Corn Harvest 2016

Now that beet harvest is FINALLY over, corn harvest is kicking into gear. While all harvest is somewhat stressful, corn harvest seems much more relaxed after the crazy hours of beet harvest. Beets can only be harvested in optimal temperature. If the weather is too hot or too cold, the piler where the beets are collected shuts down. Corn, though, can be picked in most temperatures as long as the crop is dry and the ground isn't too muddy.

Combine in the field

On our farm, corn harvest also does not require quite as many workers. For beets, we usually have 6 people working harvest; for corn, we can make it with 3 or 4. The main pieces of equipment used for corn harvest are a combine, grain cart, and semis.

First, the combine goes through the field. The corn is planted in straight rows, so the header fits between each row. The header pulls the corn cobs off of the stalk. The cobs are then sent through a threshing drum where the kernels are beaten from the cob and sent by an auger into the grain tank.

Going through the last pass on that section

Once the tank is full, another auger pours the kernels into a grain train. This is one of my favorite parts because it looks like a golden rainbow spilling out. After the grain cart is full, it unloads into a semi.

Grain train unloading into a semi trailer

What happens to the rubbage like the stalks and husks though? They are moved along a conveyor and chopped; then they are spit out of the back. Later, the field will be worked to prepare it for the next season's crop.

A view of the stalks and cobs being sent out

The full semis go either to a personal grain bin or to the company's elevator bin. Here the process is somewhat similar. The semi trailer, full or corn, opens at the bottom to dump the corn. This corn is then used for feed at feedlots.

Checking in at the weigh station

In line at the elevator

Dumping corn at the elevator

Comments

February Festivities

This is the first weekend in a while where we haven’t really had anything going on, so the kids and I went crazy with the crafts and activities! Valentine Boxes First, we made the girls’ valentines boxes. Bah wanted a Valentine Monster, and Boo (of course) wanted a pig. I saved her pig from last year for almost the entire year but a little before Christmas she wanted to play with it and Bubs destroyed it. So we made a new one. They turned out pretty cute, and I love that as the girls are getting older they are able to help more. Valentine Gift -Denim Pouch After that, we decided to get some sewing in by making pouches as Valentines for our cousins and friends. We cut pieces of old denim and sewed them to create pouches. Then, the kids cut shapes and letters out of felt to personalize them. This project was much faster than I expected, so we even had time to make bath bombs. Valentine Gift - Bath Bombs My kiddos all love bath bombs or bath fizzies, and they were excited ...

Backyard Fun

We spend a lot of time on the farm over the summer since neither the kids or I have school. However, June is packed with swimming lessons, baseball games, and the summer reading program, which means we spend more time at home than at the farm. Even though we keep a fairly busy schedule in June, we still have downtime that I like to fill with fun backyard activities. Hopefully, you will be able to try some of them too. Fairy Garden This is our third year planting a fairy garden. The first year PICTURE it was a small, container garden, but last year we expanded so that there would be more room for plants and accessories. The girls enjoy taking care of it and playing in it, but last year Bubs especially enjoyed sitting in it and destroying it. I don’t think he will be as concerned with it this year, so we should be able to expand. Our area is just blocked off with leftover pavers from the patio. We have built up our accessories from my mom, grandma, and great aunt. Last year, w...

First Day of Fall

Happy first day of fall everyone! We are celebrating with some work on the farm. Last night, our high school helpers took apart all of the irrigation pipe, and today we will load it up to put away. On our farm, the majority of the fields are watered with sprinkler irrigation that looks like this: Photo credit: Taylor Shea Goldenstein However, in the corner areas, we use irrigation pipe that runs from a well. The water runs down the rows and must be set to alternate every day. This process is done by hand and is one of our favorite summertime activities as you can see: Setting water on soybean field 2016 Checking the rows in a corn field 2015 Playing in the mud 2014 The weather here was cool and misty - this morning - so I planned on eating potato soup for dinner. By day's end though the weather heated up too much for soup, but I am sure I will get the chance to make it soon. Instead, the kids enjoyed some time playing.

Family Farm Fun

Search This Blog