Harvest is Complete!

On Halloween we finished combining all our corn, which you would think means harvest is over and so are long work days.  That is not actually the case.  There is a lot more work to do after harvest has finished.  I know a lot of people think farmers don't do anything after the crop is out of the ground, but that is far from the truth.

Lee working on the combine...a large rock did some damage

Craig taking a break from working on the combine to talk to the crop insurance agents (Ryan and Kent).  They were nice enough to bring us all lunch!

Currently we are doing tillage work up north and applying lime down south. The lime helps adjust (raise) the pH of the soil and returns it to where it needs to be.  Not every field gets lime each year, we test the soil and apply the lime where it is needed.  After the lime is applied the ground is worked (turned over) so the lime can be incorporated. 

Our combine

Sometime this fall the guys are also going to be working on tiling.  That involves putting pipes in the ground to help with drainage.  Currently they are surveying some of the fields to help them design a drainage plan that will help drain excess water from the fields.  We like to believe that someday it will rain again. 

Brad looking serious

There is also the management of the grain that is sitting in the bin, so we can ensure that is stays in good condition until we are ready to deliver it.  They have also been working on cleaning the grain dryer, pits, grain leg, conveyors, etc. 

Monkeys in a truck.  My truck topper makes my truck a cozy place to play when it is windy and rainy

Brad saw a question somewhere ( I think it was on Facebook) that asked when was harvest was officially over?  Some of the choices included: when the crop is out of the field, when tillage work is done, and when your wife is tired of being a single parent.  While I like answer C, my answer is when the ground is frozen!

Our crop insurance agent, Ryan,  was showing me a video of baby tigers playing in his inlaws back yard...long story but it was really cool to see

Me!

All that being said, Brad has been home earlier.  We aren't talking 5pm but he has been home several nights in time to wrestle the boys before they go to bed and he helps me get them in bed.  He also has been taking Vincent to school in the mornings ever since they have been back around home harvesting!  I guess I will consider harvest officially over when I no longer have to find a babysitter to watch the kids when I work on Saturdays.

Picture by Vincent of the combine

Bob signing paperwork

**All the pictures of Brad, Bob or myself were taken by Vincent.