StillwatersIowa

A good name is more than just a label or a brand. It reflects values, character, and reputation. It takes action and not just intention. A good name means living in a way that earns the trust of others.                                 3000 years ago Solomon wrote in Proverbs 22:1 "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than wealth". This was written by a man who had more riches and wealth than anyone in his time.   This was our 4th full week of harvest. We have been busy combining both corn and soybeans. And going to the bin as well as the processor. Yields, moisture, and quality continue to be excellent. Kristin and family rode with Karl while harvesting beans on a rented farm near their home. What a blessing to have an occupation where family is included. Thanks for the picture. On Wednesday afternoon Ezra got out of school at noon, and he and I were able to fin...

Sharing life with you all to reminds myself of the blessings we experience living in a rural, agricultural setting. Living in Iowa aligns well with my love for farming and family life. Thursday noon Matt and Greg, our Becks DSM and agronomists, brought our crew lunch. Earlier in the week we harvested both corn and soybeans at Kurt and Emily's place west of Leighton. Iowa has a sense of community and is known for it's friendliness. Most folks wave while driving. And when you're waiting in line at the corn processor its a good place to catch up with your neighbors. Like Ron, Leon, Larry, and Marvin. There were days this past week when we picked corn in the morning and combined soybeans in the afternoon. Brothers and twins, Kurt and Karl are here switching the machines over. It didn't take Kurt and Emily's boys long to take their motorcycles out on a harvested soybean field across from their house after their Dad and Uncles finished. Thanks for the picture Emily. One e...

In 1970 our 8th grade our class went on a field trip to Indian Hills Community College to see a computer. It was as big as a large room. In 1975 Jan and I attended a Farm Bureau Young Member Conference where we were introduced to Farm Bureau Records, one of the first computer record keeping services. In the late 1970s we bought an old rock quarry scale with our neighbor to weigh wagon loads of grain. Fifty years later technology is part of our lives. Our smartphones have way more power and speed than that first large computer. And what used to take us all winter to collect information on our crop production, we now have instantly in our combine cabs. And then is weighed and recorded by field name and destination when the crop is unloaded on the go into graincarts which use a management system called Libra Cart. Finally the info that used to go to the tax man and banker in a shoebox is now on our phones instantly by a Bluetooth app. Alexa turns on our radios without getting up. Hey Siri...

The hand-cranked corn sheller started in the 1800s as a tool to shell ear corn. Ears are fed into a mechanical cylinder with ridges powered by a hand crank. We use this rig in late August and early September to shell hand picked ears.                                 Then we test the corn moisture off those hand picked ears. This tells us what fields are close or ready to harvest. With our newer genetics and a dry September, I think folks will be surprised at how fast and how far this crop will dry down.  We built our first small pit for an auger hopper in 1980. It was easier as a drive over. It was also safer when our kids were smaller. Since Jan and I harvested together back then, she had a couple in the combine and I'd have a couple unloading. Thirty years ago when we'd clean the rotten corn out for a new season, I'd tell my kids, "Boys, this is what beer is made of." Hoping to dissuade them trying al...

In my younger years Labor Day was the big family get-together on my Father's side of the family. With Grandpa and Grandma having ten kids, it was a big deal. Food, games, softball, pop, and more cousins than I could count. We have a significant number of corn acres getting close to harvest. Kernels are black layering meaning they have reached maturity. Grain moisture will drop about a point/day on a good drying day. However first things first. We are finishing up some preparations and other tasks.  Mike, Mark, BJ, Ethan, and others finished loading and hauling clay to the yard we helped expand. I leveled and packed with a dozer as the last of the 272 loads were unloaded. Mike is nearly finished with his last pond of the summer. He is always early to the farm shop office. Often before me to make coffee. He parks his dozer a few hours every day this time of year to coach football.  With school taking first priority now the grandkids are down to helping Grandpa on Saturdays. Some...