30 Sep Christy: Another break

Round Lake, Minnesota — Soybean harvest has started, but now it is at a standstill. We finished up all the dry beans we could find and are just waiting for the rest to dry down so we can get combining again. At this point, it will probably be anywhere from one to three days before we can get back going in the field.

While we were able to combine, Zoey came out to the field and helped all weekend. She spent most of her time helping move the pickup from field to field, and Katie let her run her combine. When I brought supper out, Zoey showed me how she can help put the header into transport mode, drop the head, and back the combine up to the header to be connected. I was really impressed. She definitely gets those skills from Paul!

Up by Elkton, South Dakota, Gary and Patrick have been working on soybeans as well. They have seen yields anywhere from 55 to 60 bushels per acre. That would be a pretty average crop for the area. Patrick will continue to help out in Elkton until it’s time for him to take a crew to Roscoe, South Dakota. I’m not sure yet when that will be, but I would imagine pretty soon.

The weather has been great. We’ve stayed steadily in the 80s, but this week it looks like we’ll take a turn downward into the high 60s and 70s. Rain doesn’t appear to be in the forecast, but that could change any time. Leaves are just beginning to turn on the trees, so I know the opportunity for warm/hot weather is definitely getting closer to an end.

Due to the break, Paul was able to get the pressure washer hooked up in our new wash bay, and we started washing pickups and trucks. It will be really nice to have our own wash bay to wash our equipment. It’s getting really expensive going to the truck wash in town, and here there will be no line to wait in. It’ll also be great in the winter to have a warm spot to wash and dry.

Hopefully, the beans will dry down soon, and we can get going again. We have a lot of ground to cover yet this fall. At this rate, we probably won’t see an end to harvest until after Thanksgiving. I hope it’s before, but it’s not looking like it now.