Warm Start to the Season
Early April brought unseasonably warm weather, and with forecasts calling for cooler, wetter days ahead, we made the most of the sunshine while it lasted.
Easter weekend felt more like summer, with temperatures pushing 80 degrees. We took the opportunity to hold a cleanup day at the CG farm. Last fall’s tile project left us with plenty of broken tile and big rocks to haul out, so Laura, Bill, Anthony, Jeff, Kia, Tom, and I spent Saturday clearing debris. I have a feeling we’ll be picking up rocks for a few more years yet.
Tom and I also found a few tillage repairs waiting for us. Some bearings must have given out while the equipment sat idle in the shed all winter.
Planting Begins
By April 11 and 12, we were working ground in earnest. David, Tom, and I took turns with tillage, and Brian came back to help with planting. The wiring harness we put in over the winter paid off — all the electronics on the tractor and planter worked without a hitch. It was one of the smoothest starts we’ve had in a long time.
Corn was going in almost too easily, so we decided to pause for a week to avoid the risk of frost. After a light rain, we switched gears to soybeans. The wind and warm weather helped dry things out fast, and we wrapped up soybean planting by April 15.
We tried our cover crop experiment on Angie’s field this year, and it went better than last time. I’m still not ready to plant cover crops everywhere, but it’s been a good way to learn.
Cold Snap and Final Push
The temperatures dropped lower than we expected, with a few freezing nights and even a dusting of snow. Luckily, the seeds were still tucked safely underground. As soon as things warmed up, we made a big push on April 22 and finished corn planting just as the sun was going down.
It will take another week to know how well the crop handled the cold, but as Dad always said, “We’re done planting… for now.”
By the end of April, the early corn and soybeans were starting to poke through, just in time for a stretch of warmer weather. Carolyn and I took a little crop tour and dug up a few seedlings to check on them. We also ran into some soil engineers from the wind company, who are planning to move a few towers to what we hope are better spots.
We put in sweet corn again this year, both under the powerlines at Matt’s and by the new machine shed at the REK home place. I staggered the planting on three different dates to spread out the harvest.
Family and Farm Life
The grass turned green, tulips started blooming, and the rhubarb is just about ready to pick.
Lisa kept us well fed, though she moves so fast it’s tough to catch her in action. Planting went by in such a blur this year that Carolyn missed her usual tractor ride, and Jeff and Sam didn’t even get a turn behind the wheel.
Storm Damage Hits Home
While planting went off without a hitch, spring storms still managed to leave their mark. A strong windstorm hit the north side of one of our buildings, bowing out half the wall and tearing away about 20 feet of roof.
Heineke came out to cut the power, and thankfully, none of the machinery or trucks inside were hurt. Still, the repairs are more than I can handle on my own.
Rich Burmood Construction from Benson stopped by and put us on their list. For now, we’re bracing what’s left of the roof to keep things from getting worse. It’ll take some time, but we’re thankful for the help.
Insurance will cover some of the repairs, though the policy is a bit undervalued. It’s probably time to look for a new agent.
Looking Ahead
With planting finished, seedlings coming up, and repairs underway, I’m grateful for safe days, helping hands, and another season moving forward.
—Joe
