This was the first time in 41 years that I did not help the family chop corn silage. Well actually the first two days. I told my kids a few years ago that I wanted them to learn how to do all the tings needed to keep the farm operation going. I knew I would dominate the activities if I was around in a leadership position. So I have stayed away from different activates in the last few years. This year it was getting started chopping corn silage.
It was too wet yesterday morning to go but the weather was good enough to get everything ready.
MY oldest two sons, my Mother, and my daughter worked together to fill the daughter's silo this weekend. They used our JD 5830 self propelled chopper. The oldest ran the chopper. My Mother and Daughter pulled wagons. My second oldest unloaded at the silo. They did 35 loads starting yesterday afternoon late. They finished mid afternoon today. No problems other than one flat wagon tire.
My youngest two sons worked on filling my youngest son's silo. They used his JD 3950 pull type chopper. They have 30 loads done and will finish filling the silo tomorrow. Funny happening with them. My youngest son called me and told me that I could tell him "I told you so". He forgot to check the chopper blower chute before he started. He plugged it solid and broke the auger chain in the first fifty feet. BIRDS NEST in the spout!!! LOL I always check the chutes on the choppers and silos for birds nests. LOL I bet he will never forget to check them again.
My middle son got done early enough at my daughter's to get things ready at the home farm to chop. They will be filling 10-12'x 300" silage bags. He got the bagger set and everything moved out of the way of the bags. The gravel lot the bags set on turns into over flow parking for "STUFF", as bags are emptied. LOL
The hard part for me is I LOVE chopping corn silage. Me staying away so they could get everything going themselves was tough for me to do. I wanted to call them and asked a hundred questions on how they where doing things. It was hard to do.
I will go out to the home farm tomorrow afternoon and help haul loads. They will have things going by then. The middle two sons will be at work along with my daughter. So my Mother and I will pull loads while my oldest runs the chopper and the youngest unloads at the bag. So the two senile seniors will be teamsters for the operation. LOL
I think that me stepping back, will help them in the long run. They need to learn things while I am around to help if things really go haywire. This stepping back is the hardest thing I have ever done on the farm. I know some of you will understand all of this.
It was too wet yesterday morning to go but the weather was good enough to get everything ready.
MY oldest two sons, my Mother, and my daughter worked together to fill the daughter's silo this weekend. They used our JD 5830 self propelled chopper. The oldest ran the chopper. My Mother and Daughter pulled wagons. My second oldest unloaded at the silo. They did 35 loads starting yesterday afternoon late. They finished mid afternoon today. No problems other than one flat wagon tire.
My youngest two sons worked on filling my youngest son's silo. They used his JD 3950 pull type chopper. They have 30 loads done and will finish filling the silo tomorrow. Funny happening with them. My youngest son called me and told me that I could tell him "I told you so". He forgot to check the chopper blower chute before he started. He plugged it solid and broke the auger chain in the first fifty feet. BIRDS NEST in the spout!!! LOL I always check the chutes on the choppers and silos for birds nests. LOL I bet he will never forget to check them again.
My middle son got done early enough at my daughter's to get things ready at the home farm to chop. They will be filling 10-12'x 300" silage bags. He got the bagger set and everything moved out of the way of the bags. The gravel lot the bags set on turns into over flow parking for "STUFF", as bags are emptied. LOL
The hard part for me is I LOVE chopping corn silage. Me staying away so they could get everything going themselves was tough for me to do. I wanted to call them and asked a hundred questions on how they where doing things. It was hard to do.
I will go out to the home farm tomorrow afternoon and help haul loads. They will have things going by then. The middle two sons will be at work along with my daughter. So my Mother and I will pull loads while my oldest runs the chopper and the youngest unloads at the bag. So the two senile seniors will be teamsters for the operation. LOL
I think that me stepping back, will help them in the long run. They need to learn things while I am around to help if things really go haywire. This stepping back is the hardest thing I have ever done on the farm. I know some of you will understand all of this.