Janel: Fighting Green Then Finding Dry Wheat

Dodge City, Kansas—For the first few days of cutting in southern Kansas we were fighting green. The moisture on the loads went 13.3% to 15%.  The fields I’m cutting have big, full wheat heads.  It’s all making over 60 bushels per acre.  The test weights have been 61 to 64 pounds per bushel. We’ve had to cut around some green wheat in the fields and then will have to go back later and get it cut when it’s ready. The wind has been blowing strong for several days. That has helped ripen the wheat right along. Now all at once we are finding dry wheat to cut. The high 90 degree heat every day and wind has been a blessing for trying to get wheat cut.  The loads are now testing 9% to 12% moisture.

I enjoy being here. The Kansas wheat harvest is a favorite part of my harvest run!  What I love about cutting here is that the farmer puts in his greatest effort.  There isn’t a weed on the land.  I appreciate a hard working farmer and an excellent crop!  Our forecast has chances of showers and thunderstorms and highs in the 80s and 90s.  Progress has been made but this morning (June 19) it’s raining. Harvest may be delayed a day or two now. I’m not looking forward to dealing with any mud in the fields

All Aboard Wheat Harvest is sponsored by Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc, BASF, AgriPro, Gleaner and High Plains Journal. Janel Schemper can be reached at janel@allaboardharvest.com.

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Strong wind blows the chaff around.

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Hot and windy days help ripen the wheat quicker.

Janel Schemper Harvesting

We had cut a load and stopped to wait on the moisture call back from the truck driver.  It was 13.3% so we kept cutting!

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Cutting wheat in southern Kansas on a hot and windy day.

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Harvesting the grain that feeds the world is my job!  I’m an essential!  Thank you farmers and harvesters for all of your hard work!

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Losing daylight.  It was a beautiful day of cutting wheat!

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Miss Moo helping me check out the wheat field! This wheat made 84 bushels per acre.  The best I’ve cut so far this year.

Janel Schemper Harvesting

She’s a pro at checking wheat fields!  This is her 12th wheat harvest!

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Finding a few green wheat heads.  This is what offsets the moisture in a load of wheat sometimes.

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Miss Moo knows how to smile for pictures!  She’s very talented!  By the way, she loves combine rides with me and air conditioning especially on a super hot day!

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Check out the big, full wheat heads. An excellent wheat crop.

Janel Schemper Harvesting

I appreciate getting to harvest a wheat crop as good as this one!

Janel Schemper Harvesting

A truck driver waiting on a load of wheat to haul to the elevator.

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Lucky to have heat (98 degrees) to ripen the crop! It’s been in the high 90s recently.

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Cutting wheat in southern Kansas.

Janel Schemper Harvesting

The wheat in the low spot is green so we’ll leave it and have to come back and cut it later.

Janel Schemper Harvesting

My favorite time of day is evening and when I start seeing my combine shadow! It’s quite the sight!

Janel Schemper Harvesting

So much wheat to cut but losing daylight. We got the field cut and shut down at 11 p.m. on June 18. 

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Cutting wheat with the boss! Happy birthday, Dad, on June 22! He’s a veteran and my true American hero!

Janel Schemper Harvesting

Way to go, Mom! She captured the sunset and us cutting wheat in southern Kansas on June 17.  (Photo by Carlene Schemper.)

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