Two combines unload durum on the cart so he can send a truck on it's way by Fortuna, North Dakota.

Christy: Ending on a good note

Fortuna, North Dakota—It’s been a whirlwind of a weekend. Zoey and I made our way back out to Plentywood, Montana, and helped Paul’s crew get campers moved over to Fortuna, North Dakota. Crops look great in this area and are already disappearing quickly, even since I left a week and a half ago. It’s good to see that crops have progressed with the hot dry weather, and we should be able to continue moving until our wheat harvest season in complete.

Stripping durum by Fortuna.

Stripping durum by Fortuna. The straw is really tall since the stripper head only strips the heads off the stem. 

In Fortuna, durum has been combining great averaging about 50 to 60 bushels per acre. The guys are able to move through it really well using stripper heads. Trucks are hauling to the elevator in Ambrose, about 20 miles one way from the field, and are really pushing it to keep up. We still haven’t gotten in all our replacement help for fall, so we’re a little short on truck drivers at the moment. I think everyone should be getting out here soon though so we’re a full crew for fall.

Cameron is ready to unload and grab his supper. It's nice and green around, a sight we haven't seen for awhile.

Cameron is ready to unload and grab his supper. It’s nice and green around, a sight we haven’t seen for awhile.

Gary’s crew by Ray is working on durum as well. They saw great peas last week, and now the durum is averaging anywhere between 50 to 75 bushels per acre. It’s so good to see some great crops in the area. Truck drivers are staying extra busy getting it all to bin sites and elevators.

By Fortuna, Paul’s grain cart operator had a tire’s sidewall blow out. Not to the fault of the operator, but it’s a little eerie to me because it happened in the same field that we had a field fire in last year. The field fire burned pasture around the field but thankfully was put out before it damaged any machinery or property. Also no one was injured. I almost feel like this field might not want us there. The tire that blew is a large one, and can be hard to find. We have one in the shed at home, but getting it here could be challenging. Hopefully we can get something figured out soon and get that cart back in service.

Zoey ran around with Grandma this weekend trying to fit in seeing everyone up here before we head back home tomorrow. She rode in the combine with her dad, went for truck ride with Papa, and helped Uncle Jeff work on a combine. It’s been an exciting Labor Day weekend for her, but she’s ready to get back to school, too. I also decided to kennel Penny since we were going to be on the road quite a bit, so we’re both ready to get back and pick her up from the vet. Hopefully she isn’t too mad with us.

As we round out the last couple of weeks on wheat harvest, it’s been, as I’ve said, a bit challenging this season. We’ll be putting in a lot of prayers for rain, and looking forward to a great season next year. Hope harvest has gone well for everyone. And thanks for following us this year, it’s been a great pleasure bringing you all our ups and downs throughout the season.

Stephanie Cronje can be reached at stephanie@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.

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