Emma: Nearing the End

Soybean harvest went well, and the fire was our only difficulty. The 2011 corn harvest was no unlike soybeans and had its own difficulties.

In August a few storms went through with very high winds and heavy rain. This type of weather flattens smaller fall crops that are in their growing stages, and unfortunately once flat always flat. Corn cannot just spring back up. We spent our corn harvest picking up corn that was on the ground. In my opinion, weather wasn’t the only factor – and the variety may have played a roll. I say this after seeing a field where two varieties were planted in one field flopping from one pass to the next. One variety was completely flat, the other was not. I suppose the one variety was not able to withstand the fierce weather conditions.

The free-standing corn was not a problem to pickup. We could drive almost seven miles per hour harvesting around 200 bushel per acre corn. The only problem we really had was getting the bushels away. With the flat corn we were only able to drive around three miles per hour and averaging 180 bushels per acre. That is quite a difference. The moisture surprisingly did not vary much at all.

Even with difficulties that Joel had with picking up corn and climbing in and out of the cab, he never lost his sense of humor. Even when the rest of use were at our wits end. I guess we can be thankful this is a fantastic fall – like we had last year in this area. The temperatures are still in the 50’s and even though it has gotten chilly at night, we’re willing to deal if it means no snow.

Erv came back for another visit! He put his truck driving skills to work. We were so happy to have Erv, but since corn harvest has past he has returned home. Aunt Sonja and my cousin Lee have also returned home, just last week. That time is coming for all of us as we are winding down for the year and tying up loose ends here and there. We’ll soon start the long haul home, but for now we’re helping out our farmer Dave with his loose ends.

Here’s a few photos of corn harvest.
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This corn is a little tangled, but by far not the worst we saw.

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Sometimes it was really hard to see where you needed to go. Who knew that driving down corn rows could be so hard?! With the tangled corn, I quickly learned how to drive an even straighter path, and half-way guess where I needed to be. Not exactly what I was hoping to experience this year.

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When the corn was standing tall, and we were getting the bushels out, it was rather fun! It’s amazing how many acres and bushels you can get out in a day with two combines, two carts, numerous gravity wagons and seven trucks. Time really does fly when you’re having fun!

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Corn harvest this year did come with a shower or two here and there, but even if we did have moisture, we were back at it the next day just like that!

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Mositure came, but didn’t stop us.

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A few low clouds.

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Very pretty. I think anyway.

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Harvesting into the sunset.

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After seven months out on the road I’m ready to be home again. There is just something about waking up in the same town night after night, not to mention the comforts of home. Another week or so and I’ll be checking in from Elk City, Okla., and let me tell you that I can’t wait!

Until then, Be safe and God bless!

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