How Long Does it Take to Plant and Harvest Your Crops?

This is definitely a question that I've heard before.  Growing up on a farm, I guess I never gave it much thought.  How long does it take to plant and harvest your crops?

There really isn't a definite answer to this question.  While I can say how long it typically lasts on our farm, it depends on location and how many acres one farms.  Planting usually starts the end of April/beginning of May here in southeastern Indiana.  Several things are taken in to factor when deciding when is the right time to begin planting.  I devoted a whole post to this topic actually, so if you are really interested in learning be sure to check it out here:).

Planting for us typically lasts 2-3 weeks depending on good ole Mother Nature.  Sometimes it takes longer.  Of course there is a lot of "prep" work that goes into planting too, like spraying the ground to help control weeds early.  We call this spraying burndown.  Also, we apply Anhydrous Ammonia to our fields that will be planted to corn.  We do this before the field is planted.  Some farmers do it after the corn is planted.  This is called side dressing.

Below, Brad is applying Anhydrous Ammonia to a field that will later be planted to corn.  This picture was taken mid-April of this year.

Harvest for us typically lasts A LOT longer.  Notice how I capitalized the A LOT part?  At least we hope it lasts long because that means yields are good....hopefully.  2012 didn't last very long, but it seemed like it lasted way too long.  That was the year of the drought and yields hit an all time low, but we don't like to talk about that!

Harvest for us will last about 5-7 weeks, again, depending on Mother Nature and everything working like it is supposed to.  All the grain that comes off the farm has to be hauled either to our farm for storage, or to a grain elevator to be sold.  All of this takes time that's why it is important to be efficient on the farm.

The grain cart, or auger cart as some people call it, in the picture above will be pulled along side the combine for the combine to unload the corn on to, so the combine only has to make minimal stops.  If the combine had to stop at the end of each round to dump on a wagon or semi, a lot of time is lost.

We started harvesting on September 20th.  Our goal...or my goal rather:)...is to be done by Halloween, so we will see.  In past years it has started much later and we don't finish until around Thanksgiving.

Planting seems to go by fairly quick, but sometimes harvest seems to drag on forever...I'm saying this from a farmwives perspective.:)

Our meals around the kitchen table are usually replaced by meals in the fields.  I am becoming a pro at tackling kids' activities and busy schedules by myself.  It definitely takes a village to raise kids, and I'm thankful for my village of family and friends who are willing to help out.  I've gotten used to asking for help.  Something I thought I'd never be able to do!  While this time of year can be a struggle, I'm thankful that the rest of the year allows my husband to attend a lot of their activities.  

While sometimes it's hard, I couldn't imagine living or raising my kids anywhere else!

And when Harvest is over,....

:) Wishing you all a safe harvest season!!!

Harvest Time...

Harvest has been in full swing here for a little over a month and while I would like to tell you that it has been smooth sailing, I can't.  Some years  we get lucky and have zero or minimal breakdowns and others, it feels like we are repairing something every time we turn around.

 This fall has been one of the frustrating years.  It started off really well.  We had a couple break downs here and there, but nothing that couldn't be fixed quickly.  Last Sunday the combine decided that it was going to throw a fit.  Now, I understand if it decides to throw a fit every once in a while, because don't we all?;)  But we are now on day 8 of Mr. Combine's fit throwing and we are all over it!

 The mechanic, who happens to be Brad's cousin, is completely stumped and frustrated as well.  He has tried everything he can think of which includes ordering different parts, Brad rewiring the wiring harness, several trial runs, and countless hours of labor.  We rented a combine from our local dealership to finish beans because they are a bit more temperamental than corn and if the weather turns, then harvesting soybeans gets ugly.

 It's not cheap to rent a combine, but you do what you have to.  We did manage to finish soybeans last week with said rented combine.  We are currently renting a combine from another farmer who is finished with harvest.

 All of these pictures were taken on a gorgeous day when the guys were combining the soybeans next to our house.

 Even though we have had a pretty major hiccup this fall, there are still things to be thankful for: the yields this year are good.  We didn't experience a drought this summer and we haven't had any personal injuries.  Trying to focus on the positives instead of the negative;)

Fingers crossed my next harvest post says that our combine is fixed!  Stay safe everyone and keep an eye out for farmers on the roads!

Linking up with the Mingle Monday Blog Hop

Harvest Time...

Harvest officially started for us last Thursday.  It is early this year, but has been much anticipated.  Everyone has been concerned about the yields because of the drought, and you can always estimate what they will be, but you never really know until the combine rolls through the fields.

 

Some fields have surprised us in a good way while others have surprised us in a not so good way.  The yields are definitely the topic of conversation among farmers.  However, after hearing some farmers talk, we have a lot to be thankful for.  As Brad says, "It is what it is." 

The start of harvest always brings on the "harvest widow" title for me.  Brad does a great job helping with the kids, when he can, but this is the time of year when he is gone early in the morning and gets home late at night.  He tries to make it home in time to help with the bedtime routine.  But this time of year leaves me as the main person for:sports running, school decisions, argument settling, appointment maker, bill payer, and much more.  Oh and we have to squeeze in there the delivery of a baby!  Whose idea was it to conceive a child that would be born in harvest season??? ;0)  Like I tell the girls, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!"   But such is the life we choose and love!

 

All in all, harvest seems to be going smoothly.   The plan is to switch to beans next week.

 I love this picture except for the telephone box!  Who decided to put that there?...

Happy harvest everyone!  Have a great weekend!