StillwatersIowa

Last week during a baby dedication at Sunday church the pastor mentioned the parents were "rock-solid". That got me thinking about what rock-solid means. It means reliable, strong, dependable, trustworthy, grounded, someone you could lean on.                                   When Jan and I were first married we harvested together. I built this auger pit in 1980, mostly for safety since we both had our small children helping us in the combine and truck. Our truck and wagon loads were around 300 bushel. The pit has been revamped a couple of times since as augers have worn out. Today we have grandsons about the same age I was back then driving semis, unloading 1100 bushel in our grain leg pit at our new grain facility. Harvard recently did a study that concluded what we have known for a long time. The study says if you give kids jobs and responsibility when they are young, they will more likely become roc...

When Jan and I got married my dream was to live and farm 200 acres southeast of New Sharon. That neighborhood was the only world I knew. When that farm sold a year later we had to make a change. We have lived and raised our family at this current location just southwest of Oskaloosa for 48 years. Accepting change can be challenging. My advice is to view change as an opportunity. Let go of what is beyond your control. Be open and flexible. Bounce ideas off of others you trust. Thanks for lunch in the field Brent and Nutrien. On Friday Jan went to Amish and Mennonite country in Cantril. Claire and his family started Dutchman's 35 years ago in an old building downtown. The old store, reasonable prices, and friendly help had appeal. When the family wasn't scared of the 2020 pandemic like everyone else was, his business exploded. The huge growth and old buildings required them to make a change. Were there hurdles? Some were just about insurmountable. But today their new large buildi...

Farming is a family affair around our place. Last evening Jan picked up 7  pizzas and brought them to the field where we were custom combining corn. If you would like to try some good pizza, try Mike's Pizza and Steakhouse sometime on the north end of Ottumwa. Thanks for the picture Jan.                               On Monday after school 9 year old Malaki ran grain cart while Grandpa combined beans around home. The crew and two bigger combines were up north cutting custom beans. On Friday 10th grader, Elliot, followed the combines with the batwing mower, mowing field edges, terraces, and waterways. Yesterday Elliot and his older brother Ezra both ran graincarts for custom combining corn.  We continue to harvest both corn and soybeans. However the bean harvest is down to some later planted bottoms. ADM Des Moines, one of the places we sell soybeans, is closing this coming week for 6 to 8 weeks of maint...

A journey is going from one place to another. It's often physical to a destination. It can also be metaphorical like personal progress. Our visit this morning is about the process and not the destination. Journeys come with challenges, accomplishments, growth, and learning. Week six of our harvest journey was long and productive. And as we stopped for bacon cheese burgers, french fries, and onion rings from the Longhorn Saloon in Barns City last night, I felt a little like Jacob and Malaki below, who are resting against a toolbox in Kurt's pickup while eating their meal. I usually don't mention yields. However we experienced an inverted situation this week. Early in the week we harvested on poorer soils with bean yields in the 70s and 80s/bpa. As we looked forward to harvesting on better dirt in a different community we were surprised at bean yields in the 50s and 60s/bpa. Yields were affected this year by planting date, early spring aggressive cover crop, and where it did ...