Megan: Ah, back to the “Good Life”

The entire state of Kansas is officially marked off of our list now! Hoxie ended up being a very satisfactory stop for the Roland crew. Most of the fields averaged around 75 bushels per acre as we got into some outstanding wheat the last 3 or 4 days. One of the final fields we cut yielded 92 bushels per acre – and that was dry land wheat! Needless to say our farmer was ecstatic and we were happy to be keeping busy in such a beautiful field.

We finished up in Hoxie, Kansas on Wednesday, just after dark. The weather forecast had been predicting rain in the area all day Wednesday and for the next three days as well, so we were really up against the clock. However, we lucked out and finished cutting our last field just in time. Since it was already dark and we had 10 miles of dirt roads to travel to town (where the combine trailers were) we were forced to leave the machines in the field. That night it rained almost an inch out at the field so Thursday morning we were faced with the challenge of moving the combines and grain cart on muddy roads. To our relief, everyone made it to town safely and without getting the equipment stuck or even too terribly muddy.

We loaded up all the machinery and headed to Imperial, Nebraska that afternoon. Being born and raised in Nebraska, Brandon and I always look forward to moving back into our beloved state. Although we are still 200 miles from home, I think the entire crew is more relaxed now that we’re back in Nebraska and Husker nation!

This past week Imperial has been experiencing some horrendous storms, many with destructive hail, unfortunately. These storms have also delivered heavy rains which have delayed harvest for the time being. The wheat appears to be ripe but the moisture is still too high to begin harvesting and most of the fields are muddy, many of them with standing water in them. We have high hopes of getting started later today or tomorrow, although it ultimately depends on what the weather does. We’ll go out and take a sample later this afternoon to get a better idea of where the moisture is ranging.

Hoxie wheat Many of the other correspondents have been discussing the beautiful wheat they are harvesting. I would have to agree that wheat has a certain magnificent beauty about it.

Hoxie wheat
This dry land wheat field ended up yielding 92 bushels per acre!

Moving
While moving to a new field the headers on the combines almost had a run-in with the roads banks on either side. It was a tight squeeze but they were able to wiggle through without tearing anything up.

Hoxie wheat with combines
Dad unloads his combine on-the-go while James runs the grain cart underneath his auger. Brandon combines in the opposite direction.

Combine in the wheat
Clouds build up in the distance as we push to finish our last field in Hoxie.

Nebraska sign
As we crossed the state line into Nebraska a wheat field was being harvested directly behind the Nebraska sign. What a nice welcome to us harvesters!

Blast to the Past – Today’s Flashback:

Christmas with combine '96
Ashley, Brandon and I pose for our 1996 Christmas card picture. Sporting our Husker gear and having a corn header on the front of the TR 98 is it obvious we’re true Nebraskans?

Megan can be reached at megan@allaboardharvest.com. All Aboard is sponsored by High Plains Journal and DuPont Crop Protection.

 

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