19 Jul Laura: Montana Bound

Morgan County, Colorado — If everything goes according to plan, the first load of equipment leaves for Montana tomorrow, July 16. The extremely warm temperatures experienced across the United States have not excluded northern Montana. With temperatures at nearly 100 degrees, the wheat crop will be ripening quickly. Many harvest crews are en route, ready to position equipment for when the time is right.

Colorado experienced decent yields. In fact, to date, with a few outlying examples of patchy hail or drought, most of the wheat run’s yields can be classified as “all right.” In recent years it seems that there have been more extremes of some highly exceptional yields or extremely terrible ones due to environmental conditions. It’s nice to have a wheat run that has been more average across the board, so far. The majority of Colorado’s yield fell somewhere between the high 20s all the way up to around 80.

A few things to note about Colorado this year are as follows:

1: Sawfly wasn’t as devastating as it has been in years past.

For those who aren’t familiar with the pest, I’ll give you the abbreviated version. The adult resembles a wasp and lays its eggs in some grass species but finds wheat especially hospitable. Larvae are cannibals so only one can be the winner. However, one is enough to wreak havoc on a stem of wheat. Eggs are inserted into the plant so larvae live in the stem, making insecticides ineffective against the pest. Once the larva matures, it cuts a v-shaped notch in the stem before it moves closer to the crown. It’s that notch that causes the plant to fall over, or lodge. This typically happens around harvest time, and those who have done it can attest that cutting a field with high sawfly damage is anything but fun.

2: One day one of the crews had some extra excitement. Lightning struck the land next to the field our crew was cutting. Thankfully, Paul, a crew leader, saw it happen and the fire that started as a result. The crew was able to rush over and help put it out.

3: Pop-up thunderstorms are extremely common on the front range in the summer. Sometimes you just take in the show as you continue to harvest. Other times you are in the path. One such storm dropped nearly ping pong ball-sized hail on one of the fields the crew was cutting in.

4. The team has put in an incredible effort through the southern run. Many of the crewmembers were able to take advantage of some well-deserved rest and relaxation at the end of Colorado. Several headed to Pike’s Peak, and one report I received said it was incredibly beautiful. The crew “bus,” our large passenger van, even got a window sticker as a souvenir. Others were able to catch up with wives and partners who hold down the fort back home. Some took in a tractor pull or the local swimming pool, and others headed to places like Nashville for the weekend. Maybe they’ll get to check a few more bucket list items off before the Montana run starts.

Thank you to our 2024 All Aboard Wheat Harvest sponsors: High Plains Journal, Lumivia by Corteva Agriscience, Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc., Merit Auctions, Kramer Seed Farms, Shelbourne Reynolds, and U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. Laura can be reached at laura@allaboardharvest.com.