Harvest USA Report

Glen Jones from Greenfield, Iowa discusses experiencing an unusually high amount of snowfall in December, impacting the completion of harvests. A good week of weather is anticipated, which should allow farmers with unfinished harvests due to equipment issues to complete their work.
Glen confirms that harvest in the area is mostly corn, with no soybeans or swathing. Discussions include weather patterns like Chinooks affecting snow melting, affecting road and school bus conditions, causing mud splattering and window visibility issues.
 

Overview of the Cotton Harvest in Floydada, Texas: The conversation involves a discussion with Slick Sanders, a farmer from Floydada, Texas, about the state of agriculture in his area. The milo, corn, and cotton harvests have been completed, with ginning (the process of separating cotton fibers from seeds) still ongoing. Sanders is involved in transporting cotton seeds from gins to oil mills, where the seeds are processed to extract oil and create products like cottonseed meal, which is used as a protein supplement for cattle.
 

- Dave Hermesch, located southeast of Tulsa, discusses the completion of his harvest, which finished before Thanksgiving, except for some cover crop planting interrupted by a mechanical issue. The conversation highlights the challenges and timelines of harvesting, contrasting his earlier finishes with those in colder regions like South Dakota facing snow delays.
- The host shares a personal anecdote from his university days in Alberta, Canada, where he was surprised to learn that spring harvesting is common in certain areas due to snow, portraying geographical variations in agricultural practices.
- Discussion touches on harvesting conditions in Alberta, where snow on roads can delay the process until spring. Surprisingly, yield loss due to rodents was not a reported issue despite these delays.
- The dialogue concludes with the host needing to leave to assist his wife with preparations for a family event, ending on a jovial note about maintaining household harmony, embodying the age-old advice of keeping the peace at home for personal happiness.

Shorty Kulhanek, custom harvester from Colby, Kansas is working in Gettysburg, South Dakota and is experiencing challenges with the corn harvest due to late planting and wet conditions that have been exacerbated by an unseasonable snowfall. Despite some improvements due to warmer weather melting the snow, the moisture content of the corn remains high at 18-18.5%, which exceeds the limit for storage by local processing facilities. As a result, storage options are limited, and Shorty is working with two machines to harvest the remaining 1,100 acres for one farmer and an additional 400-500 acres for another.
Weather and Equipment: A chinook wind has recently helped clear snow from the region, although South Dakota's distance from the mountains reduces its impact. The unavailability of storage and dryers adds to the harvesting difficulties. Shorty uses 12-row headers on his machines. While his equipment, namely gleaner combines, has been performing well, he still faces a significant workload. Hale Broadcasting, the interviewer, extends good wishes and prayers for favorable weather and effective harvest processing conditions.