09 Dec Janel: Christmas is coming

Holdrege, Nebraska—We just completed another harvest. It feels great to be home and it’s time for a break from having to go to the field every day. Overall, we had a harvest run that was better than I ever expected. When we went south for wheat harvest, I didn’t think we’d have any good yields but to my surprise we had decent wheat to cut. There were gains and losses. I’ve learned that you just keep going.

Overall, fall harvest was busy. South central Nebraska had a drought, and the irrigated crops were good but could’ve been better with help from Mother Nature. The late summer heat hurt the soybean yields a little, too. Central Nebraska had some rain during the growing season and the crops were good. The corn yields were some of the best ever and it was standing well at harvest time. Even the dryland corn had surprisingly good yields.

I love many things about harvest and look forward to it each year. There are a lot of wheat acres planted down south. There was some decent moisture before and after planting this fall. So far, it’s been a decent start, and the wheat looks good. I’ve been hiring for the 2024 harvest season, too. If anyone is interested, please apply online at www.SchemperHarvesting.com.

JC is representing U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc., this week at the Nebraska Ag Expo in Lincoln. He said it’s been well attended so far and sounds like he’s been enjoying his time there. Next month is the U.S. Custom Harvesters convention in Oklahoma City. My dad was one of the founders of USCHI and it’s always been something I support year after year.

With it being the end of the year, everyone is asking me if we are getting new combines for 2024. I honestly don’t know yet and I just say, “Christmas is coming.” I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Janel Schemper can be reached at janel@allaboardharvest.com.

Thank you to our 2023 All Aboard Fall Harvest sponsors: High Plains Journal, Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc., Pivot Bio, T-L Irrigation, ITC Holdings, Corp., Trail King, and U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc.