
02 Aug Janel: Drying days wanted
Pierre, South Dakota – We are slowly making progress. We have been here a couple of weeks now and for the most part have spent most of our time waiting on spring wheat to ripen. We have cut a few fields (some have been hailed on), and overall the wheat is yielding around 30 bushels per acre. The protein has been 17-20 percent, which is excellent. However, the wheat is light, weighing about 55 pounds or so. The wheat is standing good, and the conditions have been fair. What we really need are some good drying days, including lots of heat and wind. That would help our wheat harvesting progress a lot.
We have lots more spring wheat here to cut, and it looks like it will yield pretty well and more than what we’ve recently harvested. Hopefully, we’ll stay busy even though the 10-day forecast is cooler (70s and 80s) with some chances of scattered showers.
As of mid-July, it’s been reported that over 70 percent of South Dakota is in a drought. The corn is showing signs of drought and heat stress and is anywhere from a couple feet tall to 5-6 feet tall. For the most part, the soybeans are looking small, short and uneven. In this area, the rains we had recently have certainly helped and have made the row crops look better.

I love this time of day. Evening shadows and then a sunset are always amazing! (Photo by Janel Schemper)

This is Lake Oahe. I’ve driven combines across that bridge many times and also hauled a combine or two over it. (Photo by Janel Schemper)
All Aboard Wheat Harvest™ is sponsored by High Plains Journal and John Deere. Janel Schemper can be reached at janel@allaboardharvest.com.
Kyle
Posted at 08:30h, 02 AugustHi janel. How many acres will each coming harvest each season? How do you get paid? By the acre? If I had 1000 acres for you to harvest roughy what does that cost a farmer? Do you buy or lead. We equipment each year? I am always curious about farming economics. It has been fun to learn about your adventures
Brent Clemons, Clemons Harvsting
Posted at 21:19h, 02 AugustYour picture with the loaded cart, Pete in the middle, and combine on the left could be the background photo for a kids new farm toy on the box.
Janel Schemper
Posted at 20:40h, 11 AugustThanks Brent Clemons! I hadn’t thought of that but that’s a great idea! Thanks! -janel
Alan VanNahmen
Posted at 08:13h, 03 AugustWill Schempers be harvesting any Sunflowers this year in South Dakota, or other areas?
How’s that Sunflower crop looking around there?
Alan
Janel Schemper
Posted at 20:42h, 11 AugustThe sunflowers will probably do alright. I have never harvested sunflowers. I do harvest corn and soybeans during the fall months each year. Thanks for your message Alan VanHahmen!
-janel
"Dan" McGrew
Posted at 08:15h, 03 AugustIf Moo decides she needs two weeks at summer camp in the Black Hills — Will her job be open to an “Old Dawg?”
Only problem, during June and July, 2015 — with that continual rain in Nawth Dakota, this Old Dawg was so sick with pollen allergies, even riding shotgun with a real modern combine operator would have been impossible.
Sincerely hope you get some clear skies and drying temps.