A Cooler, Wetter Start
We started this planting season with cooler, wetter weather than we’re used to. Normally, we aim to get corn in the ground after April 15 and wrap up by mid-May, while soybeans give us a little more flexibility, from April 1 through mid-June. With the chilly, damp start, we decided to lean on soybeans first, since they handle those conditions better, and waited for things to warm up before pushing ahead with corn.
On April 12, we managed to plant 7 acres of corn around the REK farmstead, mostly just to shake the rust off the planter’s electronics. It took us three hours to get through those acres, working out the kinks that showed up after a long winter. Usually, we’d cover 20 acres an hour, but sometimes the equipment needs a little extra encouragement to get back in the groove.
Shifting to Soybeans
April kept us on our toes with more rain and cold. By the 25th, we finally finished up the rest of the REK corn and got started on soybeans later that week. We had a short rain delay on Wednesday night, but managed to wrap up soybean planting, hoping we won’t have to go back and replant any.
Brian brought over his trusty blue Kinze 15-inch row planter for soybeans, which has always been a solid setup for us. We switched to pro-box beans this year, and that’s made loading a breeze — three of us can have the planter filled in less than 15 minutes.
Trying Cover Crops
We tried something new this year — a cover crop of perennial cereal rye on HLE (Margaret’s), just east of I-39. We sowed the rye last fall along with dry fertilizer, skipping the tillage, and by spring it was already off to a strong start. To keep things moving, we planted soybeans right into the rye before it got too tall to handle.
Now we’ll need to terminate the rye so it doesn’t compete with the soybeans. As it breaks down, we’re hoping it will help hold in moisture, keep weeds down, and give the soil a boost. Cover crops aren’t new to our family — our parents and grandparents grew winter wheat and pastures — but this is a first for us in this way. It’s added a little stress to planting season, but we’re interested to see what comes of it.
Family Effort in the Fields
Spring tillage kept everyone busy — David, Sam, Tom, and I all took turns in the tractors. Some nights, we had to wait until the evening for the soil to be just right. Lisa and Lauren made sure we didn’t go hungry, bringing meals out to the field.
We also spent some time at Angie’s farm, working on drainage and erosion control — replacing tile and getting new grass waterways ready. The HLW tile project we finished two years back has really turned that field around, going from one of the wettest to one of the driest, and even setting a new record for corn yields last year.
Challenges and Supply Chain Strains
Like a lot of folks, we’re watching the supply chains closely. Fertilizer, crop inputs, and parts are all hard to come by. Thankfully, we prepaid for most things months ago and asked our suppliers to hold onto inventory for us. We’ve also kept a little extra equipment on hand—an extra tractor and Mom’s old combine — just to be safe.
Some of the bigger tile projects, like the one from Jim’s farm to Aunt Cecelia’s open ditch, are on hold until we can get everyone on the same page. For now, we’ll keep chipping away at the main lines at HLE/Marie’s and Matt’s over the next few years.
Family News
Dad and Mom both tested positive for COVID after Easter, along with others at Luther Oaks. Thankfully, they never had symptoms. Father Carl visited with Mary to bless them and give Holy Communion.
On a happier note, Laura shared that her oldest son and his wife are expecting a baby girl in October. We’ve also got a handful of graduations this month — Jeff, Zach, Anthony, Lucas, and Christopher, who’s a great-grandchild. Sending prayers for the new baby and congratulations to all the graduates.
Looking Ahead
With soybeans in the ground, we just need a few good days to wrap up the rest of the corn. Now that May is here, we might have to work through some less-than-ideal conditions to keep things on track.
Crop prices are as high as we’ve seen in a long time, with all the global food concerns out there. There’s still plenty of uncertainty, but we’re grateful to be making progress.
—Joe
