pics from today

Morning came and it was even colder than they predicted. 18.4 below on the indoor outdoor thermometer and 20 below out on the thermometer in the cattle shed.
No problems today. Chores went well and everything worked as it should. Plugged the 1086 in this morning when I went to do chores and after lunch I started it up and went to clear some snow.

Heading out looking back towards home in the mirror.


As you can see the roads are clear but the snow piled up around buildings enough to be a pain.


My supervisor checking things out.


The trusty 1086. Hasnt seen a day of field work in years but somehow it seems to get a couple hundred hours a year on the tach. Starting to show its age. Its a 79 and will turn over 7000hrs this year.


When I got to cliffs house travis was there playing with his 70 and the John Deere model ABG 90 blade he put on last week. Worked good but a little chilly. It was about ten below when I took this pic.


Turns out it's hard to take a picture over your shoulder going backwards trying not to run into anything while the dog wants to lick you in the face.


Here is my 15 acres of corn in 40 inch rows so I can pick it on the ear. Got it planted way to late, it got frosted and now it is still almost 30 percent moisture. I am up for any good ideas on what to do with this mess. If the weather ever gets better I will at least try to open it up and see what I really got out there.


These guys were enjoying the sun even if it was well below zero.


Last but not least wrigley wanted me to get a pic of him driving. Some people say he isnt old enough to drive but he does a really good job. I think I will teach him to drive the pickup next. Then he could do chores with out me having to go with him.

As always Bill, thanks for the pictures. They always make me smile. We are sending more cold your way, 26 below here this morn, but warmer weather is promised for next week.

Had the same thing her, not a lot of snow on the roads, temp was a balmy -14 this morning, but had some 1-2 foot drifts around buildings and in driveways between the trees.
Jim

Good pics Bill. I need a driver like that, have to shovel a path for the worthless mutt we have. Looks about like that around here, but with more hills and woods. Dairy farm west of town had -19F on a weather service mini-station this morning. Got up to 9F this afternoon and my 1937 JD B started on the third pull to haul another load of firewood . Good old winter!!!
Paul

Nice pics, I am curious about the calf feeder. Are the verticle boards that close together to prevent excess hay from being pulled out? I"m just used to feeders that the cattle can get thier heads into, that one looks like it"s made to just allow thier mouths to get at the hay. What kind of cattle are they? Angus cross? Simmi, holstien, seem to thick for holstien.

Great pictures. It is hard to believe it's so warm here S.Calif, I has to stop and take a cool off time. Stay warm. Stan

Cold here in Rock Island County this morning also, -16 about 5:30. That corn seems to be standing really well. I think it will dry down enough to pick, just not sure how quick. Back in 74 or 75, we had a late spring and early frost, one neighbor had 80 acres of corn that got frosted before it black lined. The kernals shrunk down about the size of popcorn, but it dried down and he combined it in the spring and kept it in a overhead bin for feed without drying. Chris

Great pictures!! We seldom see the sun in central Ohio in the winter. We had zero here at sunset as I fed the cows.

Nice pictures! I really like that 1086. I keep thinking I'm gonna get a 986 or 1086 to go along with the 686 we have now, but it never seems to happen.

Really enjoyed the pics. Even though it's cold, that is what I would rather be doing any day.

Being a former ILLinois Farmer from LaSalle County I appreciate the Pictures.Your Dog reminds me of a little fella I found in the mail box one summer Morning about 1969. He was named Boomer by the kids and he turned out to be a very good help with the cattle when he grew up.He lived out his life on our Farm and never missed a morning Milking even when he got old and feeble. Speaking of Cattle,They would like that corn patch I'll bet.

hey J.C., another lasalle county guy here! you missed a 26 below zero morning up here in earlville today. man, arizona sure does sound nice about now!

Bill, I think you or wife left the freezer doors open as it's pretty darn cold in Peoria. Check and shut them ASAP and maybe it will warm up by Saturday! I assume Wrigley is a CUB fan.

Over and Out - Jim

PS: You ever here of the Cirone family?

How about putting a hot wire around that corn and turning the cows out on it. A guy around here calculated how much corn was in each row and how much corn the cows should eat in a certain time period. Then he would move the hot wire as needed. He had combined stips through it ahead of time where he would need the fence. Just a thought.

You are the heart and soul of America, brother! Seeing pictures like this makes me feel good about this country!

I'm guessing Bill with that corn still @ 30% moisture the TW is somewhere around 50 so it will take a little more of it to do the job but should work or you could get one of those snapper choppers and if you had a feed bunk chop as you need it. I know that is a little far out there but just an idea. I know Hesston used to have a snapper cornhead for their choppers so I'm assuming their competitors did too. Just some ideas I know the deer would love for you to keep doing that every year. BTW I really enjoy your pics especially Wrigley at the wheel.

BillontheFarmer... You Got it Goin' On, And a Great Side Kick!! LOL Nice Photos, keep them Coming We/I Enjoy them, It's just COLD here in N. Ga Larry KF4LKU

Bill,

Great pictures!! I admire the heck out of anyone who can make his living the way you do and are willing to share it with the rest of us.

Stan
Melbourne, FL

If you have cattle to feed, couldn't you chop it stalk and all and feed it like silage?

Can't help but notice there was no tractor chains. We don't get much done in our neck of the woods without chains or FWA, and alot use chains on them. Very cold weather does help no doubt. One out of three years it seems we get ice first, then snow.

I have heard of corn drying down through winter due to the freezing and being ok come spring. A lot of Minnesota corn was picked in the spring back in the seventies and eighty's.

Nice pics. There used to be another guy that would post some good pics on here. He was from across the pond in Wales I think. Does he still post here?

nice pictures,

nice dog too, is he old enough to get a license yet

I can hear your pup now, hurry up with that gate, lunch is getting cold at the house!!

There's another guy from Earlville on here somewhere. I used to live up in Lee County and my grandparents lived in Mendota.