tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46139794443059085162024-03-14T06:03:42.708-07:00SmallGrainFarmFollow our small grain farm operation throughout the season as we plant and harvest corn and soybeans on a small family farm in Central, IL.Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-46623204234786323732010-09-19T05:46:00.000-07:002010-09-19T06:03:11.068-07:002010 Corn Finished, Started Beans<div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguByotalkxrHSGGJXdbnSRuQu1NqlHvFj-MrCHLteqxHIJgFAYBhzPW6-laSohNW6sOgs2tC8O0eLTrV8tyXm7EzHMQ3H-mUBkMrbt7qABJSeugYv9SXKIHlKgwGcH-sbDy-XYPSoxXeI0/s1600/2010Harvest52s.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518606099658163666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguByotalkxrHSGGJXdbnSRuQu1NqlHvFj-MrCHLteqxHIJgFAYBhzPW6-laSohNW6sOgs2tC8O0eLTrV8tyXm7EzHMQ3H-mUBkMrbt7qABJSeugYv9SXKIHlKgwGcH-sbDy-XYPSoxXeI0/s320/2010Harvest52s.JPG" /></a> Corn harvest went so fast it still seems like we should be starting. Corn yields were a bit disappointing-about 30 bushel per acre below last year. So I was kind of ready to get that behind us and start beans.</div><br /><div></div><div>We have only been going in beans for 2 days-but so far the yields look fantastic! Undoubtedly the best we have ever had.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Julie got these pics from top of the grain bin.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87wX7FLOD99li6EdLaQQPDjXFhooAQk95takM7sfg9gUclEmZZeTRP4H8SxNj3qODF3a6Vjlz6qNGb5wrZW0NTiyuKMO7rsT_IghYKMhQdc7mnWBoR0DYoraQv7ra1BUmYoORGSpbqY1v/s1600/2010Harvest60s.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518609120434229138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87wX7FLOD99li6EdLaQQPDjXFhooAQk95takM7sfg9gUclEmZZeTRP4H8SxNj3qODF3a6Vjlz6qNGb5wrZW0NTiyuKMO7rsT_IghYKMhQdc7mnWBoR0DYoraQv7ra1BUmYoORGSpbqY1v/s320/2010Harvest60s.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_4o8F-ihg0FsOHqMpdkitgb8-F8gFhtQjtgpl4iuoywQux-wbSn-C-DhVEZyHp8eWz4qvMwJphmEkInKtUAaQJsVXE7HwZs1-Kzss9jRPqMXdhiHSKx6YVlEuteGe4U5DW5AFTr60xk6/s1600/2010Harvest59s.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518608866592030626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_4o8F-ihg0FsOHqMpdkitgb8-F8gFhtQjtgpl4iuoywQux-wbSn-C-DhVEZyHp8eWz4qvMwJphmEkInKtUAaQJsVXE7HwZs1-Kzss9jRPqMXdhiHSKx6YVlEuteGe4U5DW5AFTr60xk6/s320/2010Harvest59s.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div> </div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-67890295401829135622010-09-10T09:22:00.000-07:002010-09-10T09:45:41.770-07:00Harvest well under way, is it only Sept 10?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1TSnhIKEANjzEeJ0WvpoNQPj7Qmx6HIBZ2HV-8zk4KZ0xHozm4zFBnr9vEg4eTu0UKoWugmrB73BFhh8RkxP_AeiTjC6Q_GLwxm0G8t7aL5H_pyK077vrxEOlj200RN8hZtX-fTw4Tn3/s1600/IMG_3867_500x334.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1TSnhIKEANjzEeJ0WvpoNQPj7Qmx6HIBZ2HV-8zk4KZ0xHozm4zFBnr9vEg4eTu0UKoWugmrB73BFhh8RkxP_AeiTjC6Q_GLwxm0G8t7aL5H_pyK077vrxEOlj200RN8hZtX-fTw4Tn3/s320/IMG_3867_500x334.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515326318903051186" /></a><br />I can't believe it is only Sept 10. We are about 70% complete with harvest-with a little cooperation from the weather we will be done early next week. I check last years records-last year we took our first load of corn in on Sept 30! By that time this year we will be done with corn and probably well into beans-if not completed. I have been talking with several neighbors who farm much more than I do that are also about 1/2 done.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8gWtfUnj1huuNl_ukgxVFYoI4QU7_AaWHdO0imFVM4bnn0yr_slEF8cw4TGDWM4CylKKysjeUni1_7y3L7zvijIGUItdKmeT0EGACyWD3qM33ILBobZ2I_IEAwnMyAqiDMpvHTpNf6uI/s1600/IMG_3871_500x334.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8gWtfUnj1huuNl_ukgxVFYoI4QU7_AaWHdO0imFVM4bnn0yr_slEF8cw4TGDWM4CylKKysjeUni1_7y3L7zvijIGUItdKmeT0EGACyWD3qM33ILBobZ2I_IEAwnMyAqiDMpvHTpNf6uI/s320/IMG_3871_500x334.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515326563434359042" /></a><br /><br />Yields have been disappointing, but not a disaster. Overall average is about 155, about 30-40 bushels per acre what we were expecting.<br /><br /><br /><br />Getting started earlier has really been nice. We have been able to slow down a bit-get some visitors out for combine rides, and actually get some sleep during harvest. No breakdowns of anything so far. Hopefully this string of blessings will continue as we finish corn and move into beans next week.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfnPXXG_Y1eU6PDyptFyejYz2CC1fBzPHseAgYwucd7nNfQR9_U4-uGfBISztsdqNeV0Gtkz2XGtYEVCKzNGk36FDryrLIQnzBexv61oNfdom4-eSAtPgbEcQC6sJ8YstpO8scy7OEel3/s1600/IMG_3899_500x334.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfnPXXG_Y1eU6PDyptFyejYz2CC1fBzPHseAgYwucd7nNfQR9_U4-uGfBISztsdqNeV0Gtkz2XGtYEVCKzNGk36FDryrLIQnzBexv61oNfdom4-eSAtPgbEcQC6sJ8YstpO8scy7OEel3/s320/IMG_3899_500x334.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515326897821097602" /></a><br /><br /><br />Making this a doubly good week prices are the highest they have been all year, that is very unusual for prices to peak during harvest. I am usually guilty of waiting too long to sell much of my crop, but it looks like my procrastination may pay off this year.Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-82472270409591143512010-08-29T05:51:00.000-07:002010-08-29T06:45:24.993-07:002010 Harvest Started-Grain In BinWe have completed about 15 acres of early corn. The yeilds were pretty disappointing, under 150 bushel per acre on ground I thought would go over 200. I was warned not to plant that early of corn here-but it was nice to get new combine and bin all tested out early, take my time, and not be doing little fixes when we need to be going full steam.<br /><br />I will try to post some more harvest pics and videos in the next couple weeks.<br /><br /><div>Although the yeilds have been disappoining (hopefully only the early stuff) this has already been a special harvest. I have stepped up about 2 decades with the new combine and it is a real joy to run!! So quiet and comfortable-going to make the long days a LOT easiers.</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVyRfHf6Wr8O8I1PaX3XlKdRzqBe4SJUJdVRzj5L5YDSfz_UZtLX4jsvq4LeTKvCTmbfAyaSezzD08KoI0zevk7xEebNdH0SR6A1FNLjZVNwhuxdiMfVaNA-B4U0wXNubuW3HCFNyCkKb/s1600/IMG_3640_800x533.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510824285138349250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVyRfHf6Wr8O8I1PaX3XlKdRzqBe4SJUJdVRzj5L5YDSfz_UZtLX4jsvq4LeTKvCTmbfAyaSezzD08KoI0zevk7xEebNdH0SR6A1FNLjZVNwhuxdiMfVaNA-B4U0wXNubuW3HCFNyCkKb/s320/IMG_3640_800x533.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOu3XOy7eJ6licYMGTRbehGj-lFbLXN8TFc84d4uoeRrqBkxqEp59s2X2wFTfbKvF8sJmOsU9AB2RRk2x1FO2DGbPIlU8nFQ2zOLioJ22muPvWOoEPEMJxRbV-Mgm1ww-gnkxDLTUdctq/s1600/IMG_3631_800x533.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510823590406730450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOu3XOy7eJ6licYMGTRbehGj-lFbLXN8TFc84d4uoeRrqBkxqEp59s2X2wFTfbKvF8sJmOsU9AB2RRk2x1FO2DGbPIlU8nFQ2zOLioJ22muPvWOoEPEMJxRbV-Mgm1ww-gnkxDLTUdctq/s320/IMG_3631_800x533.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>We finished the grain bin construction last week and were able to put a couple loads into the bin and take them back out. This might not seem like a big deal to most people but it was really a big deal to me. First I realized how much easier it is going to make harvest on our farm. Had a couple glitches-broke shear pins, couple small spills and such-as we learned how fast it will take grain in-and some minor adjustment on unloading equipment-but all in all it went well-and we will really be ready to roll in a couple weeks.</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmEonaPVoFp-i39vNqMp_EUAloxRf5TxFKnR6w23In3F726VXpkLindJ71RCbdAChKqNRY4qkb65shxhvlAfpYdA0LgnBTZduG-ybJ3WQkzU00pajK4Pb2E6wu_OfInCAW-9f0Zn919Su/s1600/IMG_3641_800x533.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510824603373817602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmEonaPVoFp-i39vNqMp_EUAloxRf5TxFKnR6w23In3F726VXpkLindJ71RCbdAChKqNRY4qkb65shxhvlAfpYdA0LgnBTZduG-ybJ3WQkzU00pajK4Pb2E6wu_OfInCAW-9f0Zn919Su/s320/IMG_3641_800x533.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwVTYLWgClPfYEkKiRUklM4cpARnd9Co7U_kpMswWUBVHPxGCEb9cJogbJhqIq_evM76vHAKp7CDZUBpbdKn6Jhe1q7N_ogCwzQ77vSZzJn_vGoOd0zJacPLkZBF6YXX77zEkpM1CuWuL/s1600/IMG_3661_800x534.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510823327011445154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwVTYLWgClPfYEkKiRUklM4cpARnd9Co7U_kpMswWUBVHPxGCEb9cJogbJhqIq_evM76vHAKp7CDZUBpbdKn6Jhe1q7N_ogCwzQ77vSZzJn_vGoOd0zJacPLkZBF6YXX77zEkpM1CuWuL/s320/IMG_3661_800x534.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Second, as I dumped that first load in I heard the sound of the grain hitting the walls from the spreader-and the sound of the auger banging away and realized I had not put grain into a bin since my grandfather retired from farming in 1978-when I was 12 years old. As I stood there watching the grain flow out of the truck I felt like I haven't felt since the first day I started farming 7 years ago. Really a special moment-felt very much like a kid again.</div><br /><br /><div>Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the business part of farming and numbers, or get so hurried during planting and harvest to get things done I miss the best part. Yesterday was a BIG reminder of why I started farming. My main goal this fall is to slow down 20% and enjoy it 100% more!</div><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div>Oh yea-I learned 2 more lessons. 1) I need to get a dust mast. 2) Do NOT crawl up on a bin in sunny 90 degree weather wearing shorts!</div></div></div>Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-3551063383689201342010-08-20T09:46:00.000-07:002010-08-20T10:05:21.902-07:00Time Flies This Time of Year<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tul4ydGSJNjd_Od9xmV9uUfOq-tML1k3fyzttoQ_eBy_KybM1y-J3cbyPI1OXgt8B40OApAfLm4MlBAVzpgUfOfyDQFgsiOb2P1kxkMOzP5DoNHgW32u4Kh-nOEDFRA671r9nbxlbhv2/s1600/IMG_3487.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507538420125587138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tul4ydGSJNjd_Od9xmV9uUfOq-tML1k3fyzttoQ_eBy_KybM1y-J3cbyPI1OXgt8B40OApAfLm4MlBAVzpgUfOfyDQFgsiOb2P1kxkMOzP5DoNHgW32u4Kh-nOEDFRA671r9nbxlbhv2/s320/IMG_3487.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>I can't believe how long it has been since I last blogged anything-the last few weeks have been really crazy. We took advantage of summer and spent about 3 weekends out of town, then when I got back it was panic time as this is going to be the earliers harvest in my liftime. We are planning on starting early corn next Thursday-August 26. Usual time around here is Mid-September, earliest I can recall is around the 10th. At least the air conditioners in tractor and combine are up to snuff.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_BWObnEv_FcCgXi4n3tWk8h1qeLfJSDwe4SThYu1y17BuyG4-cOmcNJCo-1BH30SryKwSEZMGQK9x06SwBIFLW-nPMcZf3BTSdbPlZ_7QL1i-3j4ZPrEo5RQyqdMmBd_yNImgT5w_Ohu/s1600/2010Harvest2.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507536088877075618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_BWObnEv_FcCgXi4n3tWk8h1qeLfJSDwe4SThYu1y17BuyG4-cOmcNJCo-1BH30SryKwSEZMGQK9x06SwBIFLW-nPMcZf3BTSdbPlZ_7QL1i-3j4ZPrEo5RQyqdMmBd_yNImgT5w_Ohu/s320/2010Harvest2.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>Besides vacations I have spent ever possible moment in the shed working on the combine. As usual the little things turned into a few bigger ones, or many little ones. The grain bin was completed a month ago but getting electrical work completed was a hassle, we are going to be right at the wire on getting it ready and inspected so we can use it for later corn.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div>The corn looks spectacular, and the beans not too bad-so hopefully a good harvest with an early start will go smooth and I will have more time to post some harvest pictures soon.</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div>Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-43324031088880586202010-07-08T09:13:00.001-07:002010-07-08T09:38:30.442-07:00So much more to farming than farming<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb85vv01KRBr804pI45gi-ZFsnRuBudN62RNIYWef78aXRAYFTFyT2_pgYtSpTLlcY0W8CQ3hBWpLYXBQ-jh9Z4GAIS5hjnzDLNQuDuhtKHwoJQrf8-7hlld2cxYgea6A1vyG6MkWUNFpD/s1600/LiftPump.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491574992717341954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb85vv01KRBr804pI45gi-ZFsnRuBudN62RNIYWef78aXRAYFTFyT2_pgYtSpTLlcY0W8CQ3hBWpLYXBQ-jh9Z4GAIS5hjnzDLNQuDuhtKHwoJQrf8-7hlld2cxYgea6A1vyG6MkWUNFpD/s400/LiftPump.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I think a lot of people have the idea that farming just involves planting the crop, harvesting it, and sitting in the coffee shop, while that sounds pretty good I found myself realizing how much time I spend on the farm doing other things besides farming.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfwjIN4SnbEoS9YekaHwl4CmzgRNpS1w8eRdtFFAZfThiC-HBoPtUPRJY29oobHGdkdaPjFnmGqhn7BAVMO8XTh5EnD1-36UDMiIzyb5pJ9ouLY9BvzIWl_IDsSZ75fDUwBEIHF8RT7fl/s1600/CombineRepair.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491573839487131634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfwjIN4SnbEoS9YekaHwl4CmzgRNpS1w8eRdtFFAZfThiC-HBoPtUPRJY29oobHGdkdaPjFnmGqhn7BAVMO8XTh5EnD1-36UDMiIzyb5pJ9ouLY9BvzIWl_IDsSZ75fDUwBEIHF8RT7fl/s400/CombineRepair.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>In reality I would say that it is a safe bet that for every 1 hour I spend in the tractor or combine seat I spend two hours either working on equipment, running for parts, chemicals, etc. And for every I spend running equipment I am sure that I spent 3 hours paying bills, financial planning, crop planning, seed and chemical research-and on and on.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>This past weekend was 4th of July-so I decided to use the long weekend to catch up on farm work-both inside and out. I decided to keep track of hours. In the last week I spent 36 hours on the farm, that included 3 hours paperwork, 3 hours of marketing research and corn sales, 4 hours running for parts and supplies, 4 hours mowing ditches and field edges, 2 hours touchup spraying with ATV, and 20 hours in the shop working on planter and combine and rebuilding a lift pump for spray tractor. 36 hours and the only REAL fun butt in tractor seat part was mowing...and calling mowing fun is a bit of a stretch.<br /></div><div>Not that I don't enjoy working in the shop, the worst day working in shop is better than the best day in the office.....although I may have changed that story while working in the hopper of combine last night in top of shed with no air movement, 90% humdity, and about 90 degrees. And I do enjoy marketing research and paperword...well that is a necessary evil.<br /></div><div>I do enjoy almost all aspects of farming-but there sure are times where planting, harvesting, and drinking coffee sounds pretty good.</div></div>Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-10668700540604966232010-06-25T06:48:00.000-07:002010-06-25T06:50:49.018-07:00Tassles on Corn on June 25Are you kidding me? June 25 and we have tassles on Corn? I know that is common south of here but never in my lifetime have I seen tassles on June 25 here except on sweetcorn! I need to get busy working on the combine, at this rate we are going to be needing it by Labor Day!Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-66213221390518834572010-06-24T06:19:00.001-07:002010-06-24T06:25:21.027-07:00Grain Bin Completed<div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.paul-julia.com/images/2010Bin30s.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.paul-julia.com/images/2010Bin30s.jpg" /></a><br />Not much to say, getting bin completed was the biggest thing this week. I have some crop progress pics I will post this weekend-so much rain here don't expect to do any spraying before mid next week-but probably better off waiting a little longer anyway.</div><div> </div><div> </div><a href="http://www.paul-julia.com/images/2010Bin23s.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.paul-julia.com/images/2010Bin23s.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.paul-julia.com/images/2010Bin26s.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 238px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 138px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.paul-julia.com/images/2010Bin26s.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><p></p><p></p><div> </div><br /><br /><div>Lots more pictures of Bin construction here: <a href="http://www.paul-julia.com/BinConstruction.jsp">http://www.paul-julia.com/BinConstruction.jsp</a><br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-56896055351856039732010-06-18T07:54:00.001-07:002010-06-18T07:59:09.666-07:00Environmental Benefits of GMO CropsI have probably written too much about my frustration due to misinformation about GMO crops. Rather than continue to argue about the false misconceptions of the harm I think it is time that maybe we shift gears and discuss the hard and fast benefits of GMO crops, specifically as their benefits pertain to the environment-which seems to be the main argument for trying to ban them.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>1.</strong> <strong>Decreased use of insecticides</strong></span> - Before GMO crops used to spray a lot of nasty insecticides to deal with insects in our crop. I have been farming 7 years, basically since the time when stacked corn traits took off. In those 7 years I have never sprayed a single ounce of insecticide. We still have to use a granular insecticide on 20% of our corn that is required by regulation to not use BT corn-to control corn rootworms-this is called “refuge” corn. Should they allow refuge to be replaced with corn using another mode of action we would not even need to do that.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">2. Making no-till feasible</span></strong> – No till has allowed me to GREATLY reduce soil erosion on our farm. Along with the reduced erosion we have reduced runoff of nitrogen and other fertilizer. We also use significantly less fuel and require less equipment and horsepower because we are often making only 4 trips across the field (spray, plant, spray, harvest) a year instead of 7 (2 spring tillage, spray, plant, spray, harvest, fall tillage) or more. Before GMO crops the chemicals really weren’t there to be able to maintain yields, and those that were much more potent and much much less environmentally friendly that glyphosate that we use now.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">3. Increased yield</span></strong> – Taking away GMO technology would dramatically reduce yields. If you doubt this compare yields on the refuge corn to conventional. Every year we lose more and more farmground in this country to urban sprawl. Yet overall yields keep getting larger and larger, in my short career we have set national yield records in 4 of the last 7 years. Should we fail to do that prices will rise, and rise dramatically as we saw in 2008. When that happens more of the marginal land becomes profitable to farm and comes out of wildlife areas and returns to production.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>4. Less fertilizer</strong></span> – Like oil, fertilizer is a non-renewable resource. We have a responsibility to use it as wisely as possible. We are growing about 30% more grain per pound of fertilizer than we were 15 years ago-the majority of this increase is directly attributable to GMO improvements.<br /><br />I could list the other benefits of GMO crops but will save those for another slow week post. This next week will be busy with grain bin construction and a return to second round of spraying. Will get some more pics of soon, also past due to post some crop progress pictures.Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-78199959535041990972010-06-10T06:37:00.000-07:002010-06-10T06:53:55.516-07:00Starting Grain Bin Construction<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaX0JwCuvuhe1hhJntsPgAReXaQprSE_zHQgTa3TdwgtZNQmPs7XX3IvBEevRTGLrY-GC77xr-DE1_j05rZTMLcB3Kg0kCHv0M3QmXXBLZdyBCFyaSXFwamYV98X82tjpbpazLcT7aTHzN/s1600/bin2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481142604073820722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 426px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaX0JwCuvuhe1hhJntsPgAReXaQprSE_zHQgTa3TdwgtZNQmPs7XX3IvBEevRTGLrY-GC77xr-DE1_j05rZTMLcB3Kg0kCHv0M3QmXXBLZdyBCFyaSXFwamYV98X82tjpbpazLcT7aTHzN/s400/bin2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Construction has finally started on our first grain bin. Concrete is poured-roof and sidewall construction will probably start in about two weeks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8cJlmqDRXLgRcKH5wLjyFLGqr7Z1CCyNM_qsuD8WGLIvlimpWi5OCpoVrCs7CIiDHw8Q6acPGQSEzrQUON33jo7j8moXShPuJ8KRx38LwNpX8_RX_Ipr4bA9E-ynrlwFwsaipxpvCsf4/s1600/bin1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481142434157256754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8cJlmqDRXLgRcKH5wLjyFLGqr7Z1CCyNM_qsuD8WGLIvlimpWi5OCpoVrCs7CIiDHw8Q6acPGQSEzrQUON33jo7j8moXShPuJ8KRx38LwNpX8_RX_Ipr4bA9E-ynrlwFwsaipxpvCsf4/s400/bin1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-25968134463071011462010-06-10T06:21:00.000-07:002010-06-10T06:37:12.345-07:00Get the true story out about farmingThose reading this blog in the past know how frustrated I get with the misinformation about farming that is so prevalent today. Finally I am seeing more and more ag related sites trying to get the truth out. Found a couple good ones this week:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.feedstuffsfoodlink.com/ME2/Default.asp">FoodLink</a><br /><br /><a href="http://illinoisfarmbureau.wordpress.com/">Illinois Farm Bureau Blog</a>Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-66665211125278865752010-06-03T16:43:00.000-07:002010-06-04T11:14:40.159-07:00Spray spray spray your fields, watch out for that stream<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAG4irdkawDNwVLQlVbLmq_0D3lLKol0uWKzINV2FDEOtPeQPQdWxsuxQMHiLalyoYW3B5Z4SNiHjynUcY3m6sKLqkDWnnMLvvRbX4M9scQTBx6YNM5ju_2VTC5Le5OuSYmd06q2sArqU/s1600/FlatTire.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 298px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478699403667759698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAG4irdkawDNwVLQlVbLmq_0D3lLKol0uWKzINV2FDEOtPeQPQdWxsuxQMHiLalyoYW3B5Z4SNiHjynUcY3m6sKLqkDWnnMLvvRbX4M9scQTBx6YNM5ju_2VTC5Le5OuSYmd06q2sArqU/s400/FlatTire.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-m7JWqB1gtM_bVLrfk1ivNlCnDjFIjgPUp5TY2Fjq4rjRoOc8w0WO29xOKV7gjUErDrsoseJrotfp-aL3MX-nCSk0ysdRWNHF39cpkv_8VMAG8FQjTeIL93MGlMoj43uGR5vnJRIL8I9b/s1600/SmallSprayer.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 393px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 298px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478699279925109810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-m7JWqB1gtM_bVLrfk1ivNlCnDjFIjgPUp5TY2Fjq4rjRoOc8w0WO29xOKV7gjUErDrsoseJrotfp-aL3MX-nCSk0ysdRWNHF39cpkv_8VMAG8FQjTeIL93MGlMoj43uGR5vnJRIL8I9b/s400/SmallSprayer.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44u8tnoYmmAL5MQWcvGdmOxPtVg_PLdRpqvJx-pLOW5f_W9OLOUe-r8vDwGGULZmv5WJazAi6arX79bjSv6cbFy054jziqDx83p_9eaqKSp_URvI3wOr_M8LA1XqQna3IGysEQsKzbEV0/s1600/FlatTire.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Let me describe last week in bullet points:<br /></div><br /><br /><div>-Haul Water<br />-Spray<br />-Stop Spraying<br />-Fix Rear Flat Tire<br />-Haul Water<br />-Spray<br />-Stop Spraying<br />-Wait to see if popup showers pass<br />-Start spraying<br />-Stop Spraying<br />-Replace flow control valve<br />-Haul Water<br />-Spray<br />-Stop Spraying<br />-Wait for rain again<br />-Start Spraying<br />-Stop Spraying<br />-Replace lift pump gasket on tractor<br />-Start Spraying<br />-Stop Spraying<br />-Replace complete GPS system<br />-Spray<br />-Spray<br />-Spray<br />-Mow<br />-Mow<br /><br />Worked my butt off last week, but too much of it was diagnosing problems, running for parts, repairing flats, etc. etc. I guess that is the hazzard of farming with old equipment. Between all the breakdowns, popup showers, road time moving equipment, etc. I felt like I jammed 20 hours of work into 60 hours. I figure by doing my own spraying I am saving about $3,200-$4,000 this year. Problem is so far I am at $2,000 in repairs and 2 days of frustration, starting to question that decision to do all my own.<br /><br />Seriously when it is going well I have enjoyed it, finished last Fri and it is cool to see all the green invaders turning brown and the crops really looking green and nice. I got done early enough to get the 4 wheeler out and hit the extra thick areas and touch up around the waterways and even spray a couple yards for friends and neighbors. On Sat got the roads mowed, so I am saying with crops all up, 1st spray pass done, and roads mowed that draws an official end to spring and summer has begun!<br /><br />Spouse is not too happy about a couple spots in the yard. Being in a hurry I didn't think that walking across some spilled roundup on the trailer and then treking across the yard into the shed would leave some nice little indisputable evidence in the shape of my foot in the grass. I have promised to load the sprayer in the field next year instead of the drive. </div></div></div>Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-32365930182863238112010-05-20T08:37:00.000-07:002010-05-20T08:42:17.398-07:00Hard to find time to blogRain has been plentiful, so no excuse there-but I have had a hard time getting in front of computer. Looks like we are going to get a good spraying window this weekend and early next week so I figure I should blog something before that starts.<br /><br />The waterway and roadside grass has really taken off the last two weeks-the neverending mowing saga will start this weekend. <br /><br />All the corn has has first pass of spray, 2nd shot we will probably wait another week or two-to get closer to canopy.<br /><br />My no-till bean fields are flat out embarrasing-Wife is beginning to wonder if I am raising wild yellow mustard this year instead of beans. The dry days have been so cold and cloudy I didn't want to spray, and every other day it has been wet. <br /><br />One lesson I learned this year is fall spraying 100% works-you can see to the foot where I did a little roundup last fall just before first frost-with Roundup being so cheap will be hitting every acre this fall if possible.Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-92103471047619652672010-05-13T09:01:00.001-07:002010-05-13T09:17:50.001-07:00Finished Planting-2010-I hope.<div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfS439zNDLfLfJ4elGXQnRZTFlbDtHV9Vp2r1PdJttXceYawCXJ6xmCOWsR8y_DKP7R499Ubf3dB899LexaRoPBRRrcleZIvs_FTX62LFnd28DgZpRxh6NJC5kr8GColgJ9KpZVTdhX9WC/s1600/Planting2010c.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470787470124761970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfS439zNDLfLfJ4elGXQnRZTFlbDtHV9Vp2r1PdJttXceYawCXJ6xmCOWsR8y_DKP7R499Ubf3dB899LexaRoPBRRrcleZIvs_FTX62LFnd28DgZpRxh6NJC5kr8GColgJ9KpZVTdhX9WC/s400/Planting2010c.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Farming is a lot of things but it sure isn’t repetitive. We really caught some good breaks this spring and finished up planting beans on Mothers day. Last year I am pretty sure we were into the first week of June, and were still trying to plant corn on Mothers day. We have had a lot of cold rain since then-which won't help the stand much-but at least it is in the ground.<br /><br />Julie didn't get the best Mothers day dinner (Jimmy Johns sandwiches on the seed trailer in the field)-but I really appreciated the visit, breaks up a long day. I owe her one to make up for it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX28bi4mPAzC_3SPjlPtEzWfpjMnRA4_VX_Kei_f2ehQ0VjFYHF1zF4Vp6xKHRgTQZ5o8AiyeyoOorx5rPVgfCisjOMo0l7Dd9uICfJIH5nWkZYOvdikmpCWwFvHl9c5bx2kUIKryIctR8/s1600/Planting2010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470785798312313378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX28bi4mPAzC_3SPjlPtEzWfpjMnRA4_VX_Kei_f2ehQ0VjFYHF1zF4Vp6xKHRgTQZ5o8AiyeyoOorx5rPVgfCisjOMo0l7Dd9uICfJIH5nWkZYOvdikmpCWwFvHl9c5bx2kUIKryIctR8/s400/Planting2010.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I know there is a benefit to spreading out your planting dates, but I was so gun-shy after the last two years that when a decent window opened up I just could not stop. Started planting on Thursday morning and finished Sunday afternoon. One day I planted about 130-140 acres, I really felt like the old marathon days at the end of that 18 hour day. Thank goodness for GPS, first time I ever planted after dark.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JDTkM8IxQqOfDnsjRFYCJA1kQIdDLFQcZsgVM3gQN0mnkgMDptVqTWMltB0P_S_-T6nM5dJPj4gIy-ygCPVCbGKwx2ik6rJ7nagZxeVzFJcXPK6lFl5Gi6qvijErh3incpLSM5jE3WAq/s1600/Planting2010d.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 267px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470788983178363218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JDTkM8IxQqOfDnsjRFYCJA1kQIdDLFQcZsgVM3gQN0mnkgMDptVqTWMltB0P_S_-T6nM5dJPj4gIy-ygCPVCbGKwx2ik6rJ7nagZxeVzFJcXPK6lFl5Gi6qvijErh3incpLSM5jE3WAq/s400/Planting2010d.jpg" /></a>Something else new was Mothers day was the first time I ever planted beans with the heat on in the tractor all day.<br /><br />I thought I had enough beans to finish and ran out with about 15 acres left, thinking a shot in the dark I called my seed dealer at 9:00am on Sunday morning-sure enough they were there! Talk about good service, they were able to come through and get me the seed so I could finish!!! When I went down to pick it up there was a line of other doing the same thing.<br /><br /><br /><br />I talked to a couple seed dealers and they said during that 4 day window they had about 70% of the beans go out of the warehouse….so I guess I wasn’t experiencing anything that wasn’t being dealt with by many others.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtQ0nnPau9tQUJ9gLhp5c1PUWrbggNQ3T1CQgJqZpTzTJydYOw3CmZO9DPVZPCbV-THuLpGaGnnMhlm4tCXQb7iz9ldheMENNLy-jjG8LpfmOkU6nV47LHqqJMttyKT6EPsaq4tEVaDd2/s1600/Planting2010e.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470789468754210162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtQ0nnPau9tQUJ9gLhp5c1PUWrbggNQ3T1CQgJqZpTzTJydYOw3CmZO9DPVZPCbV-THuLpGaGnnMhlm4tCXQb7iz9ldheMENNLy-jjG8LpfmOkU6nV47LHqqJMttyKT6EPsaq4tEVaDd2/s400/Planting2010e.jpg" /></a><br /><br />There were some really cool moments too-I saw a hawk grab a sparrow out the air and fly off with him, and saw two coyotes chase a really large deer over ½ mile. I didn’t think coyotes would go after a full grown deer but I can now say definitively they will. </div></div>Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-64152798452684204492010-04-25T05:56:00.000-07:002010-04-25T06:06:32.366-07:00What makes farming fun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CQNGymAQhDW1tA8U4H5A4mW6w-eTG2dWhK7CdLpS_zNrSIe5xrDUVOSSW_-x0-o05tYNv0UC5p4Lsv5KqEquLWt3H_2CCgTvq8bhqfKPRw9TdJgVnnEra1Lsvf4J5ieR2q4v2OANxan8/s1600/CornPlanting2010.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CQNGymAQhDW1tA8U4H5A4mW6w-eTG2dWhK7CdLpS_zNrSIe5xrDUVOSSW_-x0-o05tYNv0UC5p4Lsv5KqEquLWt3H_2CCgTvq8bhqfKPRw9TdJgVnnEra1Lsvf4J5ieR2q4v2OANxan8/s400/CornPlanting2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464060146156233474" /></a><br /><br /><br />Every year I say "I have never seen anything like this before." Now I have only been farming about 6 years so that isn't much of a statement. But it is interesting to talk with my neighbors-some who have been farming 40 or 50 years and they are saying the same thing.<br /><br />We went from too wet to too dry overnight this year. I planted corn a week ago last Sunday that was really too wet, had to clean mud off the planter. We finished the following Thursday-and a week later that seed is still laying in the ground in dry dirt not even sprouted.<br /><br />I guess this will be a good test of wether it is more important to plant early or wait for good conditions.<br /><br />No use worrying about it since whats done is done, time to move on, corn is in gods hands now. So yesterday we switched the planter over to prepare to plant beans. There has been a fair amount of rain in the last 36 hours so I would say we are looking at late next week at best.<br /><br />The opportunity to never stop learning is really cool. Some people think it would be boring driving the tractor back and forth across the field all day, but with so much to plan and think about boredom and farming just don't go together for me.Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-60472043310647419492010-04-18T05:44:00.000-07:002010-04-18T05:49:54.601-07:00Corn is Planted!!We finished planting corn about 8:30 last Friday night-April 16. Exactly 126 days after we finished harvest-a new record by over 30 days. I hope to never break that record again.<br /><br />After corn planting Julie and the kids and I planted 150 Christmas trees. 25 of each of Canaan firs, Frasier Firs, Red Pines, Blue Spruce, Scotch Pines, Norway Spruce. In 4-5 years we hope to have enough trees to give away to family and fiends who want to come cut their own tree.<br /><br />Corn planted 8 days ago is up, also amazing for this time of year. Today we are switching the planter over to beans, but it is so dry I doubt we will try to plant anything before we get some rain-there is a good chance for rain later in the week so maybe we can hit it early next week. <br /><br />Bean planting is going to rough on my 43 year old body this year-350 bags of seed moved at least 2 times by hand-no doubt I am going to feel it. I know now I am still feeling the beating from all the tree planting.Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-73628014152399442422010-04-13T08:59:00.000-07:002010-04-13T09:03:09.492-07:00Planting Time Again!It has been a long time since my last post, but last year was so exhausting I just didn't have the gumption to write about it anymore. The last couple weeks of good weather have really got my energy levels jumping and I am getting excited about farming again.<br /><br />Some big changes coming this year, we bought a much newer combine and are construction our first grain bin. Future blog posts on those will be coming. Other than that the only thing that has happened this year has been bookwork and rebuilding lower units on planter to get ready for this spring.<br /><br />Finally started planting corn this past Saturday, which was a full two weeks earlier than last years start. It was a little wetter than we would have liked but I was able to get all the refuge corn planted, and can now take all that nasty insecticide stuff off the planter.<br /><br />Sunday I went out and tested the sprayer and sprayed the waterways that had some giant ragweed problems the last couple years-hopefully a shot of banvel will take them out.<br /><br />The weather for the next week looks FANTASTIC so I am taking the next couple days off work, and with any luck will finish up this weekend-well before the time we started last year. <br /><br />We are about 75% beans this year so hopefully this great weather holds into bean planting season-which should start the last week of April.Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-40271772213746491432009-12-06T11:33:00.000-08:002009-12-06T11:51:23.059-08:00Done Harvesting-Good Riddance 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmNPiKvP0nXOuXx0gYvUZVNOTTTigJCqqQAntE6nDItAMVy32aEXND0W-dScpnBy1D40CvJ0l1oFLL4gTg_Fr4BUU5Hta9Pac_2TntHv5Ais83qK6I3x-9f-U00PCA9ugI9e2fLmRfyKG/s1600-h/Photo0023.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmNPiKvP0nXOuXx0gYvUZVNOTTTigJCqqQAntE6nDItAMVy32aEXND0W-dScpnBy1D40CvJ0l1oFLL4gTg_Fr4BUU5Hta9Pac_2TntHv5Ais83qK6I3x-9f-U00PCA9ugI9e2fLmRfyKG/s400/Photo0023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412213174788490882" /></a><br />Finished Dec 5, 9:00am. Never thought I would say Decemeber for finishing harvest-what is is 1965? Grandpa used to tell stories about picking corn at thanksgiving.<br /><br />The last area was so wet that we had to wait for ground to freeze to finish it. I have never seen snow on the corn head-or had ice build up in the combine. After we go the combine back home in the shop I went to get the trucks and returned to a big puddle of water in the shop. I thought it had blown a hydraulic hose or resovoir split or something. Turned out to be water running from the combine-ice had accumulated from picking he frozen corn and was thawing out. That was a first for me, hopefully the last.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3rwTANc9SH18qzMJ0XF3j9pfMvAlG9lmvkch5-vr5XKRcyHyr2dILTk04ysdpgQYw_VYoEEYYcmzHDTQ1mHID9EZ7yBQGw-NUymexI8d0s5PYhcyt7IJ2ntI-_WB3JhRmtAPwMGCFAxl/s1600-h/Photo0025.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3rwTANc9SH18qzMJ0XF3j9pfMvAlG9lmvkch5-vr5XKRcyHyr2dILTk04ysdpgQYw_VYoEEYYcmzHDTQ1mHID9EZ7yBQGw-NUymexI8d0s5PYhcyt7IJ2ntI-_WB3JhRmtAPwMGCFAxl/s400/Photo0025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412209103987105506" /></a><br /><br />Now that fieldwork is over time to work of farm reports, pay seed bills, get yeild maps together, soil tests, and work with fertilizer suppliers to get next years fertilizer down.Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-1857543405441586102009-11-26T05:45:00.000-08:002009-11-26T06:49:58.327-08:00Happy Thanksgiving EveryoneI just finished up a Thanksgiving morning run, just me and dog, 3 miles. I found a lot of parallels between this year farming and my run this morning, and learned another lesson from my dog.<br /><br />This has undoubtedly been my hardest year farming, a cold wet spring made planting late, a cold summer delayed crop maturity, and the wettest fall even the old farmers can remember. They say we will be saying "this is nothing compared to 2009" to the next generation of farmers. It could really get you down if you let it.<br /><br />Like most of this year it was cold, windy, and blowing rain this morning. I had hoped to start harvest again Fri or Sat but this morning reminded me it was going to be another wait for a dry window. I would not have gone running except I have been out of town for a few days and not run, and the dog had been staring at me since I got up-guilting me into running. If not for him I would have went back to bed or just stayed in the house.<br /><br />As we headed out I tucked my head into the wind and started down the road. Once we got past the neighbors house I let Earl off the leash and he was tearing up and down the road like it was the perfect spring day. I could see the joy in his eyes and he jumped back and forth across the ditch-looking for the perfect piece of grass to whiz on.<br /><br />As the run went on I finally got warmed up, began to feel better, and remembered there are many who would give anything to be able to run, or have a dog, or even walk.<br /><br />It made me think that I need to stop whining about challenges and focus on some things I need to be grateful about on the farm.<br /><br />1) That my Grandparents made the sacrifies that enabled me to have a farm to start farming on-without that base I doubt I could have started on any scale.<br />2) That my Parents and Aunt and Uncle bought another piece of land a few years ago.<br />3) That I have a landlord who had the forsight to rent not just for the highest dollar-but to someone who will take care of the land-and to give a fair deal on rent-and give a beginning farmer a chance.<br />4) That I have the physical ability to farm, I know there are some out there who for age, disease, injury or whatever would love to farm but cannot.<br />5) My family, they get to put up with a lot of the stress of farming, without recieving as many of the rewards.<br />6) Friends and neighbors, who have helped drive trucks, offered equipment when they were done, etc. That support system gives such mental comfort knowing you aren't alone, and allows one to take chances on growth that I would not take without that fall back.<br />7) Having a regular job that is flexible enough to let me farm, provide insurance, and stability for my kids futures.<br />8) That I live in a country that provides the opportunity to and freedom choose your own destity.<br />9) Advice from experienced farmer friends with nothing to gain-just willing to help a rookie.<br /><br />I could go on and on, unless you are a farmer some of it may seem trite-but to me it is all pricesless.<br /><br />And like Earl, who at the end of our run was just as happy as at the beginning, and ready to go again-instead of focusing on the challenges am going to remind myself to be thankful for just having the ability and opportunity to farm and will look forward to doing it again next year!<br /><br />Edit: I am also thankful that my favorite uncle (who totaled his car last night) is unhurt and able to spend Thanksgiving with us.<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving Everyone, God BlessPaul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-34805586253118776972009-11-18T08:24:00.000-08:002009-11-18T08:28:48.120-08:00Harvest Progress!!!I am glad to say the blog hasn’t been updated in a couple weeks because we have been too busy harvesting. This has certainly been an interesting harvest so far. <br /><br />Beans are completed and corn is now 80% done. We would be done if the elevators were able to stay open more than a few hours a day, but they are simply getting overwhelmed with wet corn. We have received over 4” of rain in the last 3 days, so I don’t expect to be back in the field before Thanksgiving. Hopefully this will give the grain elevators time to catch up on drying and be ready when harvest resumes. We could be done in two to three full days.<br /><br />The most recent complication is the propane shortage. So much propane has been used to dry corn in the Midwest that there is now a shortage and the suppliers can’t get the product. We are down to 10% in the home tank, some elevators have actually not opened on some days because they don’t have the propane to dry the corn.<br /><br />I have learned some really good lessons this year which I will detail more over the winter. First real dealings with paid employees, first wet harvest, stuck trucks, etc. <br /><br />Despite all the challenges and frustrations I am finding more and more farming is a lot like running a marathon. <br />1) More preparation than actual event<br />2) During the hard parts you really question what you are doing and is it worth it<br />3) After it is done (or almost done in this case) you feel rewarded and can't wait to do it again.Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-48963005731482553632009-10-27T17:36:00.000-07:002009-10-27T17:45:01.143-07:00No harvesting this week-good video from NCGAThere has been so much misinformation in the press again lately. I am so tired of hearing about "Corporate Farms", I still haven't ever met a corpration at any farm meeting or in the line at the elevator. Every farmer I have ever met is a family farmer, they have gotten larger-often because they are supporting multiple families and must be larger.<br /><br />From what I see many people are trying to use the term "Sustainability" as a weapon against family farmers. In an attempt to gain market share for their products they are spreading the misconception that food not grown on small garden farms is unhealthy, or that it is bad for the environment-despite so much scientific evidence to the contrary.<br /><br />Some really good facts in the last 30 seconds of this video to counteract the lies being spread by other groups.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pDlPtoTSego&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pDlPtoTSego&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Were it not for family farms and modern production methods we would simply not have enough food to meet the needs for human food, feed, and fuel. What is not sustainable is returning to farming methods of the 1900's.Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-50909090390663053222009-10-23T07:49:00.000-07:002009-10-23T17:07:33.471-07:00FAINALLY-Some Harvesting-But STOP<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3DNyOpvT8ons8fpvKLzntOPyb1kZ78zGOLyjnvxTziHVEDmUqmFRU4HU0rvTV8HLHPMbGs89eFJRD34IvmwwAdQ-zmaB3cio7VZcsSpMdD_qwVTZUioEs4XsjHQRxiTHgHw3ZeKpYlm8/s1600-h/Blog2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3DNyOpvT8ons8fpvKLzntOPyb1kZ78zGOLyjnvxTziHVEDmUqmFRU4HU0rvTV8HLHPMbGs89eFJRD34IvmwwAdQ-zmaB3cio7VZcsSpMdD_qwVTZUioEs4XsjHQRxiTHgHw3ZeKpYlm8/s400/Blog2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395809504906368130" /></a><br />Mix of good and bad. We did get 3 good days Mon-Wed of this week and were able to get in and finish beans. Corn is about 20% done-but last night we ended up with 2" on one farm and 4" on the other.<br /><br />The weather was nice and dew did not come up and we were able to cut beans well into the evening-which is often not the case.<br /><br />Harvesting Video:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eA-uhsHq8W4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eA-uhsHq8W4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />This rain, and the forcast for rain on and off the next 6 days will probably keep much from happening here before Nov 1. Latest harvest I have ever finished is Oct 23, right now I would say that Nov 15 is looking optimistic.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMz2tKmKjhbEaLToN-AFZralvJhY3ojxlBDciPkSNV91sDMml-7TtYXKtzUwAoHNZE2m8MHyFqRqVha77UgXptqUhSz4WeOjSbLBTmPRvU4ZDBKPLbVnwqD-hGTr9cgQIDECtmX0GnTJj/s1600-h/Blog1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMz2tKmKjhbEaLToN-AFZralvJhY3ojxlBDciPkSNV91sDMml-7TtYXKtzUwAoHNZE2m8MHyFqRqVha77UgXptqUhSz4WeOjSbLBTmPRvU4ZDBKPLbVnwqD-hGTr9cgQIDECtmX0GnTJj/s400/Blog1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395809376523211186" /></a>Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-82368854076460519272009-10-09T09:11:00.000-07:002009-10-09T09:33:06.758-07:00Rain Rain-Harvest Started-But BarelyWe did get started harvesting last week and got about 13 acres done-corn was still a little wet. I had hoped to go this week but the picture below says it all.<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiS3bLRLgknSwqB2bgx5EhvZtU9-NH8L8vTdr9dyBP3WB1Kuqrz534pxPxTq3j7spsL4o_lO0ihCYIFObME9tvDYyGlvXS6XDiCRCc3CmLOSQ7TweKPYZ_NU5K4_Kc74yaIM-Ih5Zg7XR/s1600-h/2009RainGauge.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390635045585260898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiS3bLRLgknSwqB2bgx5EhvZtU9-NH8L8vTdr9dyBP3WB1Kuqrz534pxPxTq3j7spsL4o_lO0ihCYIFObME9tvDYyGlvXS6XDiCRCc3CmLOSQ7TweKPYZ_NU5K4_Kc74yaIM-Ih5Zg7XR/s400/2009RainGauge.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.paul-julia.com/images/Harvest09L1.jpg">When it does dry up enough to get back in the field we have about 30 acres of early corn left to finish and then will move to beans-which will undoubtedly be ready by then. The 110 acres of beans should take about 2 days.<br />The later corn is still a little wet but by the time we finish beans it is probably as dry as it is going to get and we will just keep going. This cold forecast isn't going to dry things out very fast.<br />Here is one picure of the harvesting that we did last week-link at the bottom for more pics.</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ7xBQX6qbupposA93Vh73OmiM4uaqAGeBInbGO42W0ez7-8sFXHRLJprqmu2vy3l01GzcaPwiO5KKM2Mit6ew0Fh4jkfYpUPiXA9616ppdlNnkPob8-_C21KPmKrAL6u35_r4MBBd3Mv/s1600-h/IMG_1305Med.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390638914235317602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ7xBQX6qbupposA93Vh73OmiM4uaqAGeBInbGO42W0ez7-8sFXHRLJprqmu2vy3l01GzcaPwiO5KKM2Mit6ew0Fh4jkfYpUPiXA9616ppdlNnkPob8-_C21KPmKrAL6u35_r4MBBd3Mv/s400/IMG_1305Med.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=122753&DisplayType=threaded&setCookie=1">Click here for a few more pictures from last week.</a></div>Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-4024077826597233222009-09-24T17:46:00.000-07:002009-09-24T18:38:05.721-07:00Tribute to Dr. Norman Borlaug<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENruimaLUyl92R-dc0RECk_IqYVNGO7qFPpR9kLbWNdL6kdpdDi8rW7bhCWyIBTADFgLBGIyIGaDkRUIWLAilQVnbr6daMELViaGaFtIFK6Eb10XNWsUF-C5Z0XAbGwBLgI0B1BzYIJZE/s1600-h/Borlaug.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385202493944154898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENruimaLUyl92R-dc0RECk_IqYVNGO7qFPpR9kLbWNdL6kdpdDi8rW7bhCWyIBTADFgLBGIyIGaDkRUIWLAilQVnbr6daMELViaGaFtIFK6Eb10XNWsUF-C5Z0XAbGwBLgI0B1BzYIJZE/s400/Borlaug.gif" /></a><br /><br />I had hoped to report on harvesting this week, but weather is preventing that until next week.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Instead I am overdue to write about something much greater than any single harvest, the death of what I think is in my opinion the greatest "farmer", most likely the greatest man ever to live-Dr. Norman Borlaug. Dr. Borlaug is oftern referred to as the father of the green revolution.<br /><br />At his Nobel Prize Award presentation it was declard that over a Billion (BILLION with a B) people have been saved from starvation due to his lifes work. To put that in perspective he has saved NINETY TIMES more lives than the 11 million Hitler had put to death during WWII.<br /><br />It is really sad to me how few people know someone who saved 90 times more lives than Hitler took. I doubt that 1 in 50 kids under 20 have ever heard his name. He had the misfortune of passing a month after Michael Jackson and it was still wall to wall coverage of the singer's death.<br /><br />The awards given to him are amazing.<br />1) Nobel Peace Price<br />2) Presidental Medal of Freedom<br />3) Congressional Gold Medal<br />4) Several other equivalent honors from Pakistan, India, etc. <br /><br />A combination of awards only won before by 4 others including Dr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandella, and Mother Theresa.<br /><br />If you have a few minutes here are some videos on YouTube very worth watching:<br /><br />Iowa News Story of his Death:<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8aVAxUx7I0&feature=fvw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8aVAxUx7I0&feature=fvw</a> (3 minutes)<br /><br />Short 7 minute biography. Fantastic!<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m2TmEdiXTvc&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m2TmEdiXTvc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Dr. Borlaug talks about hunger<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy2sLKf0oYM&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy2sLKf0oYM&feature=related</a><br /><br />10 minute Humorous Piece/Tribute to Dr. Borlaug from Penn & Teller (language not for kids)<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEBtO25xW-o">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEBtO25xW-o</a><br /><br />You can read more about his life at Wikipedia at: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Borlaug">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Borlaug</a><br /><br />During the 50's Dr. Borlaug led the introduction of high yeilding varietes of wheat combined with modern agricultural production techniques to Mexico, Pakistan, and India. As a result of his work Mexico, which had many starving people due to food shortages. He recognized that the climate in Mexico could support two growing seasons and intruced short season hybrids that allowed them to produce two crops a year instead of just one. Mexico actually became a net exporter of wheat by 1963. In the 60's his work nearly doubled production in Pakistan and India. He did similar work with wheat in China and later with corn and wheat throughout Africa.<br /><br />Dr. Borlaug dedicated his life from his early 20's to his death at 95 to increasing food quality and quantity for the world. At age 72, after many people would have retired he founded "The World Food Prize" to inspire food production. It is a Nobel like $250,000 award presented to the person who does the most to increase food production for the year.<br /><br />Maybe someday his contributions will be known, I hope someday another like him will come along, but I doubt it.<br /><br />"You can’t build a peaceful world on empty stomachs and human misery"-Norman Borlaug.Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-47682451627259951542009-09-20T06:06:00.000-07:002009-09-20T06:15:58.638-07:00Fall is here!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i3Cx8Fd5SYJXuQJJL8UA8eL3u3FqnWQeCTbfza8oMePDeVhezep4b1TILoz6IgNFTE8dYZ20CUfWICnKsNTk9Ggri0ZdjhlfpHOMOXLYSt-7eHGdVT3qu8qat5ZFD3ln2JWlyhYpDNwF/s1600-h/FallCorn09.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383537137213831730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i3Cx8Fd5SYJXuQJJL8UA8eL3u3FqnWQeCTbfza8oMePDeVhezep4b1TILoz6IgNFTE8dYZ20CUfWICnKsNTk9Ggri0ZdjhlfpHOMOXLYSt-7eHGdVT3qu8qat5ZFD3ln2JWlyhYpDNwF/s400/FallCorn09.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Harvest is going to be delayed 1 more week as the corn is just drying really slow. But there are so many other great signs fall is here. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Going to bed at night and hearing the dry corn rustlng in the wind, I love that and is always a sure sign. There are only a couple weeks a year where leaves are that dry before harvested, but it is such a soothing sound going to bed or when I wake up in the middle of the night. Seems I always forget about it until fall is here again.</div><div></div><br /><div>Beans are starting to turn, that means about 3 weeks they will be ready.</div><br /><div>If the weather cooperates and we don't get too much rain we are going to start corn next Sat for sure!<br /></div><div>Maybe you have to be a farmer to appreicate it but I woke up this morning and just spent about 20 minutes drinking my coffee and looking out at the golden corn-easy to lose appreciation for things so beautiful when you see them every day.</div><br /><div></div>On the business side of things I ordered a lot of my seed and fertilizer for next year, and input prices on some fertilizer was half of last year! That was a real pleasant surprise.<br /><div></div>Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613979444305908516.post-1013251694033616142009-09-13T13:27:00.001-07:002009-09-13T13:33:32.304-07:00Harvest starting next weekSome early corn testing 20%, so will start it next Fri. Unfortuntely it is only a 6 acre test plot-but will give us a chance to test if everything is working ok.<br /><br />We should be able to start around the 25th on the corn that did get planted early, majority of it won't be started before 1st week in October.<br /><br />Our beans haven't started turning yet, but I see some are starting to show.<br /><br />Julie and I were down in Alton area for a quick 15th wedding aniversary trip before harvest starts. Sunday afternoon I made it out to visit a friend who farms in that area and get some time on the combine-that got the juices flowing. They were picking corn about 21% moisture. Saw a couple beans fields in that area that are very close to being read.Paul Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453806509721627198noreply@blogger.com0