09 Jul Janel: Southwest Nebraska Wheat Harvest
Southwest Nebraska – It’s still unreal to me that we had nothing to cut in western Kansas. I didn’t get to use my Shelbourne header much in Kansas this year. Blue header time is one of my favorite times during wheat harvest. I’m disappointed.
We spent the 4th of July cutting in southwest Nebraska. The wheat yielded 80 plus bushels per acre and the test weight 61 lbs. For the most part, the wheat was standing good but there were places where it was lodged. That meant slow and low cutting. It also made for a really long day of cutting wheat.
We have been looking for more work until our next wheat cutting jobs are ready for us. I’ve driven many miles and visited many elevators looking for work but have had no luck (yet). There is lots of wheat around that is ready to be cut.
There is quite the rotation of crops going on out west nowadays. Some wheat country is now corn country. It looks to me like there is more corn planted than ever out here. One reason to rotate crops is to clean up the ground if there are a lot of noxious weeds, volunteer rye, goatgrass and cheatgrass that grow in the fields and cause yield loss. One thing about southwest Nebraska during wheat harvest time is that it’s absolutely beautiful out here.
It’s just pretty out west at wheat harvest time. Photo by Janel Schemper.
My sleeping beauty, Moo. Photo by Janel Schemper.
Cutting wheat in southwest Nebraska. Photo by Janel Schemper.
Cutting wheat in southwest Nebraska. Photo by Janel Schemper.
Lodged wheat in places across this field. Photo by Janel Schemper.
Harvesting wheat at sunset. Photo by Janel Schemper.
This wheat yielded 80 bushels per acre. Photo by Janel Schemper.
Unloading wheat onto the truck. Photo by Janel Schemper.
Cutting wheat in southwest Nebraska. Photo by Janel Schemper.
It’s just pretty out west at wheat harvest time. Photo by Janel Schemper.
My combine shadow. Photo by Janel Schemper.
My combine shadow at sunset. Photo by Janel Schemper.
My dad and I cutting wheat in southwest Nebraska. Photo by Janel Schemper.
Good looking wheat. Photo by Janel Schemper.
Cutting wheat in southwest Nebraska. Photo by Janel Schemper.
Cutting wheat in southwest Nebraska. Photo by Janel Schemper.
Cutting wheat next to the pivot. Photo by Janel Schemper.
That’s us cutting wheat in southwest Nebraska. Photo by Janel Schemper.
It’s just pretty out west. Photo by Janel Schemper.
It was hot outside. Photo by Janel Schemper.
Some days are just exhausting Moo says. Photo by Janel Schemper.
My combine. Photo by Janel Schemper.
Oh my stars! I love family and ice cream! Left to right: Moo, me, Sage, Sterling, Sunder and my dad LaVern. Photo by Carlene Schemper.
All Aboard Wheat Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and John Deere. Janel Schemper can be reached at janel@allaboardharvest.com.
Tom Stegmeier
Posted at 19:40h, 10 JulyLove the post Janel, we went through Nebraska in March 2017 . A wonderful part of the Heart Land. What is your take on these diminishing wheat acres in the Great Plains ,it is cycle of price & drought or is Wheat just a rotation crop today. Miss Moo has the best Harvest seat !! Work Safe , God Bless .
Larry Bennett
Posted at 07:51h, 11 JulyLove the pictures — wish we were there to experience the landscape, too. Question: how do you cut around the pivot line? Can the farmer move it without pumping water through it? When we farmed in Ohio, our Golden rode in the cab all day, but needed a lift in & out — couldn’t do the steps. How does Moo get to the jump seat?
Brent Clemons,Clemons Harvesting
Posted at 22:02h, 11 JulyYou and Family on the tailgate Inspire me to dig out the old hand crank ice cream maker and have some fun. Thank You!