Harvest USA Report

HUSA Dec 10 2025 - Shorty Kulhanek

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.

HUSA Dec 9 2025 - Drying Down Corn

HUSA Dec 8 2025 - Larry Hoppe

HUSA Dec 5 2025 - Potato Harvest

HUSA Dec 4 2025 - Washing Spuds

HUSA Dec 3 2025 - Andrew Torsius

 Andrew Torsius from Torsius Tater Farms in Grassy Lake, Alberta, discusses the evolution in their potato processing methods, highlighting a shift from dry grading to washing. Initially, potatoes were taken directly from storage for shipment, with the factory handling washing. Over the past 15 years, the farm has adopted washing to reduce transportation costs and manage plant water quality issues in Calgary and Lethbridge by minimizing dirt and mud challenges.
- **Environmental and Operational Concerns**: The discussion touches on the environmental concerns regarding industrial waste affecting municipal sewage systems, specifically the problem of silt and mud from potato washing. To manage waste, Torsius implements a system using settling trenches and pits to clean and recycle water, maintaining efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
- **Logistics and Economics of Potato Processing**: The conversation covers the timeline and resources involved in processing, with around 1,000 tons requiring a week to ten days to wash, depending on factory orders. Comparing the costs and logistics of washing versus dry grading, it is noted that washing is slower and might necessitate specific conditions, but dry grading can be done faster. Staff requirements remain similar for both processes.
- **Miscellaneous Discussions**: Other topics include logistical details about equipment used in operations, with conversation briefly mentioning ropes and tarp handling for transportation. Additionally, there are remarks about the quality of red potatoes used for French fries.
 

HUSA Nov 28 2025 - Mike Bashutski

The conversation discusses the impact of a significant snowstorm on agricultural activities in the Canada and Valley City region. Heavy snowfall has delayed corn harvesting, and previous storm damage has affected soybean crops, highlighting ongoing challenges for farmers. The discussion also touches on how unexpected weather patterns have disrupted typical farming operations and logistics. Conditions like sticky wet snow present difficulties in machinery operations, such as freezing in grain combines and impacts on grain carts' efficiency.
Discussants commented on the challenges of storing harvested corn, especially with moisture levels between 21-25%, which forced farmers to use grain bags as a temporary solution due to damaged infrastructure and limited capacity at grain elevators. This was exacerbated by previous storm damage causing widespread destruction to equipment and storage facilities. Moreover, there's a scarcity of dryers, further complicating the harvesting process.
The conversation also touched on personal anecdotes and challenges, such as frozen vehicle doors and the use of a crowbar to access a bus. Discussions about regional weather variations highlighted diverse snow impacts across locations, causing logistical and operational dilemmas for travel and continuous work. The talk concluded with implications of these challenges for future planning and potential systemic adjustments in farming practices.

HUSA Nov 26 2025 - Association Update