Crop Checking Nov 17

We don't normally have crops to check on in the middle of November but that is how bizarre this year has been. This wheat won't likely get harvested til next spring now that it is snowed under and no decent drying weather to help out. Its already graded feed due to mildew, sprouts, fusarium, etc. and whatever else the grain buyers can find. So it can't grade any lower by laying out all winter. Might lose a little weight but at least (hopefully) it will be dry. I'd hate to have the wheat sitting in a bin at almost 19% moisture and have to worry about it heating all winter.

Deer and moose trails are obvious in the photos. They will have plenty to eat. Hopefully the hunters will stay on the trail I cut through the middle of the field.

Nov 14 working with 2140

This milder weather gave me a chance to get a few jobs done including winterizing the diesel fuel in two tractors. Picking up a couple of un=tied oat straw bales and hauling home for bedding in the cattle shelter. As well as cutting down some big dead trees that were going to fall on the fence line the next time the wind blows.
Still snow everywhere and I don't expect to get back to harvesting until next spring even if we do get a little melting in the next day or so.

Cooling Canola

I combined this canola almost a month ago, testing dry, but I was concerned it might not be cooling down safely. Decided to take a load out today to get a better look and temperature test. Turned out to be ok. It was a nice day compared to some we have had although the temp never got above 15F.

November Cold Starts

It looks like winter is here to stay so, even though there is still crop to harvest, I'm putting the headers and combine away for winter. Did a quick partial clean up and parked everything back in place. Now if the snow goes away unexpectedly I can still pull it all back out and combine.

October Snow

Looks like its going to be an early winter. At least the sun came out today and it looked nice. Still pretty cold on the fingers when I had to operate the drone tablet controls. I think it was about +12F. Well below normal for late October and its not likely the snow will leave as long as it stays this cool. Harvest not complete but it might be over for now.

67 Years Ago

Today, October 29, they tell me was a pretty nice day in 1952. A photo of my parent's wedding day.

Some Harvest Progress

Its been a busy week with finally getting into the field to harvest some wheat. Not dry by any means but I think it will be safe enough to store in the bin for a while. Hope the grain buyers will take it at 17%+ moisture. It just refuses to dry down any lower and I can't take the chance of getting more drying weather this late in the season. Possible, but a slim chance.
Only been stuck once with the combine so far and it was not too dramatic or time consuming getting pulled out. Had a neighbour wanting to bale my hailed oat crop so that saved me 60 acres of combining plus will make a little cash on the bales.
Only 65 acres wheat left to go now so there is still hope. Even though it is freezing and trying to sleet/snow this morning.
Biggest problem has been the wheat, and oats, laying flat on the ground for most of the field making it necessary to scrape the ground with the combine header to get most of the crop. That would be fine if we didn't have moles and badgers leaving hidden mounds of dirt for the header to scoop up. Many trips up and down the combine ladder to shovel wet dirt out of the header. One morning the stone trap was even froze up with dirt from the night before.
Dryers and propane trucks are running day and night as those who have dryers are pushing it to the limit. Hard to have to spend more money drying a crop that has already down graded to feed quality in some cases.
I'm lucky to have my support crew keeping me going in this stressful time.
Youtube videos to follow when I've got time to catch up on editing.