01 Jul Northwest Kansas update

Northwest Kansas—I realize it has been a little while since I last updated you. I think I have enough information now, so I’m going to give this a shot. It has been a little difficult to catch the guys to get enough information to be able to piece together a story. When they’re this busy and pressed, and have storm chances again in the forecast for later this week, I hate to keep pestering them for “detailed” field news. As an example, we’ve probably seen Ryan four waking hours since June 22; that may be a generous number!

Lots of crews were on the roadways over the past several days, including our own. All of our crew members are now back in Kansas.

The Victoria crew finished up south of Gorham. That combine moved to the Colby area on Monday.

Ryan and the Pratt group moved back to the area Sunday after finishing up down there. It sounds like yields came out around 65 bushels per acre with test weights ranging from 60 to 63 pounds. This crew has been cutting north of Quinter and also around the Collyer area. Field totals haven’t been calculated yet, but the monitors are showing a range of yields from 20 to 35 bushels per acre with test weights ranging from 50 to 58 so far.

Mark and crew are cutting around the Hoxie area. They ran into some wet wheat last night so they shut down early. (And by early I mean around dark!) It is a little too soon to say for sure, but Mark thought this irrigated circle had the potential to go around 90 bushels per acre! On dryland acres, he has been seeing yield ranges from around 30 to 50 bushels per acre. This area was not immune to the rust issues that were prevalent with late-season rains and cooler temperatures. There was fungicide use in the region to combat this problem.

As for me, I have been trying to keep things as normal as possible for Little Man while balancing the behind-the-scenes jobs for the crew and taking care of things at home. I thought about taking a picture of our mound of mail and bills, but that was depressing compared to beautiful combine pictures. I sure appreciate our crew sending in their pictures for me to share with you!

Mark talked to our farmer in southern Montana, and that job may be two weeks away from cutting. Colorado will likely be ready next week as they have been experiencing 100 degree temperatures the last several days. It sounds like there is rust in the Nebraska Panhandle. Ryan said one of our Montana jobs has been hailed out and they will not be needing help this year.

The next few weeks are going to be interesting. I feel like a broken record as I have been saying that or something similar all season! To give you perspective, last year in late July, we were just finishing up in Nebraska and Colorado!

Until next time…

 The photo above is from Dalton and the one below is from Michael, our two crew members from Tennessee.  I think it’s safe to say they have developed an appreciation of our sunsets here on the Plains! 

I captured the photo below of the crew working south of Gorham, Kansas, on Sunday.

Below is the crew enjoying some homemade lunch we delivered while they waiting for the wheat to dry down near Loretta, Kansas.

Mark sent in these two photos this morning. The weed control seems to be excellent on these fields!

Little Man likes to help in the field and kitchen—what a guy! He’s making some sweet treats for sack lunches. 

All Aboard Wheat Harvest™ is sponsored by High Plains Journal and New Holland Agriculture. You can contact Laura at laura@allaboardharvest.com.