Janel: August in North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota – We arrived at our last harvest stop here in North Dakota earlier than ever. There is a drought going on here and the farmers are praying for rain especially for their soybeans.  There are lots of fields of soybeans and some look good but some are looking short and very dry.  We’ve been cutting spring wheat and will eventually harvest canola too.  The weather has been hot and dry which is good for harvest progress but we are expecting highs in the 70s for a few days.  We’ve had several consecutive days of 90 degrees.

Typically, we don’t arrive this far north until late August and finish wheat and canola in September. (I’ve harvested wheat here before in October which is late).  Depending on the weather, we may easily be done here before September 1st and then we will be looking for more work.  The spring wheat has been 50 to 60 bushels per acre and the protein 13.5 percent.  The test weights have been 63 pounds per bushel.

I love harvesting in North Dakota for many reasons. The fields are nice and the bushels are almost always very good.  A lot of the grain is hauled to the bins and it’s efficient when the bins are nearby on a farm yard.  The scenery is beautiful and the trees are gorgeous at this time of year.  North Dakota is beautiful in the summertime and this is exactly where I like to be at this time of year.

Schemper HarvestingCutting spring wheat in North Dakota.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingLaVern Schemper cutting spring wheat in North Dakota.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingMiss Moo enjoying the combine cab air conditioning on this 99 degree day.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingSchemper Harvesting cutting spring wheat in North Dakota.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingCutting spring wheat.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingCutting spring wheat.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingCutting spring wheat in North Dakota.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingCutting spring wheat.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingIt’s getting dark.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingSchemper Harvesting cutting spring wheat in North Dakota.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingA field finished and we are moving across the road to the next one.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingBeautiful North Dakota spring wheat.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingDad and I cutting spring wheat in North Dakota.  Photo by Janel Schemper.

Schemper HarvestingCutting spring wheat.  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.

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