Grower Preparations In Full Swing For Approaching Harvest

As harvest inches closer and closer, preparations for harvest are in full swing.

Located just east of Highway 71 in central Banner County, Justin Stauffer said that they are currently preparing machinery for harvest.

“We had a little hail, but nothing too significant,” he said.

Justin was cautiously optimistic when he said, “I think the wheat looks pretty good.” He added that they were able to get all their planting done, “some of it later than we like.”

The Stauffers raise wheat, corn, millet, barely and triticale. Justin said that they harvest their own crops.

Traveling back into Kimball County by way of Highway 71, dryland farmer Travis Cook has wheat, corn and proso millet.

He said his wheat “looks really good,” but he said it is “awfully late, two weeks late.”

Travis knew that his wheat would be late because he planted a later maturing variety of wheat because of the sawfly infestation. This type of wheat has a solid stem.

Looks can be deceiving as Travis said the wheat is turning, yet he mentioned that there was a lot of green wheat still in the field. He said that he has been saying for two weeks now that harvest is going to be 10 days away, and he continued his tradition of saying he thought it was about 10 days off.

While waiting for harvest, Travis is getting fallow work done: “Then I don’t have to worry about it later, and I am also spraying corn.”

Even though the corn was late in being planted, it is “quickly catching up” due to the moisture and long, hot days. But he stressed that he will “need a LATE FALL” to get everything harvested.

As for his proso millet, Travis said, “It looks good, but once again we are going to need a late fall.”

Travis does CRP work in the fall and winter, which helps the balance sheet.

“Have a safe harvest and be safe on the roads,” he said.

Good advice from Travis Cook.