Warm weather arrived early this year, giving us a head start on planting.
With the 2021 season underway, we saw temperatures climb into the 70s and 80s in early April, and the soil was just about perfect. It seemed like the right time to try out our new soil finisher, which does the job of two tools and saves us a few trips across the field.
Last year’s early soybeans did so well that I figured it was worth another shot. On April 6, we planted Angie’s and Matt’s fields. The beans are already starting to sprout, but they’re still tucked underground, which is probably for the best with snow in the forecast tomorrow. That makes three years in a row we’ve seen measurable snow in mid-to-late April. I remember last year, our early beans had already popped up when it snowed, but they came through just fine.
Family Visits and More Planting
When the rains came, Laura, Jeff, and I took the chance to slip away for a long weekend in Washington, D.C., to visit Zachary during his internship with Rep. Darin LaHood.
Once the fields dried out last week, we got the 40-acre HLW field—Margaret’s West 40—planted. With more snow on the way, I waited to finish up Marie’s and HLE (Margaret’s East) until today. Since we’re putting soybeans in the ground so early, we went with the 15-inch row Kinze planter to give them the best start.
Meanwhile, Mom’s flower bed started to bloom, and Lisa worked up the courage to tackle a repair on the big tractor—nerves and all. We could really see the difference the new tile made in HLW; for once, the east side wasn’t a soggy mess. We also put in some concrete barricades and rip-rap to help keep water in check along the interstate ditch.
A New Planter for Corn
We upgraded to a new corn planter over the winter, and it’s got more bells and whistles than the old one ever dreamed of. We planted half the Home Farm on Friday and Saturday, just to work out the kinks before things get busy. Since corn seed doesn’t like the cold as much as soybeans, we’re waiting for the weather to settle before finishing up.
David and Tom have been busy with tillage and keeping the seed cart moving, and Mike stopped by to check out the new equipment and see the early soybeans going in.
Big Red in Action (by Tom)
Our new tractor, “Big Red”, really deserves a mention. While I was fueling up, I let the windmill spin by releasing the brake and letting the wind do its thing. The tank was half full, and after 155 gallons, it was just about topped off.
Big Red has auto-steer, which I didn’t think we needed at first, but I was wrong. We don’t plow the soil black anymore, so leftover corn stalks can clog up the cultivator. Before, a clog could turn into a doghouse-sized pile before you noticed. Now, with Big Red steering itself, I can keep an eye behind me and catch problems before they get out of hand.
We’re doing skip-tillage now, which means we skip every other width and come back later. That way, I don’t have to make sharp turns, so I can keep the throttle steady, save some fuel, and cut down on wear and tear.
If you haven’t had a ride on Big Red yet, come on out and I’ll show you around.
Looking Back and Looking Forward
Driving past the corner post east of the tile head, I remembered finding an old soda bottle there years ago—probably left by someone in the family long ago. Out in Aunt Cecelia’s field, I thought about how the oldest plat book I could find listed Sebastian Vogel as the owner of that 80 acres. Wiltze still had our homestead back then, before John Joseph Kapraun ever set foot in Woodford County.
JJK farmed with horses and later married Sebastian’s daughter Caroline. The rest is family history. I can’t help but wonder what he’d think of Big Red rolling across the same ground he once worked by hand.
—Joe (with notes from Tom)
