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Allan in NE · Aug 4, 2010

Thought you guys might like to see the dirty wheat that I'm helping the neighbor with.

Hope the weeds are dried down enough by Saturday to start threshing. Lots of lambsquarters so it might take longer, maybe a week or 10 days?

Allan

tractormiallis · Aug 4, 2010

Doesnt look that weedy at first untill I look at the windrow. Might take ten days to dry with that windrow tight up, but thats needed to feed into your combine. All said and done, should be a good yield, and most importantly youre helping a neighbor, 90 at that, who was let down by those big hot shot operators who turned their noses up at him in the name of time and profit.

Allan in NE · Aug 4, 2010

Well,

We can't really blame the harvest crew, I guess. After I'm into it, I can see where straight cutting just isn't gonna get it.

Just too much darn wet trash; so, we'll do 'er the old fashioned way.

Think he'll like what comes out of that old Gleaner's tank tho. A little drying time on those weeds will really make a world of difference. :>)

Sure hope I can salvage 25-30 bushel an acre for him anyway.

Allan

snoop-nc · Aug 4, 2010

I know different areas of the country "do" the same job "differently", but I was wondering why you would swath wheat that is ready to harvest instead of just straight combining??

Combine vs swath & thresh??

Isn't it more expensive to do the two step harvest vs single step??

Is it a different type/variety that what I would see here in the southeast (NC)??

Other reasons??

Thanks for your photos.

Rick

MN Scott · Aug 4, 2010

Heck that looks like clean wheat compared to what some of the oats can look like around here. We have giant rag weed around here. On a wet year like this year it can get 8 foot tall. I should have taken a picture of the neighbors oats field. Some pretty thick strips of giant rag, taller than his swatter. After three days he ran it all thru his 6620 without plugging. When you talk about sunflowers I envision the 6 ft tall ones with the big yellow heads. With sunny dry days you should have no trouble at all combining that Saturday.

Rob in Ore · Aug 4, 2010

OK, I have some silly questions...
Around here (Western Oregon) they just combine wheat (and oats), no swathing first. Is this a regional difference? Because of our dry summers?
And, what"s a lambsquarter?

Bill in Colo · Aug 4, 2010

My snl had to swath a circle of barley last week grain was hard dough, and the weeds were overtaking it, one advantage is that hail won't damage it as much.

MN Scott · Aug 4, 2010

If you run all that green stuff thru a combine your grain tank will have about as much green trash as grain. Here in SE MN small grain has to be swathed as it never gets dry enough or is never weed free enough to take straight.

flying belgian · Aug 4, 2010

I will be very surprised if that's not 40 bushel wheat.

fixerupper · Aug 4, 2010

Gotta be swathed to wilt the weeds.It's no fun climbing into the grain tank to kick down bridged up weedy grain that looks like sileage on a 100 degree day.

paul · Aug 4, 2010

I was gonna say, for here in MN, that would look like real clean stuff. We'd still swath it because the 92% humidity & fog the last few days won't let it dry down on the stem, but 3 days laying and the combine would hit it no problem.

Different areas, different needs.

--->Paul

Bruce from Can. · Aug 5, 2010

Here in southern Ontario we will swath particularly if a field of small grain is under seeded to hay. If you don't swath the green hay you will pick up will bung the cylinder,once dry she goes right thru. The straw around here is worth getting to, so you want to cut as low as you can. $25-$30 per large square bale in the field. Still have Quite a few dairy farms around, and clean small squares will bring $3.00 in a kicker wagon. Might not seem so rich if you are selling but, We buy around 2oo large square to go with what we grow ourselves, takes a few bucks. Last spring large square bales out of storage where selling for $40 each. So we swath to get the straw.

VADAVE · Aug 5, 2010

In Virginia we think that's dry and pretty clean.
When you look across a field that looks green then it's going to be tough going.
Set the combine right and the green stuff goes out the back and only the wheat falls through.
If you're only getting 25-30 bu/ac the weeds have too much growing space. I push for 100 bu/ac usually get 70 contract 50. This year I refused to grow wheat at because the basis was so high I couldn't cover costs at 50 bu/ac. That changed about christmas when they didn't have the volume they wanted.
What are you growing Hard Red or Durm; here it Soft Red.

IaGary · Aug 5, 2010

In your arid part of the world Allan, I bet the dust will be blowing out the back end of your combine by Saturday.

Did you get it all cut?

Looks like pretty decent wheat still.

Gary

Allan in NE · Aug 5, 2010

I had to send my good camera in to the factory to be serviced and wish I had it now to show better pictures. This is one weedy mess (some places are nothing but a sea of sunflowers) and this camera just doesn't do it justice. :>(

Had to quit about dark last night when the wheat got tough. That coupled with the bindweed really made for hard going.

I'm guessing about 15 acres to go. It's drying pretty fast tho. With any luck maybe we can start threshin' 'er out this weekend or the first part of next.

Good spots and bad. There are areas out there that I know will make 50; other areas where it blew all winter will only shake out 5.

If it averages 30 bushel tho, we'll all be doing a jig. :>)

Allan

Richard G. · Aug 5, 2010

Just asking. Why was the wheat not sprayed to kill weeds?

Chad Franke · Aug 5, 2010

Difference in area. Around where I am and where Allan is, 100 bushel wheat would only happen on irrigated. Heck, 70 bushel dryland wheat would be a once in a liftime deal! I can only remember one year, one field that made 50 bushel growing up...

Allan in NE · Aug 5, 2010

Just do not think it's "appropriate" for me to comment on another man's operation. It’s just none on my concern, not my farm and none of my business one way or another.

End game is that it is what it is and now we're dealin' with it.

But when the dust finally settles, betcha we’re gonna have that darned wheat in the bin and in the bin with a good, respectable grade. :>)

Allan

Allan in NE · Aug 5, 2010

Yes Sir,

It's a whole different game out here on the high plains.

Further, if you have never seen lambsquater stand a tank full of grain up on end, ya just haven't lived yet. Not to mention that darned "silage" smell. :>)

Allan

CBL95 · Aug 5, 2010

Im sorry you have to deal with giant ragweed too. we can go through any crop with out pluging the combine up with

Allan in NE · Aug 5, 2010

It's worse than the camera is showing.

Would bet that my friend would be willing to give you anything over 30. :>)

Allan

Allan in NE · Aug 5, 2010

It's worse than the camera is showing.

Would bet that my friend would be willing to give you anything over 30. :>)

Allan

RusselAZ · Aug 5, 2010

Lambsquarter is better than spinach.

maplehillfrm · Aug 5, 2010

(quoted from post at 14:28:04 08/05/10) It's worse than the camera is showing.

Would bet that my friend would be willing to give you anything over 30. :&gt

Allan

hey allan seems like you have been busy,, and that is keeping you out of a little bit of trouble huh??

I have a question for you since you are "into" wheat now, I am planning on planting some wheat this fall to add some nitrogen to the ground for my crops,, can I just bale the wheat - or rye - without combining it and use the bales fro straw to mulch the crops?

I think this is possible but wanted an opinion, I do not have a combine and will not plant enuff to make it worth any ones while,, but I could use the straw,, I will probaly put in only maybe 5 acres,,

I know this is off topic, but I appreciate the help, good luck,pat

Rich Iowa · Aug 5, 2010

Allan- you keep posting all these pictures of the plains, I just might have to make a trip out that way to check the area out. Definately a change of scenery from central Iowa. Love the pictures, keep 'em coming.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 5, 2010

This is a reply to MAPLEHILLFRM. I grow rye and cut it when it starts to fill out with grain. If the winds is blowing you can see the pollen blowing in the breeze, Stalks are light greenish in color. Mow it and let lay there for a few days and you will see it turn a nice golden color. Bale it for straw. I have not had trouble with mice in it either. I'm in Pa.

mazemeister · Aug 5, 2010

I do the same as mt. man says. you want to mow the grain before it sets viable seed, otherwise you'll just be planting grain in your vegetable field. i just mow it low with a sickle when it's pollinating, let it dry down, rake it into a windrow, and bale it. works great.

i dunno how growing a cereal would "add" nitrogen to the soil, though...

IndianaRed · Aug 5, 2010

So when you say threshing, will you be running a combine back through the windrows?

maplehillfrm · Aug 5, 2010

(quoted from post at 00:18:49 08/06/10) I do the same as mt. man says. you want to mow the grain before it sets viable seed, otherwise you'll just be planting grain in your vegetable field. i just mow it low with a sickle when it's pollinating, let it dry down, rake it into a windrow, and bale it. works great.

i dunno how growing a cereal would "add" nitrogen to the soil, though...

I am new at the cerial grain thing,, but what I have read it absorbs it from the ground and replaces more than it used??? unless I am off on that,,, I am going to use it fro a cover crop and the straw for pumpkin coverage,, I tiknk it will be better than just having grass and weeds grow plus I will be able to use the straw,, maybe I read the researx stuff wrong,, allan sorry for hijacking your post I will start another one to get answered on,, have fun,pat

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