Midwest Farm Tour 2.0

[Tractorsdontfloat]

What does the "n" in the n/min display represent?

Not sure exactly why they use the n/min rather than an rpm, but it’s speed / min. On the one that looks like a fan, that’s essentially fan speed in rpm’s, the other is rotor speed, or the main threshing element speed.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Because some of you might be wondering, Here is the difference between the control panel and transmission stick from the old combine to the new. Pretty much they are the same, just some changes to the layout.

Old combine

New combine

It has taken a couple days to get used to a few of the minor changes, but overall very similar, but the new leather seat is definitely worth the extra money. Way more comfy.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

We got a couple inches of rain last weekend, and we are getting close enough to done that our options for dry ground have been somewhat limited this week. But this field is still wet and will be for some time, so we have to go. It’s proven that #tractorsdontfloat. Making a bit of a mess, but I’m still moving. Haven’t gotten stuck….yet. Combine is nice and clean too.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

A neighbor farmer started an online business a few years back. Added my new window sticker to the farm truck this weekend.

 

[charlyox]

Where the hell have you been?. We have been waiting for updates on life on the farm.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Where the hell have you been?. We have been waiting for updates on life on the farm.

Sorry guys. Life gets in the way at times. Hopefully with harvest starting this week, I’ll start sharing again. One update I will share is my son has graduated from college and joined the ol man and family at the farm. Likely will be him running grain cart this fall, replacing his grandfather in that position after several years.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Saw a harvester running on a plot of corn down by Portage yesterday, first one I've seen this year.

 

[charlyox]

I figured you were busy as usual. Congrats on your son graduating and joining the family business .

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Put in a couple good days so far this week, and have the dryer running around the clock. Here’s a shot of a couple of the trucks lined up waiting to be loaded on the end of the field as we were opening the field, and a quick shot of the corn in the combine tank I took trying to see how full it was so I could verify sensor placement

 

[charlyox]

Nice. Thanks for sharing this with us.

 

[snowhammer]

We are across the pond from you and got quite a bit of rain, are you still able to get into the fields?

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

We are across the pond from you and got quite a bit of rain, are you still able to get into the fields?

No rain since late last week here. In our sandy soils we don’t get many times when we are kept out of the fields for more than a day.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Mrs TDF took a couple harvest photos today, with the caption “Father and son hard at work”. Here is the photo.

For me, it’s still father and son, but in previous years, the Father/ son was me in the combine and my father in the cart, but this year it’s still me in the combine, and now my son in the cart. Man that hits a little different! My father is now 81, and still helping with harvest, but gave up his cart seat to not work quite so hard.

Our farm is truly a family farm. As we harvest this fall, the two combines are run by myself and my older brother. Cart operators are my son and a long time hired man. Trucks hauling the crop include my little brother, nephew, this year my father, my older brothers wife, and Mrs TDF. Here’s the other photo she added to her Facebook post. It’s an automatic trans tri axle truck with a 22 ft dump body that hauls roughly 600 bushels of grain.

For someone who grew up in the ag world, I’ve been around big equipment and driven them almost all my life, but the Mrs did not. But she’s been an integral part of harvest seasons for some 27 years.

I also snapped a quick shot of our newest combine with the corn head attached in the folded transport position. 12 row 30 foot head when unfolded, les than 18 feet wide folded and transports quite easily. You can see the spring loaded pads sticking up. Those, called stalk stompers, do just that. They stomp the stalks over and break them over so they are less abusive on the equipment tires.

And just because I don’t think it’s been mentioned in quite a while, a couple shots of the dryer (steaming away as it’s hard at work) and the drag conveyor pulling corn from the wet bin to the dryer. Both empty and full

 

[HBCraig]

How the F did I miss this thread.

Awesome

 

[MeCasa16]

Sure makes me miss our farm growing up. Sometimes I wonder if I should have taken over our farm instead of chasing my dreams. I think I made the right choice, I'm also not sure small town Wisconsin was for me. I do miss driving the equipment though. I sure enjoy this thread and am always glad to see your updates.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Being a city boy with kids, I see a combine now and think "Frank" from Cars

Hopefully all the equipment does what needs doing without a fuss. I hope you and your family have a safe and productive harvest!

 

[snowhammer]

Mrs TDF took a couple harvest photos today, with the caption “Father and son hard at work”. Here is the photo.

View attachment 1288045

For me, it’s still father and son, but in previous years, the Father/ son was me in the combine and my father in the cart, but this year it’s still me in the combine, and now my son in the cart. Man that hits a little different! My father is now 81, and still helping with harvest, but gave up his cart seat to not work quite so hard.

Our farm is truly a family farm. As we harvest this fall, the two combines are run by myself and my older brother. Cart operators are my son and a long time hired man. Trucks hauling the crop include my little brother, nephew, this year my father, my older brothers wife, and Mrs TDF. Here’s the other photo she added to her Facebook post. It’s an automatic trans tri axle truck with a 22 ft dump body that hauls roughly 600 bushels of grain.
View attachment 1288047

For someone who grew up in the ag world, I’ve been around big equipment and driven them almost all my life, but the Mrs did not. But she’s been an integral part of harvest seasons for some 27 years.

I also snapped a quick shot of our newest combine with the corn head attached in the folded transport position. 12 row 30 foot head when unfolded, les than 18 feet wide folded and transports quite easily. You can see the spring loaded pads sticking up. Those, called stalk stompers, do just that. They stomp the stalks over and break them over so they are less abusive on the equipment tires.

View attachment 1288048

And just because I don’t think it’s been mentioned in quite a while, a couple shots of the dryer (steaming away as it’s hard at work) and the drag conveyor pulling corn from the wet bin to the dryer. Both empty and full

View attachment 1288057

View attachment 1288053

View attachment 1288059

How is the moisture content of the corn compared to previous years?

Have you started beans?

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

How the F did I miss this thread.

Awesome

Welcome to the show! Hope you enjoy.

TDF

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

How is the moisture content of the corn compared to previous years?

Have you started beans?

Considering the dry weather and lots of heat this year, we expected to be able to start a week or so early, but in later September, the corn was still a lot higher than we wanted. We were searching to find anything even close to dry enough to start. Through the first week of October, moisture dropped quick. Now we are able to pick anything we want, and just a few varieties are still hanging on. I was into a variety today that was running right at 19.5-20%.

We did start beans this past weekend, but still have most of them that the plants are too green. Beans were 12% but plants just aren’t dry enough.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Our new tillage tractor that we ordered months ago finally showed up today. Sexy beast. Pulled it in the shop and will get the gps equipment set up and ready tomorrow. May even hook it to the grain cart for a few days and give it a try.

 

[MeCasa16]

Our new tillage tractor that we ordered months ago finally showed up today. Sexy beast. Pulled it in the shop and will get the gps equipment set up and ready tomorrow. May even hook it to the grain cart for a few days and give it a try.

View attachment 1288446

Damn. What a beast.

 

[rrrr]

Our new tillage tractor that we ordered months ago finally showed up today. Sexy beast. Pulled it in the shop and will get the gps equipment set up and ready tomorrow. May even hook it to the grain cart for a few days and give it a try.

View attachment 1288446

Daaang. Can I drive it?

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Had a rain day today so we Got the new girl ready to do a little work. That is a sweet setup. I think my hired guy is gonna like that rig vs the other tractor he was running.

 

[Cooter01]

Thank you for feeding America! Keep the updates coming, this is good stuff!

 

[Andy B.]

Had a rain day today so we Got the new girl ready to do a little work. That is a sweet setup. I think my hired guy is gonna like that rig vs the other tractor he was running.

View attachment 1288812

View attachment 1288813

Badass tractor!

 

[CarolynandBob]

Considering the dry weather and lots of heat this year, we expected to be able to start a week or so early, but in later September, the corn was still a lot higher than we wanted. We were searching to find anything even close to dry enough to start. Through the first week of October, moisture dropped quick. Now we are able to pick anything we want, and just a few varieties are still hanging on. I was into a variety today that was running right at 19.5-20%.

We did start beans this past weekend, but still have most of them that the plants are too green. Beans were 12% but plants just aren’t dry enough.

We have a bunch of farms around us in TN. From my understanding they let the corn turn brown for field corn that they will use for ethanol. Doing this makes drying it cheaper. Is this correct? I am wondering what the cost differences is between field corn and corn we eat? What makes a farmer decide which one to grow?

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

We have a bunch of farms around us in TN. From my understanding they let the corn turn brown for field corn that they will use for ethanol. Doing this makes drying it cheaper. Is this correct? I am wondering what the cost differences is between field corn and corn we eat? What makes a farmer decide which one to grow?

When you say they let the corn turn brown, basically they are letting it mature and die naturally. For field corn, once it has hit maturity, or black layer as it is called, typically the grain is roughly 30-35% moisture. At that point in growth, the plant will stop putting anything more into the grain, and it will start to dry.

To properly store grain corn long term, and universal standard for trade, it needs to be around 15.5%. And ethanol plants desire the grain dry so it grinds smoothly. Too wet and it gums up the hammer mill, too dry and it grinds too fine and doesn’t generate as high ethanol content.

Here in WI, we traditionally see grain this time of year around 20-25% on the stalk, give or take. The drier it is when we harvest, the less we need to dry. Our drier is natural gas fired. Less drying equals less cost. However, as The crop dries naturally, it gives up weight and yield. In my experience, any field I have started harvesting at a higher moisture I have always, without exception, seen significant higher yields than harvesting at much lower moisture.

There becomes a point where harvest vs yield loss becomes the struggle. For me, I feel if I can harvest between 20-25% moisture, I can minimize the “phantom yield loss” caused by natural dry down, while still minimizing my drying costs to a manageable level as well. That’s basically a long winded answer of yes, to your original question.

As for field corn vs sweet corn. Sweet corn is a much less starchy, much higher sugar content corn that is by far much tastier than the dent corn that is field corn. In our area, there is some growers growing sweet corn for market stands, but the majority of it is contracted for processing- either canning or freezer pack. Some 12-15,000 acres of sweet corn is grown in my immediate area.

As for which to grow becomes an economic decision. Canning companies set the price for their contracts, and bring them around to the farms for us to sign up our acres. Prices are based off the price of field corn and soybean market prices. For me personally, because I own the storage system and equipment, the economics favor the field corn grain over sweet corn.

 

[HydroSkreamin]

TDF, glad to see your son towing the family/company line, and your dad still involved. Can you imagine how proud he is of what you guys have accomplished?

I know when I lived there your family name was a great one. Thank you for running your operation the way you do, and for all you give back to the community.

Get those crops in before the deer get them, and good luck with the harvest and the following deer hunt.

I’ll try to cross paths with you when we’re back for Christmas. You and MrsTDF are welcome to come visit us in sunny Phoenix and get out of the frigid weather when January and February come.

Take care my friend!

 

[poncho]

We had a small deal in Northern Indiana, what your doing is so far beyond what I'm familiar with.

Love the pictures and text.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Trying to share a few drone shots a friend shared with me, and a couple photos I took of the cart filling the truck. Just for reference, it takes the cart operator about a minute or a little less to fill the semi trailer with roughly 1000-1100 bushels.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Sunset in God‘s country.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Some might think It’s a little bit of a LAM, but really its Just me telling the story of my crop year.

Each year I work with my Bayer seed company rep and agronomist to plant variety plots. It started out as a small single plot with about six varieties has expanded to two plots of 12 varieties each. One is a shorter maturity plot, ranging from about 95 to 100 ish day maturity. The other is a longer day maturity ranging from 98/99 day to 107 day. By doing these plots, it allows me to see first hand on my ground the newest latest greatest varieties from the company.

Over the years of doing these plots, we’ve had some really good results and been using the data from them to add new varieties to our crop each year.

I should note that current technology and breeding programs have made Varietal selection and turnover commonplace. Many really good varieties only remain in mainstream seed production for between three and five years. Often times when I find a variety that works well in my operation, I get two to three years before it no longer is even offered by the company.

This year is a good crop year overall, but the plots this year, with a large list of new products in the lineup, have been exceptionally good. The local agronomist for the company has been sharing photos of different farms and their varieties doing the best. I took my long plot off Friday, and thought I’d share the photo she shared to her page of my results. Typical yields for my farm range in the 220-260 bushels per acre field averages most years, with farm average the pat few years has been right about 230 bpa.

As you can see by the numbers, there is some great potential. And yes, that’s me and Jr.

 

[jb600]

Funny you brought this thread back up. Beginning of October I was talking to a friend of mine who sold his1986 Yamaha V Max snowmobile he restored to some one from Wisconsin. The guy called him while he was harvesting his crops while sitting in his John Deere harvester. Lol. I’ll talk to him again to find out what part of Wisconsin he came from.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

I have spent the last hour sitting here going back through the original Midwest Farm Tour thread trying to jog my memory about how this all started.

Wow, what a long time ago.

Feel free to go look it up if you haven’t been following for that long (started the original in 2019).

Maybe I’ll do a bit of a recap and update on crops, acres, and my business changes over the past couple years in the coming days.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Funny you brought this thread back up. Beginning of October I was talking to a friend of mine who sold his1986 Yamaha V Max snowmobile he restored to some one from Wisconsin. The guy called him while he was harvesting his crops while sitting in his John Deere harvester. Lol. I’ll talk to him again to find out what part of Wisconsin he came from.

Ironic I read your post after I posted my last update about rereading the initial thread

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Those crop yields are pretty impressive. I know there is pushback about "hacking" seeds and what not, but I think being able to produce more food per acre might come in handy, because, you know, people like to eat.

 

[arch stanton]

so I did a little math, and it looks like Corn goes for about 5.00 per bushel
If normal production is 230 BPA x 5.00 =1150$ Gross per acre
if the new seeds production is 306 BPA x 5.00= 1530 Gross per acre
If your net profit on the old seed is 10% 115$ per acre
then your net on the new seed would be 495$ per acre
while I know my math is not perfect the new seed increases gross profit about 33%
and net profit by 430%
why run the old seed at all or is it a gamble what each seed variety will produce each year

 

[HydroSkreamin]

@Tractorsdontfloat do kids still detassle corn in the summer? What exactly was that for? I honestly don’t remember, other than it sounded like a better job than shearing Christmas trees…

Can you please expand a little bit how the seed companies develop their hybrids?

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Arch, your math isn’t too bad. One thing that you have keep in mind is each year is different, and every variety reacts differently every year, and this year is an exceptionAl year for most all varieties. For example, I have had many of the same varieties in the past year or two. In some cases, same variety, similar ground as last year. Some last year did well in the 240-250 or maybe a little better. Others we’re more 225-230. This year, those same varieties higher varieties are running 280-290, and the lowers are also 280-290. Really nothing except year being different.

My point is not every variety acts the same every year, and every variety reacts differently based on soils. I’ve had varieties that one year were decent on one field, poor on another, and the next year above average on a completely different soil type.

if I wanted, with my acres, I would have a difficult time getting any one variety for more than a small portion of those acres, and growing multiple varieties spreads my risk for that year against that variety being the “loser“ this year. If there was a magic bullet every farmer out there would be using it. I am certainly excited about the future of some of these new varieties as the numbers show.

 

[arch stanton]

Well i always knew a contractors license was really a gambling license
But now I understand i little better why farming is also a high stakes game
What makes one soil better than another?
The right percentage of clay to sand ? Better drainage?

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Thanks @HydroSkreamin. Yeah detailing corn was definitely a better job than shearing trees. Not that both were not hot and tiring. That is a good question and thanks for the request for direction.

So detailing corn is still a thing. What is that? Exactly what it says. Removal of the tussle from the top of the corn plant. So I’ll take a step sideways and try to explain the process.

***Please understand I’m trying to educate and in no way trying to insult anyones intelligence or talk down to anyone. I’m assuming at least one person reading this is unaware of what i’m talking about and hopefully is learning.***

The corn that is grown these days is almost entirely hybrid varieties. what that means is the end is produced by taking one plant that is a specific male plant and crossing it with a specific female plant. How this is accomplished is actually very scientific. And every variety Is done in a very specific way.

To start, the female rows are planted in four row blocks, with a single male pollinator row planted between the blocks of these females. Thirty inch rows, one pollinator, four female, one four, etc. Along with that, to prevent cross pollination from nearby hybrids, usually seed corn is isolated by at least 400 feet from all other corn, and especially from other seed corn. And to guarantee proper pollination, the pollinator rows are planted in two stages. The first one, a half rate is planted at the same time as the female rows, and then the second half is planted a few days (7-10 days usually) later to spread the pollen over a longer period of time to help pollination

This is where the de tasseling process comes in. As the crop is growing, around 3-4 feet tall range, all the female rows are run with a detasseling machine which basically runs at the top of the plant and yanks the top out of the plant, taking the tassel, which is still well down into the middle of the plant with it. The male rows are not touched At this time.

After the de tassel machines go through the field, a crew of individuals (back in the day, mostly teenaged kids like hydroskreamin, now mostly H2a contract crews) walk the fields a couple days later and pull any tassels that remain on any of the female plants, This is all done above the point on the plant that the ear will develop on these plants. As these ears develop and the silks start to form, this is hopefully when the male rows start to tassel. It’s amazing how the corn plant will be shedding pollen as far ahead as a day before the tassel is completely exposed from the top of the whorl.

Once the pollination process is complete, maybe three weeks after the tassels first appear, the male pollinator rows are run down and eliminated so no ears can be harvested with the others. This is how these ears are kept as a defined hybrid cross between two specific parents.

Once the ears have matured properly, they are harvested on the ear, and transported to the seed drying facility for the seed company. From there it gets dried to a specific point, shelled and bagged as the specific variety, and delivered to the seed company.

These seed corn fields are extremely tightly managed. From the very careful process of making sure the proper seed is put in the correct rows on the planter, to the frequent walking of the fields and roguing out any odd or abnormal plants, to the careful cleaning of all equipment between every variety. Very serious business.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Well i always knew a contractors license was really a gambling license
But now I understand i little better why farming is also a high stakes game
What makes one soil better than another?
The right percentage of clay to sand ? Better drainage?

All of the above. Lol

obviously, loose, well drained, high organic matter, high CEC (ability to retain nutrients) soils are good soils. But we don’t always get to choose our medium To grow into.

My soils are almost all very high sand, low cec,low OM soils. And without irrigation, very well drained and dry, and unproductive. Typical high productivity soils are dark, silty loam soils.

But there are a lot of things that we can do to make them better. Soil tests to check the fertility, and monitor the pH can be very effective. And understanding the needs of individual crops as well. For example. Potatoes in general like a more acidic, lower pH around 5.5-6. Corn and beans like a much more neutral soil around 7.0. We can raise the pH by liming the soil, and often do after a potato crop. We then grow at least two crop seasons of corn and beans with the higher pH and over time, it slowly lowers naturally, benefitting the taters.

Much more a science than just tossing seed out and waving from the church pew on Sunday praying for a good crop. But I’ll still put in a good word with the man upstairs if I can get His help On Sunday, and toil diligently the other days.

 

[HydroSkreamin]

Thanks @HydroSkreamin. Yeah detassling corn was definitely a better job than shearing trees. Not that both were not hot and tiring. That is a good question and thanks for the request for direction.

These seed corn fields are extremely tightly managed. From the very careful process of making sure the proper seed is put in the correct rows on the planter, to the frequent walking of the fields and roguing out any odd or abnormal plants, to the careful cleaning of all equipment between every variety. Very serious business.

TDF-thanks for the detailed response. I actually forgot how detailed the process was, and didn’t realize how important and controlled it was. Interesting to see it’s even more detailed now.

 

[RichL]

You know the old saying about learning something new every day.
Thumbs up.

 

[Warlock1]

Man I am in heaven right now finding this thread. I am not a farmer but I grew up in farm country in Ohio. I am a country boy that feels at home on a farm. I thought I was the only guy that could look at farm equipment and think the term "sexy"...lol

I am looking forward to watching the videos and following this thread....

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

Man I am in heaven right now finding this thread. I am not a farmer but I grew up in farm country in Ohio. I am a country boy that feels at home on a farm. I thought I was the only guy that could look at farm equipment and think the term "sexy"...lol

I am looking forward to watching the videos and following this thread....

Welcome to the show @Warlock1. Glad to know there is a few guys that have at least some understanding.

TDF

 

[Sleek-Jet]

I knew what tasseling was but didn't realize it was done only on the seed crops. Great information.

 

[Tractorsdontfloat]

I enjoy sharing my story with all of you guys. Unfortunately, what you all find interesting and amazing, I take For granted. To benefit this thread, I’ve taken a little time the last couple nights to go back to the original farm tour thread and reread from the beginning. There has been a pile of comments, topics and discussions that we’ve talked about.

Ultimately, I want to share information that is of interest to you. If you want me to discuss anything specific, please ask. Similar to the corn detassling discussion, i love sharing relevant subjects and making the farm world exciting.

While you share your questions for the next discussion topics, here’s a bunch of photos of our operation and equipment.

Starting with a couple of new to me trucks I’ve added recently, combines, tractors, carts, planters, and a couple facilities shots.

Q

Yes, I even have a John Deere bird feeder

 

[HydroSkreamin]

TDF-love all the information you’re sharing with us, it’s all informational to us.

Now that you have time on your machine(s) that we’re new last year, how is everything functioning and holding up? Any recalls, updates, unexpected service calls, etc? Happy with your purchase? Rep asking questions and showing up?

 

[snowhammer]

TDF, I very much appreciate the stories, information, and pictures.

Could you please clarify the detassle process? Since pollination take place on the silk (as I understand it), are the female plants detassled to increase nutrition to the silk or to eliminate the odds of non reproductive pollen attaching to the silk? Or is it a misnomer or technicality to label each stalk as male or female as each stalk contains both parts of the reproductive process?

Another way of putting it is, the one "male" row is used to pollinate four "female" rows, thus creating the hybrid. The female rows are the recipients that bring the ear to full maturity?

Do you fertilize with manure? We have quite a few large dairies by us and the manure hauling is contracted out.

Once again, thank you for the content.