Blame the Birds

Each decision we make, path we follow, and activity we choose comes at the expense of something else. 

My mid harvest update is about 3 weeks overdue and I feel I have some explaining to do.

In early September, I asked Bert for permission to go on a pheasant hunting expedition.

I had an invitation from a good friend to join him for the pheasant season opening weekend in Hoven, South Dakota. 

I do not consider myself to be a hunter. The few times I took Alex and Clark hunting, I failed to bring shells for the gun. 

My fondness for the "Far Side" cartoon strip made me more than a little sympathetic to the rooster's harried plight. 

However, I do consider myself an avid outdoors person and the opportunity to spend time with old friends and possibly make some new ones intrigued me.

Having agreed to run a combine this year after sitting out the 2019 harvest, I felt Bert's consent was needed to take the weekend off.

He graciously approved. 

So on the weekend of October 17th, a couple friends and I flew out to Hoven, joined six other experienced, interesting, enthusiastic comrades, and reconnected with our inner hunter gatherer while enjoying nature and offering global solutions (aka bs'ing).

The balance of my time, beginning in late September, has been spent helping Pinicon Farm harvest the largest corn crop it has ever grown.   

I apologize that I have not had time to report on our progress.

It is the pheasant's fault.

Harvest 2020 saw a continuation of the cooperative weather trend we experienced in the spring. 

Bean harvest began around September 16th and wrapped up October 7th. One day during that stretch was unsuitable for harvest. 

Manure pumping started shortly after and has enjoyed the same continuous window of operation.

With only four sites left to pump in Minnesota, the manure crew is on a blistering pace.

As a result of low grain moisture levels and the new Oakdale bin site, we have been able to pick corn as fast as the combines can shell it.

There were days we ran three harvest Teams in corn, comfortably harvesting over 100,000 bu./day. 

Just a few days of corn picking, fertilizer application and tillage remain. This is fine with us. 

We would not want to be stuck inside for the last bright sun, blue sky, and glorious days of autumn.

A Covid compliant Thanksgiving celebration is being planned. It looks likely we will be celebrating the completion of a safe and rewarding 2020 Harvest.

Hopefully you have a safe Thanksgiving and your blessings are plentiful as well. 

Jim