minnows with us and baited our tip-ups.  We kept the tip-ups baited and out all day each day.  Joe had brought a couple of shotguns with him as it was grouse and rabbit season still.  We went hunting/exploring for a couple hours with him and ended up with three grouse and a snowshoe hare.  Joe headed back out before dark, but he left his guns with us in case we wanted to hunt some more.

Because it had rained, all the wood was wet.  Our biggest challenge was finding dry wood that would keep our fires going.  We either cooked over the fire pit fire or the tent stove.  Both were a challenge to light and keep heating with the wet wood.  The first night we grilled rib eye steaks over the open fire.  We had a wild game feed the second night with grouse, rabbit, and northern pike as our featured meats.  All were mighty tasty!  We brought a lot of fresh food with us, and because it was winter we didn't have to worry about refrigeration.  There was plenty of eggs, bacon, potatoes, salad, soups, and cheese.  We had another fish fry the third evening also.  Isaac brought a reflector oven, so we also had deserts, including cobbler and brownies.

The temperatures in the day reached thirty degrees, and at night fell into the high teens.  Actually milder than what we were prepared for.  I packed my down parka, and never needed to wear it.  Because of the wet wood, we never kept the fire going at night.  It was frosty in the tent when we woke up in the mornings, but we slept cozy in our warm sleeping bags.  First thing in the morning was to start a fire in the stove to get the coffee pot boiling for coffee or cocoa.  We expended a lot of time and energy gathering and splitting wood.

In addition to fishing, hunting, and exploring, Isaac and I had brought ice skates when we realized there would be no snow shoes.  We were able to explore the lakes on skates and travel miles quickly.  I was a little rusty on skates at first, but once warmed up we had a great time.  I even made a hockey stick from a pine branch and cut a puck from the end of an appropriately sized branch.  It was a rather large and spacious rink.

On the way in, we saw were a wolf pack had very recently killed and ate a weak wolf.  About all that was left was fur and feces.  We saw evidence of otters, and several beaver lodges.  Twice at night we heard wolves howling.  That was a first for me in the wild.

First day, ready to adventure forth.


Pulling sleds across the ice on a misty, cloudy day.



Finishing a portage.



Campsite and tent with smoke rising from pipe.  A welcome sign.



The small pack-able wood stove heating water and drying firewood.



We spread balsam fir branches on the floor as carpeting to keep our feet clean.



      

Filleting northern on the ice.



Tate and his grouse.


Isaac in his self-made anorak and moose-hide mittens.


Breakfast around the campfire.


Skating.


Passing a beaver lodge on the way out.


Back out and loading the gear in the truck.



And it started snowing as we are heading out of Ely!



And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.     I Corinthians 16:6




Friday, December 22, 2023

While Waiting for Christmas

Every year starting the end of August, the Christmas catalogs start showing up in the mailbox.  The frequency increases as each month rolls by.  Some days there will be a half dozen of them.  Most of them go directly to recycle, but I do like to browse some of them.  In the past I have posted my favorite T-shirt sayings from the catalogs.  I have another bunch I would like to share.

"Normal" isn't coming back.  Jesus is. 

The devil saw me with my head down and thought he won.  Until I said Amen.

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you.  Jesus Christ and the American Veteran.  One died for your soul and the other for your freedom.

My people skills are just fine.  It's my tolerance for idiots that needs work.

If I said I'll fix it, there's no need to remind me every six months.

I would rather stand with God and be judged by the world, than stand with the world and be judged by God.

I don't know how to act my age - I've never been this old before.

Faith is like Wi-Fi.  It's invisible, but it has the power to connect you to what you need.

It's weird being the same age as old people.

Sawdust is man glitter.

Duct tape.  It can't fix stupid, but it can muffle the sound.

I asked God to make me a better man.  He sent me my wife.

Being a Dad is an honor.  Being a Grandpa is priceless.

I'm finally old enough to do anything I want.  But too tired to actually do it.

He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

If you stay silent in this war between good and evil, your life will be easier.  But your children's won't.

The devil whispered in my ear, "you're not strong enough to withstand the storm".  Today I whispered in the devils ear, "I am a child of God, a man of Faith, a warrior of Christ.  I am the storm."

At this point, Jesus doesn't need to take the wheel.  He needs to pull over and spank some of y'all with his sandal.

We had our big family Christmas last weekend, and tomorrow we have another one to start Christmas weekend.  After a couple last minute shopping trips, I think I am ready.  Our house will be full to overflowing, but it will be a blessing.  We hope everyone stays healthy and can be here. 

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.               Luke 2:6,7


Monday, November 27, 2023

Post Thanksgiving Update

 We finished harvest (except double crop soybeans) on the 24th of October.  I did have one little problem towards the end of harvest.  Something I hadn't done in about 20 years.  We were opening up a field after dark, and I forgot to fold the auger after unloading on the front end-rows.  There is a pine tree at the corner of the field and as I turned the corner to open up along the side of the field, the auger and the pine tree became intimate.  The hydraulic cylinder that swings the auger out bent and snapped.  We were done for the night.  First thing in the morning I drove to our dealer and purchased the one cylinder that they had in stock.  By nine o'clock in the morning we had the cylinder replaced and headed back to the field.  Fortunately there wasn't any other damage.  Overall, it was a good, safe, productive harvest for which we are grateful.  We had good weather to work on the tillage that needed to be done.  We are fortunate to live close to the CaseIH tillage manufacturing plant, which is in Goodfield.  They are often looking for acres to run new or improved machines over for testing.  They tilled a field for me with a new high speed disk for the cost of fuel.

Niece nurse Kacie spent a morning with me in the combine.


We spent a nice beautiful fall evening in Gridley at the Schlipf's.  It was the only wiener roast we attended this year.  Most of our family was able to be there.




One weekend, D#2 and kids had a sleepover at our place.  The male cousins and inlaws headed to KC for their almost annual Q Fest.  We had a nice time with the grandkids, but one of these years I think some of us old guys should tag along for some good KC BBQ.

We had a good apple crop this year, but couldn't find a good time to make cider.  Finally, we found a night while the Q Fest was happening that those who were still around could help.  It was cold, dreary, and drizzling, but we were able to get a several gallons of fresh cider made.



One day I came into the house and went to the basement to wash up for lunch when I was surprised by a starling flying around the basement.  It must have fallen down the chimney and made it into the furnace open draft duct.  Anyway, I found a fishing net in the garage and chased it around the basement for ten minutes until I was finally able to snag it.  I was hungry, so I didn't take the time to find a cat.  I just turned it loose with instructions not to make that mistake again.


I got the double crop soybeans out the week before Thanksgiving, and started emptying my manure pits for the last time.  I finished just before a rain and the holiday, and was able to disk the field the Saturday evening after Thanksgiving.  My field work is officially done.  Now I am cleaning up equipment and rearranging the shed.

I have also gone back into the hog houses and started to remove and put equipment up for sale.  Some needs to be dismantled, some cleaned, and some removed.  I've tried to spread the word and have started to get some interest.

I read some statistics prior to Thanksgiving about food cost in America.  Americans spend only 6.7% of their disposable income on food.  This is the lowest of all the countries in the world that the USDA tracks.  We are 20% lower than the next lowest country; Singapore.  Only 15 cents of each dollar spent on food in America goes to the farmer who produces it.  The rest goes to processing, packaging,  transportation, wholesale, and retail.

And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.             Exodus 23:16




Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Last Hog Day

 I moved to this farm with my parents in 1960.  I know that there have been hogs raised on this farm continuously since then.  We started with a pasture farrowing system, then when I was in grade school we converted our dairy barn to a farrowing house.  After school, my brother and I would feed the sows in crates, clean out the manure from behind her, and bed down the sides of the crates with straw for the baby pigs.  There was a manure spreader parked in the middle alley that we filled with the manure and wet straw we removed from the crates.  Whenever the spreader got full, Dad would spread it and park it back in the alley.  On the other end of the barn alley was a feed wagon filled with ground feed.  That's where we got the feed to feed the sows.   We dipped the feed out with 5 gallon buckets.  We also caught and held the baby pigs while Dad clipped teeth and tails, vaccinated, gave iron shots, and castrated. 

While I was in High School, we built our first confinement building.  It was fully slatted with a six foot pit under it.  It became our farrowing house and nursery. Economy Builders from Princeville (the Streitmatters) built it for us.  Sows and finishing pigs were all still outside in open front sheds. When I came home from college I designed a new farrow/nursery building that Vernon, Ted, and Myron Blunier helped us build. The old farrow/nursery was converted to finishing.  As the years went by, we added a couple more confinement buildings (built by H & W Systems, Fairbury) plus two hoop buildings.  Gestation sows were all that were still in open front sheds.

In 2012 we switched from a farrow to finish operation to a wean to finish operation.  We bought 3 week old pigs and finished them out.  Our farrowing rooms were converted to nurseries.  Three or four years ago, my brother decided he wanted out of the hog operation.  Neither of us have sons that are interested in continuing the hog operation.  I enjoyed raising pigs and didn't mind the work.  It got hectic during planting and harvest to handle it all alone, but I managed.  Now, it is getting hard to find help when I want to travel or vacation, and I don't want to always impose on family.  And I do want to travel more.  The buildings are showing their age and need some repair and  investment to keep them serviceable.  I just don't want to stick more money into them, and at my advanced age, I want to slow down a bit.

So, I made the decision to exit the pork production business!  After working with pigs 45 years full time and 10 or 12 helping dad while in school, I exit.  I received my last baby pigs late spring, and shipped my last load of market hogs two weeks ago. 

Nathan Wiegand brought last pigs coming to the farm.


Clay Kelsey backing up to the door for the last time.


Last pigs moving down the alley.



Last load headed down the road.



We had family birthdays one night a week or so ago, and the family decided to celebrate the end of an era.  They surprised me with a "hogs head" cake and sang "Happy last hog day to you" to the tune of  Happy Birthday! 


 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.    Matthew 8:32


Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Progress

 I attended the Farm Progress Show in Decatur earlier this fall.  I drove by myself because I didn't want to spend all day.  I had too much to do back home.  I was especially impressed with the Nexat machine, the 60 foot draper, and the "drone" that you can ride on.  

Harvest is progressing fairly smoothly.  We always start slow, but we are now at full speed.  The soybeans are finished all except the double crop beans.  The corn is now all dry enough and we can make good progress in the cornfields.  The "new" combine and draper have been performing very well.  A few minor issues on the combine, but nothing that has slowed us down too much.  I did have one very frustrating day when I needed a sensor that was flashing me warnings that we don't think were legitimate.  It was about 11:00 in the morning and after talking with a mechanic, I decided to change the sensor.  The two closest John Deere dealers did not have the part I needed.  Their computer told me that the part was available in Lexington and Brimfield.  I called Lexington first, and they said they didn't have one.  The gentleman that answered the phone in Brimfield told me that the computer showed they had one but he wanted to check and make sure.  After a couple of minutes, he came back to the phone and said yes, he had one in his hand.  I told him to hold it for me and I would be there within the hour.  When I walked into the Brimfield store, no one was around.  I rang the bell at the parts counter, and a gal came out from back to help me.  I explained the situation, and after checking her computer she disappeared into the back.  About ten minutes later she reappeared and said she couldn't find it and asked who I had spoken to.  He hadn't told me his name.  She rummaged around the other computer desks, the counter behind her, and stuck her head into an office.  She disappeared in the back again, but when she returned she apologized, but no part.  Her computer told her that Lexington and Streater had the part.  Since I had already checked with Lexington, I called Streater.  Yes, they had the part and would hold it for me. So I headed the opposite direction and when I got to the dealer in Streater, they did indeed have the part!  By the time I got back home and installed the sensor, it was mid afternoon.  And I had driven almost 190 miles for a $75 part!

One day when we weren't in the field because of a rain break, I went shopping at Sam's Club with my daughter and three granddaughters.  That was a fun experience!  I ended up spending way more than I had intended to.  The highlight for the girls were the Halloween yard decorations.

I enjoy long romantic walks down the cheese aisle.

We drove out to Bloomfield this week for my uncle Roy's funeral.  He was my mom's youngest and last surviving brother.  He was a colorful character, and I enjoyed the times we were together.  It was good to be there and see the family.  It made for a big day, but we enjoyed the drive.  We stopped at Dutchman's Store in Cantral on the way back, and also stopped to see Carly and Logan's house in Trivoli, and Clayton and Jessica's house in Hanna City.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.                   I Thessalonians 1:13