Harvest 21

 We started harvest a week and a half ago.  It got of to a slow start because the Auger Cart tractor was in and out of the shop with electrical problems.  So, we opened up a few fields without it.  The corn dried down quickly in the last week and we are now moving full speed ahead.  I spent about $3000 on parts and labor in August getting the combine ready for harvest.  We were trying to find any potential problems ahead of time, so here's hoping that we have no major breakdowns.  I had backed off of my yield projections in the last few weeks prior to harvest when that really hot week seemed to shut down the plants and they started drying up faster than I expected.  But, now that we have been in the fields awhile, I think the yields might be better than what I anticipated.  We are hoping to start taking out some soybeans this week as it looks like they are drying down quickly.

As everyone knows, finding employees is tough right now.  That includes elevators finding seasonal help to operate scales and to dump trucks at the pits.  The first few days of harvest, at some elevators, the truckers had to get out and dump their own trucks.  They have help now, but operating hours have been shortened a little.  And some of the help has needed some coaching and training.

This is what happens when the elevator help doesn't shut and latch the hopper bottom doors!

After it happens the second time, someone gets a lecture!

A loader tractor and a couple of scoop shovels cleaned up the spills, and hopefully that will be the last!

When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.

Deuteronomy 24:19

FPS

 The Farm Progress Show was held in Decatur again this year, so we headed down on the Wednesday.  The weather was about as pleasant as you could have for a day of walking around Progress City.  I tried really hard not to pick up a lot of farm swag this year, and I think I mostly succeeded.  Face masks were required in a couple indoor exhibits, but otherwise it was a typical show. Everything agriculture is on display, and lots of new products are introduced here. 

The "Worlds Largest Tractor" was on display at one of the tire manufacturer's exhibit.

We took a Saturday day trip across the border to Burlington for one of our Iowa granddaughter's birthday.  We had a picnic at Starr's Cave Park and spent the afternoon hiking to the caves and the Nature Center.  The main cave is closed to humans to prevent the spread of a bat virus, but we still enjoyed the park.  The granddaughters especially enjoyed the hiking, climbing, and playing in the river.  On the way to Mediapolis and Son # 2's for our supper, one of our group was led down a mud road by the GPS, which resulted in a couple hour delay in their arrival.  After being unable to get to them with a 4-wheel drive pickup and then turned down by two towing companies, they finally borrowed a tractor to retrieve the van from its predicament.  After supper we had a birthday party and then headed back east.

A week ago Thursday evening, my feed mill went down.  I called the dealer/serviceman and he told me he was in Wyoming for a week.  Friday morning I called the mill company and talked to their technician and we diagnosed the problem over the phone. He said he would overnight ship the part I needed along with instructions so that I could install it myself.  I was a little worried because it was Labor Day weekend, and I didn't think I could make it until Tuesday without feed.  Friday afternoon I was able to line up emergency delivery of feed from a local feed mill for Tuesday just in case I didn't get my mill running.  The part didn't show up Saturday.  Nor did it show up Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday.  I took delivery of the emergency feed on Tuesday because I had empty bulk bins and I was leaving on a short vacation early Wednesday morning.  The part showed up while I was gone, and our dealer/serviceman was able to get it installed on Saturday morning after he got home from his vacation.  I got home late Sunday night and was able to make needed feed Monday morning.  Nothing like a little stress just before a vacation! 

 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.         Isaiah 2:19