Last week we finished harvesting beans, conducted our highly anticipated combine brand field trial, dispatched three corn harvest crews, and continued nutrient application in addition to doing fall tillage. We have reached the stage in harvest where everyone knows their assignment and has gained proficiency. We can follow the shortest path between fields as all are sufficiently mature.

There are still many fields to pick, bins to fill, acres to till and truckloads of diesel fuel to consume, but like the mountain climber who has reached the summit and looks back to the distant trailhead where the trek began, it is all downhill from here.

Years ago, I noticed, as harvest progresses, you often reach a stage where weather is cooperative, grain is ripe, the men are practiced yet not exhausted and equipment is still reliable. This is when you discover how much work can be done in a week. While this insight informs our marathon approach to harvest, most of my peers chose to sprint, racing to be done before the going gets good.

I am not making a judgement as to which is better. Both strategies can be profitable. And even though we all need to make money to stay in business, the difference in how we do that reveals what we value. In our view, maximizing the number of autumn days we can be outside, working the land, and appreciating the natural abundance of our region is a reward.

Our final average yield guess is coming into view. Beans were off nearly 20% from our average and corn will also likely be in that range. Variability is extreme.

This year will provide useful data on how to better manage drought conditions. The only catch will be predicting growing season rainfall months in advance.

Always looking for the silver lining, repairs, labor, and fuel cost per acre will be down substantially. If things go well, Linda and I might be able to make our traditional post-harvest Hiking trip to AZ before Thanksgiving.

Your wishes for a safe and successful conclusion to harvest are appreciated.

Jim

Downhill From Here