22 Jun Laura: Cheers to being back in the field

Northern Oklahoma-Cheers to being back in the field.

Wow! Who would have thought the weather would have turned out like it has considering how terribly droughty it has been. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised because, more often than not, harvest has brought heavy rains to the run. However, these storms often yielded more than what was forecasted.

We had been out of the field for over a week. That’s enough time to allow your mind to think through all the possible scenarios of delay complications as you watch days tick by. Dwelling too long can lead to an unhealthy place mentally, if you let it, so it’s best to do what you can, make necessary preparations, be completely ready to roll, and then let it be. That’s all you can do. It also helps to vacate the camper. A little exercise and sightseeing can help keep the mind clear as well. The kids and I decided to spend some more time at home so they could engage in local summer activities and the crew took in area sights.

One of our locations received nearly a quarter of a year’s rainfall in a matter of days. We had been ready to cut the next morning when the heavens let loose. More storms followed over the next several days.

Our other crew in Oklahoma got back at it on June 10. I had the pleasure of cutting a few rounds the next day. The moisture was staying low, but there are a few soft spots in the field. Sometimes the wet ground can sneak up unexpectedly. Often you can’t see it, but you can feel it. It’s hard to describe, but you can just feel that something isn’t right because the traction and machine vibration is subtly different.

The good news is there seems to be a bottom in it, though, and I was able to carefully back out of the spot that snuck up on me. When conditions have the potential to have hidden, muddy “land mines,” it is important to keep bins at a lower capacity and weight down. This can help with potential compaction as well as towing ease, should someone end up getting stuck. Being stuck is definitely not the goal, but we are ready should it happen.

When I was in the machine, yields were hovering in the high forties with spikes or dips in either direction. Protein so far has been around 12. Test weight is look strong at 62 pounds.

Gabe taking another load to town. (Photo by Laura Haffner.)

Isaac unloading on the go. (Photo by Laura Haffner.)

Laura Haffner can be reached at laura@allaboardharvest.com.

All Aboard Wheat Harvest is brought to you by ITC Holdings, CASE IH, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, US Custom Harvesters Inc., Unverferth Mfg. Co. Inc., Lumivia CPL by Corteva Agriscience, Kramer Seed Farms, and High Plains Journal.