Janel: Downtime

South Dakota–We are caught back up to the harvest again. The wheat has been borderline ready.  We have cut nice wheat though that has been yielding 60 to 70 bushels per acre.  The test weight has been 62 to 63 pounds per bushel and the protein 12.5 percent.  It rained lately which delayed our harvesting time but hopefully all of the wheat will be ready to cut once the conditions are right again.

All I want to do is cut wheat but there is almost always downtime here in South Dakota because we cut winter wheat and spring wheat. Once the winter wheat is cut, we often wait on the spring wheat to ripen.  However, downtime is hardly ever a day off for me even though it may be a day away from the field.  I stay busy catching up on other work and cooking two meals per day for a crew of 11.  I would much rather spend my time in the field making progress and harvesting as much wheat as I can because that’s what I like to do and where I like to be but that takes the right weather and conditions.

Our 10-day forecast is clear with highs in the 70s. Hopefully, we’ll finish up the winter wheat and get started on spring wheat and then eventually make our way up to North Dakota next on our harvest route to cut spring wheat and canola.

All Aboard Wheat Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and John Deere.  Janel Schemper can be reached at janel@allaboardharvest.com.

Schemper Harvesting

My dad cutting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

Harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

Sierra cutting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

Sierra harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

Miss Moo says, “Let’s get this show on the road.”  MacDon Harvest Support was putting a new hose on the header so we were stopped for a few minutes.

Schemper Harvesting

Unloading wheat on the truck.

Schemper Harvesting

Harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

Harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

Uh oh!  The sky is starting to change to a dark blue color.

Schemper Harvesting

We might get rained out.  Rain, rain stay away.

Schemper Harvesting

Unloading on the go and the sky is getting darker.

Schemper Harvesting

Harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

A nice wheat crop in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

Cutting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

Sierra and Jared harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

The rain clouds keep getting closer and the sky darker.

Schemper Harvesting

Harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota with a storm approaching.

Schemper Harvesting

Harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

Storm clouds getting closer.  (Photo by Carlene Schemper.)

Schemper Harvesting

Wicked looking clouds rolling in.

Schemper Harvesting

I couldn’t decide if I wanted blue almond ice cream or a hot fudge sundae so I got both but, of course, Miss Moo gets half of whatever I’ve got so I had help.

Schemper Harvesting

Sunshine and clear skies again.

Schemper Harvesting

Harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

My combine shadow.  I love this time of day.  So thankful for a beautiful wheat crop to cut!

Schemper Harvesting

Cutting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

Miss Moo is always next to me.  I love her company.  She is the best dog ever!

Schemper Harvesting

Cutting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Schemper Harvesting

While we were in Pierre we went to Hobby Lobby.  Sierra said, “Aunt Janel, we have to do the Hobby Lobby challenge.”  Ok!  One of her favorite things are sunflowers.

Schemper Harvesting

One of my favorite things is … you guessed it – harvest!  (Photo by Sierra Schemper.)

Schemper Harvesting

Hobby Lobby challenge while shopping in Pierre.  So cute, Sierra!

Schemper Harvesting

Never a dull moment shopping with Sierra!

Schemper Harvesting

I said, “Sierra, a flower for the sweetest girl in the world!”

Schemper Harvesting

Sierra said, “Aunt Janel, a rose for a peach!”

3 Comments

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.