Emma: End of the 2011 Season

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Emma Misener

Seven months ago my family and I left Elk City, Okla. to start our 2011 harvest season. It seems as if we should still be prepping for the long trip north, but instead I find myself trying to summarize the 2011 harvest and it is more difficult than I expected. I could say it was the best year ever, or that it was the worst – but I won’t say either.

This year was, shall I say, interesting. It was stuck in the middle.

This year has been especially difficult because it was the first year without Dad. As most of you know he passed away last December, and if that wasn’t hard enough – the crop in the southern states was very poor due to the drought. As we progressed north it started to look up, but flooding in the northern states prevented us from our typical wheat harvest stops. However, the fall harvest went well considering it wasn’t the best crop they have had in the area.

The ending of a harvest season is bittersweet. We will celebrate the holidays, but this isn’t going to be our down time because this time of year is a very busy part of our business as we inspect combines, make repairs and restore antique tractors. Sometimes I almost wish we harvested year round, but toward the end I am wishing to be back home in Elk City.

I am looking forward to the next year’s harvest and praying that it will produce a fantastic harvest that is both safe for harvesters and farmers. Thank you All Aboard Wheat Harvest and those of you who follow our journey. I absolutely love hearing your stories and comments – it’s what I’ll miss most this winter!

I wish you all a holy and blessed Christmas, and a prosperous New Year.
Be safe and God bless.

Posted in Emma, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Harvest: A reality in whose world?

Posted on November 29, 2011 by All Aboard

On the evening of October 13th The History Channel revealed their newest show, “Harvest,” to the entire nation. Featuring three diverse harvest crews, including my family’s (Roland Harvesting), this hour-long premiere has initiated quite the controversial buzz in the world of agriculture. Throughout the four episodes of watching and analyzing “Harvest,” I personally experienced a variety of feelings from anticipation to nervousness to excitement to annoyance to surprise and finally ending with contentment.

Being in front of the cameras and seeing the other side of things certainly gave our crew and family a different perspective on this show. The film crew followed us for multiple weeks throughout the summer and they spent hundreds of hours collecting raw footage from the field. Although the film crew had their own agenda, they often times worked the same long, hard hours as we did and endured the heat and dust to capture just the perfect shots. (Unfortunately, due to History Channel’s request, I was not able to post any information about the film crew with us this summer. It truly was quite an experience to see how they operated around all of their equipment!)

Anyone who has experienced harvest firsthand and watched the show can recognize that things were portrayed quite differently than they actually are “out in the field.” The important thing is that all the circumstances and concerns that History Channel has focused on are all plausible situations on harvest. One has to remember that this type of show is not being represented as a documentary, but rather more of a “reality show.” I believe my parents put it best. “We (the harvest crews) were simply the paint and the producers were the artists. They made a masterpiece with their own thoughts and interpretations intertwined in it. We were merely the base of the artwork.” Continue reading →

Posted in All Aboard, Megan | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Emma: Nearing the End

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Emma Misener

Soybean harvest went well, and the fire was our only difficulty. The 2011 corn harvest was no unlike soybeans and had its own difficulties.

In August a few storms went through with very high winds and heavy rain. This type of weather flattens smaller fall crops that are in their growing stages, and unfortunately once flat always flat. Corn cannot just spring back up. We spent our corn harvest picking up corn that was on the ground. In my opinion, weather wasn’t the only factor – and the variety may have played a roll. I say this after seeing a field where two varieties were planted in one field flopping from one pass to the next. One variety was completely flat, the other was not. I suppose the one variety was not able to withstand the fierce weather conditions.

The free-standing corn was not a problem to pickup. We could drive almost seven miles per hour harvesting around 200 bushel per acre corn. The only problem we really had was getting the bushels away. With the flat corn we were only able to drive around three miles per hour and averaging 180 bushels per acre. That is quite a difference. The moisture surprisingly did not vary much at all.

Even with difficulties that Joel had with picking up corn and climbing in and out of the cab, he never lost his sense of humor. Even when the rest of use were at our wits end. I guess we can be thankful this is a fantastic fall – like we had last year in this area. The temperatures are still in the 50′s and even though it has gotten chilly at night, we’re willing to deal if it means no snow.

Erv came back for another visit! He put his truck driving skills to work. We were so happy to have Erv, but since corn harvest has past he has returned home. Aunt Sonja and my cousin Lee have also returned home, just last week. That time is coming for all of us as we are winding down for the year and tying up loose ends here and there. We’ll soon start the long haul home, but for now we’re helping out our farmer Dave with his loose ends.

Here’s a few photos of corn harvest.
emma_cornrockrapids
This corn is a little tangled, but by far not the worst we saw.

emma_cornrockrapids
Sometimes it was really hard to see where you needed to go. Who knew that driving down corn rows could be so hard?! With the tangled corn, I quickly learned how to drive an even straighter path, and half-way guess where I needed to be. Not exactly what I was hoping to experience this year.

emma_cornrockrapids
When the corn was standing tall, and we were getting the bushels out, it was rather fun! It’s amazing how many acres and bushels you can get out in a day with two combines, two carts, numerous gravity wagons and seven trucks. Time really does fly when you’re having fun!

emma_cornrockrapids
Corn harvest this year did come with a shower or two here and there, but even if we did have moisture, we were back at it the next day just like that!

emma_cornrockrapids
Mositure came, but didn’t stop us.

emma_cornrockrapids
A few low clouds.

emma_cornrockrapids
Very pretty. I think anyway.

emma_cornrockrapids
Harvesting into the sunset.

emma_cornrockrapids

After seven months out on the road I’m ready to be home again. There is just something about waking up in the same town night after night, not to mention the comforts of home. Another week or so and I’ll be checking in from Elk City, Okla., and let me tell you that I can’t wait!

Until then, Be safe and God bless!

Posted in Emma, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Emma: Soybean Wrap Up

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Emma Misener

It has been super busy around the Misener Family household, and I can’t believe how the time flies. Fall harvest has come and gone. The last time I updated you all we were kicking off fall harvest, but today I can officially say that the 2011 harvest season has come to a close. It’s a bittersweet ending.

I wanted to share a few fall harvest stories, since this harvest was not without difficulties. My combine caught fire on the last day of cutting when chaff build up met a hot hydraulic line. It was dry, and windy so even a small fire can be bad. We had been taking precautions to avoid fires by blowing the excess chaff from the machine, but it apparently wasn’t enough. Dan, Joel, Lee and I fought the fire as best we could and emptied all the extinguishers we had, but it wasn’t enough. The 40 mile per hour wind helped this fire get out of control fast. The fire department did get called and while we waited for them we fought the fire with one shovel and our feet.

Two hours, five fire trucks and an ambulance for precaution later, we had the fire out. Luckily it didn’t reach the corn, and if it weren’t for the teamwork we had it could have resulted a lot differently.

emma_soybeanrockrapidsfire
This is the field post-fire. The ground is worked where the fire was, and it’s not exactly a small are. I didn’t get any pictures of the actual fire – because I was busy fighting it.

The soybeans this year averaged around 45 bushels per acre, nine percent moisture, and 58 pound test weight. Overall it was a good year. We did run into some green vines while cutting, and it took a little extra time.

emma_soybeanrockrapids
Cutting soybeans.

emma_soybeanrockrapids
This is the last field of soybeans that we harvested.

emma_soybeanrockrapids
More soybean harvest.

Be safe and God bless!

 

Posted in Emma, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Emma: Fall Harvest Grand Opening

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Emma Misener

Fall harvest has started for the Misener family! We are on day three of cutting and the soybeans are looking good. We do see green stalks here and there, but we’re running through the acres nicely.

My Aunt Sonja and cousin Lee have joined us to help out. Sonja is running one of our combines, and has in the past. Lee was here for a couple days before going back and will come back next week when he can get off work. We really do appreciate all their hard work, and of course we love spending time with them.

Here’s a few photos from our last three days.

emma_rockrapidssoybeanharvest
The first field of beans in 2011. Dan is setting the combine to soybeans. The combine has a particular setting that is different from wheat because the seeds are different sizes. Finding those setting can be a challenge.
emma_rockrapidssoybeanharvest
I love to see how clean the ground looks when a field of soybeans is done. Everything is looking crisp and neat.
emma_rockrapidssoybeanharvest
The way I would describe what wheat chaff looks like is sawdust. It’s very fine and feels like sawdust.

emma_rockrapidssoybeanharvest

emma_rockrapidssoybeanharvest
The beans are testing around 10 percent moisture and that is where they should be. The elevators around here will take beans that test between eight and 13 percent moisture.

emma_rockrapidssoybeanharvest
We are cutting directly on the ground. A two inch, or less, stem is what is left behind. We cut soybeans so low becasue the beans actually grow all the way down at the bottom of the stem. Depending on the crop you can as many as 200 pea-sized beans in just one stem.

I’m glad to be harvesting again, especially soybeans. I think beans are my favorite crop to harvest. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and maybe the way a field is crisp and clean when completed suits me.

Be safe and God bless.

Posted in Emma, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Emma: Soybeans and Corn Outlook

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Emma Misener

We’ve been staying right on our farmer’s place in Rock Rapids. It’s in the country and we’re parked right next to fields of corn and soybeans. These particular fields aren’t what we’ll be harvesting, but it will give you an idea how close harvest is getting.

It’s likely we’ll be done with our soybean harvest before we get to the corn. Dan thinks we should be able to harvest at least by the end of the week, but I think we’ll be testing as early as tomorrow. We are crossing out fingers and hope that we will be harvesting soon and that it will be just as good as last year. Let’s just hope the weather stays nice. Fall harvest will be complete before we know it.

emma_rockrapidssoybeans

There is quite a variation in this field of soybeans.

emma_rockrapidssoybeansjesse

Toward the top of the stalk the beans are still soft, but are much more mature.

emma_rockrapidssoybeans

At the bottom they're green, and very moist.

emma_rockrapidscornjesse

The stalks are still quite green.

emma_rockrapidscorn

The stalks are turning, but still mostly green.

emma_rockrapidscorn

Corn harvest looks to be good this year!

emma_rockrapidscorn

The corn is starting to dent.

Be safe out there on the roads during the upcoming fall harvest. A few farmers are already on the move. Keep your eyes peeled!

Be safe and God bless.

Posted in Emma, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Emma: Last Move of the 2011 Season

Posted on September 24, 2011 by Emma Misener

The Misener Family is headed to Rock Rapids, Iowa. This will be our last move of the 2011 season. The crops are progressing quite nicely. They are turning from green to brown, and ready to harvest. This area had an early frost, and some crops weren’t ready for a cold snap. This may result in smaller soybeans that may be green, and wet. Let’s just hope this isn’t the case, and we have a fantastic fall like we did last year in the South Dakota/Iowa area.

As we wait on the fall crops to mature we’re working on a few odds and ends. As I’ve mentioned in my previous post, Thad and Christoph are no longer here so it seems like an empty house with just Mom, Dan, Joel, and I to take care of business. My Aunt Sonja and cousin Lee will be helping us out off and on throughout the fall season. We don’t run as many combines during fall harvest as we do during wheat harvest. The farmer we’re cutting for has hired men of his own to help out with the trucking side of things. We’ll be running three of our combines through soybean harvest. We’ll then move to corn and run only two machines. Our trucks will be hot on the road trying to keep up with us. This means if you’re driving – watch out for truck traffic while harvest is still full throttle.

Since we’ve moved to Rock Rapids we miss the Price family (Dave, Julie and Andy). Our visit was enjoyable and we shared a lot of laughs with good friends. We have been in the Sioux Falls area for nearly a month now, so we’re ready to move on. It looks like soybean harvest is about a week away.

Until next time, Be safe and God bless!

Posted in Emma, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thank You: 2011 Wheat Harvest Wrap-Up

Posted on September 13, 2011 by All Aboard

After months of unpredictable weather, including everything from drought conditions in the south to extreme temperatures in the plains and the always unpredictable hail and rain, 2011 has truly been an exciting and noteworthy wheat harvest.

All of us at DuPont Crop Protection would like to thank everyone who made the 2011 All Aboard Wheat Harvest Tour™ possible, especially our hard-working correspondents and guest correspondents working to bring in the wheat and the High Plains Journal team.

From wheat and weather conditions, adventures and celebrations to their daily harvest challenges and successes, Jada, Emma, Jenna, Megan and Scott did a great job of keeping us up to date on the busy lives of wheat harvest crews who are working to feed the world.

We’d also like to thank our loyal followers who have trekked through this year’s harvest with us and continue to support America’s wheat industry.

With a successful harvest behind us, it’s time for our teams to make their way home and get ready for next season. Thanks for a great harvest and please keep it safe.

For more information contact crew@allaboardharvest.com.

Posted in DuPont | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Emma: Remembering 9.11.01

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Emma Misener

Like most American’s I remember where I was on September 11, 2001. I was harvesting wheat, barley, and flax in Carrington, North Dakota. It was a wet year and had rained that morning, so I got to sleep in. If fact, I was sleeping when the first plane hit the towers. We were just like everyone else in this country and sat glued to the television as history unfolded before us. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and was baffled that there were people in the world that could do such a thing – and that’s when the second plane hit. We all know that awful feeling we felt that day.

Ten years goes by quickly. I was only 13 years old, but it definitely made an impression. As we remember those men and women who lost their lives, keep in mind the bravery that was shown on that fateful day. I pray that people will never forget what happened that day, and I take pride in being an American and the country we live in – and often take for granted.

Thank you to all of the brave service men and women, those in public service, and the everyday men and women who keep us safe.

I found a few quotes that struck me, and I’d like to share a few of them with you all.

“Terrorism against our nation will not stand.”
-George W. Bush -Remarks at Emma Booker Elementary School. Sarasota, Florida -delivered 11 September 2001, 9:30 a.m. EDT

“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.”
-President George W. Bush, November 11, 2001

“Now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It’s a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning. It’s also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend – even a friend whose name it never knew.”
-President George W. Bush, December 11, 2001

“Our enemies have made the mistake that America’s enemies always make. They saw liberty and thought they saw weakness. And now, they see defeat.”
-President of the United States, George W. Bush

Here is a video I also found on the internet that touched me. It makes me think of my Dad. He loved his country so dearly, and I am so grateful he passed that on to me.
God bless the USA!

Click to view this lovely patriotic video!

‘I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one Nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all’

Be safe and God bless.

Posted in Emma, Uncategorized, Videos | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Emma: Time’s Up

Posted on September 10, 2011 by Emma Misener

Our visitors, Grandpa and Grandma Green, left last week in their RV to head back to Montana. I’m so grateful they came to visit, and I miss them already. Christoph’s six week vacation is also coming to an end, and Thad will be heading back home, too.

Christoph will have to head back to school, but my guess is he’ll be back for another visit. Thad had to get back to his family, and farm in Nebraska. We enjoyed our time with both of them and have enjoyed them being a part of our crew. I’m glad they both had the opportunity to experience harvest. Both of them have been adopted into the Misener family, and now they’ll have to come back, soon.

emma_siouxfallsgandggreen
Grandpa and Grandma Green
emma_prices
We liked having you around, Thad! Come back and visit! :)

In the days leading up to Christoph’s departure, he helped us out by building fence, putting up tin on the shed, and loading some bales into the barn. He loved the farm life, and I know he misses being here already.
emma_prices
Christoph unloading the hay rack onto the elevator.
emma_prices
Up it goes into the hay loft.
emma_prices
Andy then takes the bales and stacks them up.

Be safe and God bless.

Posted in Emma, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment