28 Aug Janel: Smooth fields

North Dakota—I’m feeling happy because we’ve made it to our last stop on wheat harvest! That’s a great feeling because we’ve made it this far and when we’re finished here we’ll head back south and begin fall harvest at home. We are way up north near the Canadian border in northeastern North Dakota. This is my very favorite place to cut wheat and canola. However, we started on field peas. We have had decent luck. The first day of cutting field peas there was too much humidity so the conditions were tougher. However, the sun has shined and we have had better conditions to continue and it’s been working a lot better to get the peas cut.  The conditions are a big deal when it comes to harvesting.

The field peas we have cut have been hauled to the farm yard bins. I am figuring they are making nearly 80 bushels per acre. Cutting field peas turns the equipment black because of the thick dust and there’s a lot of it too. I got out a few times to dust off my combine cab windows and clear the header and feeder house off and when I got back in the cab I was covered in thick black dust. We also use the air compressors to blow the machinery off each day and it’s a very dusty job.

Once we get the field peas done we’ll be cutting spring wheat next and then canola afterwards. The wheat looks good and so does the canola.  Our 10-day forecast is mostly sunny with highs in the 70s. I love harvesting here for many reasons. The fields are smooth. The farmers take care of their land very well as far as I can tell.  They don’t just plant, spray and harvest. They actually pick up rocks and work the fields (disking/rototill). I’ve always been impressed with this area of North Dakota!

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.

My wheels all loaded up again. We moved north Aug. 21 from South Dakota to North Dakota.

We made it to our destination aka Combine City, USA.

Field peas look ready to me.

Miss Moo is in Combine City, USA! That’s field peas in the distance.

We made it to last stop on wheat harvest! When we’re done here, then it’s back home and out of the campers!

I saw this sign at the welding shop. Welfare just doesn’t make sense to me! There’s so much opportunity here in the USA! Working for a living feels good and gives a person peace of mind!

That’s the truth though! I haven’t harvested barley in years but part of our crew did recently out in Montana.

I love it here in North Dakota where there’s wheat and canola grown on both sides of the road!

Unloading field peas on the tractor grain cart.

Harvesting field peas and it was humid on this day.

Harvesting field peas in North Dakota. A nice smooth field to cut!

Unloading on the go.

The field peas were dirty to cut.

Harvesting field peas in North Dakota.

Field peas look like soybeans. The color is pale though. 

We quit early on this day because of high humidity and took time to blow the combines and headers off.

A nice field to cut.

Here’s spring wheat that we will cut.

It’s not ready yet though. It’s still green.

Here’s a field of spring wheat we’ll cut hopefully pretty soon.

It’s been sprayed.

When I’m ready to leave here in September the tree leaves will probably be yellow by then and changing to fall colors.

Field peas make a lot of dust!

So much dirt!

Check out the soybeans on the right. They look great.

Working on another load of field peas.

The tractor grain cart operator hardly catches a break. 

Harvesting field peas in North Dakota.

My windows are getting dirty.

A nice day to cut field peas and a smooth field to cut!

I cleaned my windows so I could see better out of them but then ended up wearing so much dirt!

Harvesting field peas and making lots of dust!

Unloading on the grain cart.

A nice field to cut. 

The soybeans to the east look great.

So dusty!

Cutting field peas in North Dakota.

I laughed out loud too! I cleaned my windows and feeder house and then looked like this. LOL!

Harvesting field peas in North Dakota on Aug. 24.

This field is nearly finished!

My favorite time of day is here! I can see my combine shadow!

The combine and header needs blown off. Cutting field peas got it so dirty.

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