23 Aug Janel: Warmer weather wanted

South Dakota–The month of August has been awfully cool. What we need to make harvest progress is heat, sunshine and wind and it seems we can’t get much of any of them.  It is frustrating.  All harvesters up north are dealing with these cooler temperatures and slow harvest progress.  It feels like October weather with highs only in the 70s.  The scattered rain showers are messing with our harvest time too.  South Dakota is not in a drought this year.  The ground is wet and the cloudy days and cooler temperatures are not drying it out too fast.

We have been making a little progress cutting winter wheat and now spring wheat too. The wheat has been yielding 55 to 70 bushels per acre.  The test weight is now less than 60 pounds per bushel due to all of the rain.  The protein is around 14%.  The moisture on the wheat is only borderline ready lately.  The elevators will take it at 13.5% and below.  It has been 13.5 to 15.0%.  When the elevator won’t take it we have to find an air bin to put it in or another elevator that will take it.

Our 10 day forecast is mostly sunny with highs in the 70s and 80s. Hopefully, we’ll be able to cut every single day and then eventually make our way up north to our final wheat harvest stop.  We definitely want warmer weather and sunshine and wind so we can stay busy and keep on working!

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

Making dust cutting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Cutting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Cutting winter wheat in South Dakota.

A typical cloudy day in South Dakota.  We need heat, sunshine and wind to cut wheat!

Sierra has always wanted a picture in a sunflower field.  She’s accomplished that now!

So pretty Sierra!  I am so proud of you and your combine operating skills and so glad you are on harvest with us!

On this day we had some heat but no wind.  All I could hear in the sunflower field was bees buzzing!  (Photo by Sierra Schemper.)

Cutting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Cutting winter wheat in South Dakota with a storm approaching.

Harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota. Rain clouds stay away.

Harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota.

Harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota.

This is Baylor Bee!  She is Miss Moo’s sister.

Baylor Bee and Maggie Moo are sisters and they are 10 years old.  Baylor rides in trucks and combines too.  She belongs to my Uncle Lonny.

Waiting on wheat to dry.  If you look really closely you can see Moo behind me.  She’s so funny!  (Photo by Sierra Schemper.)

Harvesting spring wheat in South Dakota.  This field is 1.5 miles long.  When I turned around I saw a pretty rainbow.

Harvesting spring wheat in South Dakota.  Pretty rainbow in the distance.

Harvesting spring wheat in South Dakota.

Harvesting spring wheat in South Dakota.

A pretty day in South Dakota.

A beautiful day in South Dakota.

Harvesting winter wheat in South Dakota.

This is the bridge at Lake Oahe north of Pierre.  It’s quite the sight.  I’ve driven combines across it many times and even hauled combines across it too.  Pretty picture Sierra!