Emma’s fall harvest

The summer wheat harvest may be behind the Miesner crew, but that doesn’t mean the combines have stopped rolling. Emma checks in to fill us in on fall harvest and what the Misener crew has been doing the past three weeks.

I can’t believe it’s been over three weeks since my last post. I thought that summer harvest goes fast, but fall harvest has gone even faster this year. We’ve been a very busy crew since my last post.

The John Deere Fall Festival was a blast. We arrived two days before the event started and we had to wash and wax Dad’s tractors. He had a John Deere 1962 4010 LP Gas Standard 492 built, John Deere 1963 3010 Diesel Standard 3,017 built, and John Deere 1963 3010 LP Gas Standard 103 built with 3-point and 4-bottom plow-both tractor and plow are original.

The rest of the family joined us just in time for the show and we were all quite a sight to see. Some of the highlights were the parade, seminars and familiar faces. Dad, Dan and David drove our tractors in the parade and it was fun to see the shiny green on display. We had a great time in Waterloo, Iowa.

We finished up wheat harvest this year is Rolla, N.D., and the averages were 55 bushels per acre, 60 pounds and the moisture varied from 15-percent to 12-percent. We were the last crew to leave town and overall had a decent finish to the summer harvest.

As soon as we finished up we started moving to Canton, S.D., and Rock Rapids, Iowa. They were our next stops for the fall harvest. This time of year often forces the crew to split up because both areas are ready at the same time. David took part of the crew and two combines to Canton and Dad and I had the other part of the crew with three combines in Iowa.

Since leaving Rolla it has been nothing but sunshine and perfect weather. It was a far cry from our experience in Rolla, where it rained non-stop.  Now we’re seeing above average temps, a nice fall breeze and all the makings for perfect fall harvest weather. So far, fall harvest has been a success.

Thanks to the farmers we’re cutting for we enjoy all the benefits of a garden, without all of the work. Mom has been cooking wonderful fall dishes that keep us all happy and fed. I always look forward to fall veggies from the garden because they just don’t taste the same from the store. We’ve had fresh tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, squash, carrots, onions and even sweet potatoes. Mom is a fantastic cook and has even topped off our home grown vegetables with homemade bread. Mom is really the glue that makes this family, and business, run so well. She does the most and often gets the least credit. Even though it’s not Mother’s Day out there do something special for your mom and let her know how much she is appreciated.

Yesterday marked the end of the soybean harvest for us (unless we pick up some more work). The average for us was 60 bushels per acre, 59 pounds and 10-percent moisture. We kept all five combines running, but we had a little help, actually a lot of help. In Canton our farmer also has a fertilizer business so he has enough support equipment to keep the grain away and moving. In Rock Rapids our farmer, his wife and hired men help us out driving and supplying some support equipment. We have been real fortunate because we have a few visitors helping as well. Eric from Ohio takes a vacation from his landscaping work to help out. Chuck and his wife Ann and Ken from Iowa have also come to help.

We also have help away from the field too. My niece Elizabeth is a big help, especially with Granny. She helps cook and set the table. As I write this post she is even vacuuming and she loves helping Granny. Four-year olds are greatly underestimated.

We are off to start corn harvest. A few farmers in the area that started harvest a couple weeks ago chopping or harvesting high moisture corn for feedlots and dairies. With all the nice weather we’re getting an early start. That weather may give us the shortest harvest we’ve had in 15 years. I have to say though, I’m not sorry about that. I have always wanted to spend Thanksgiving in Elk City, Okla., in 80 degree weather. It’s the closest I’ll get to the beach.

As we start corn harvest we’ll only run one combine in each place. We’ll use an eight-row, 30 inch corn head. Everything has to be synchronized to reach the maximum potential. There is a massive quantity of corn so the support equipment will stay busy. Our goal will be 100 acres per day per combine.

We had a special visitor that lives in the area. Merlin’s visits are always unique. He landed his Piper Cub airplane in the nearest soybean field. I was looking forward to a little ride, but there wasn’t time. You never know where Merlin will show up.

Emma's Fall Harvest 2010

We all got into the waxing business for a day. Much more presentable.

Emma's Fall Harvest 2010

(L to R) Dan, Dad, Mom, Elizabeth, Eric, Verena, Alexander and David. The day Eric left.

Emma's Fall Harvest 2010

With our John Deere heads and SCH drive cutting system, it’s a breeze cutting two inches off the ground with nothing left behind.

Emma's Fall Harvest 2010

The end of soybean harvest.

To see Emma’s complete collection of fall harvest photos visit us on Facebook.

For more information contact crew@allaboardharvest.com. All Aboard Wheat Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and DuPont Crop Protection.

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