05 Jul Laura: Extreme Weather
West central Oklahoma—It is ironic how incredibly different two back-to-back seasons can be. Last year, this area was suffering from very tough drought conditions. This year, creeks are high and soil moisture profiles full. Even though the ground held surprisingly well initially, eventually the continued rainstorms took their toll, making for challenging harvesting. Strong yields were the positive result of the wet weather as stated previously. Conditions are similar for our crew cutting in south central Kansas.
Part of the crew is harvesting in extreme southwest Kansas. As I drove along Highway 160 to meet up with them, I got to see some of the damage the area experienced from a recent hailstorm. It is always heartbreaking to see this type of destruction, especially days away from harvest when yields looked promising for families. The weather didn’t discriminate and took out fall crops too forcing difficult decisions for replanting.
I feel like talking about extreme weather has been a theme the past several seasons on this blog. I’m starting to question if there is a normal anymore or the extreme cycles are what we can expect.
It is all fun and games in the beautiful wheat until…
Until someone gets stuck!
Full streams.
Running in Oklahoma.
Found a dry patch!
Green machine and red dirt. We’re already decorated for Christmas!
The next truck ready for a load!
Wheat!
Rain showers have kept the flowers in beautiful form!
Keeping things light is important in soft conditions.
Corn looking rather tough in southwest Kansas after a recent hailstorm.
All Aboard Wheat Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and John Deere. Laura Haffner can be reached at laura@allaboardharvest.com.
marcy mcclelland
Posted at 13:29h, 06 JulyThanks for all your observations. It is a very tough year again for farmers. The wheat pictures you sent were looking good. Hopefully the mud won’t bog your crew down too much
Keith Grant
Posted at 18:53h, 08 JulyHello Laura Haffner I have been following All Aboard Wheat Harvest web site last year and again this year and I have enjoyed reading your comments.
My Wife and I are traveling to USA in August and will be in North Dakota August 10 to 12, 2019 and we were wondering where your operation will be located around this time. I have wanted to view the North American Wheat harvest for sometime and hopefully we can visit an operation while we are in the North Dakota area.
Thanking you.
Laura Haffner
Posted at 12:00h, 12 JulyHi Keith,
This harvest has been late so far but maybe the heat will catch things up. Its a little hard to know exactly where harvest will be at that point, but it may have moved to the North Dakota area by that point. I hope you will be able to see the harvest you desire. Best wishes! Laura
Keith grant
Posted at 19:55h, 11 JulyHello Laura,
My wife and I are travelling from New Zealand to USA in August and are keen to catch on your wheat harvesting operation if possible.
I followed All Aboard Harvest last year and again this year as part of our planning for our trip to US endeavouring to be in an area where we could see harvesting.
We will be in Bismarck North Dakota August 10 to 12, 2019 and from here we could travel into South Dakota or may be Montana.
I am really looking forward to viewing harvesting operations in America.
Hoping the harvest is going well and look forward to hear from you soon.
Kind regards
Keith Grant
Christchurch
New Zealand
Laura Haffner
Posted at 12:01h, 12 JulyEnjoy your trip and I hope you have safe travels. Please see my comment below.