Made it to central KS tonight and will hopefully make it to our destination in southern Oklahoma tomorrow late afternoon!

My money’s on the John Deere one.

The things some do for entertainment. Ha ha!

All Aboard Wheat Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and Syngenta. Contact Stephanie at stephanie@allaboardharvest.com.

Vincent smoothing out the feeder house with the grinder.

New guy August attempting to grease for the first time.

Dan getting the combine ready for summer harvest.

We’ve already put them both to work fixing the big, green beasts. Thankfully the weather has been fairly mild making working outside a bit easier. Although the temperatures are wonderful and cooler than normal this week, the humidity is not common in this part of the country. We’re used to very dry and hot summers in western Oklahoma with very little, if any, humidity. These 60 to 70 percent humidity days are unusual.

Until it’s time to start our harvest, we’ll be hanging around the shop continuing our preventative maintenance, waiting for that sweet rush we feel when we get behind the big, green wheel!

Be safe and God bless!

All Aboard Wheat Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and Syngenta.
Emma Misener can be reached at emma@allaboardharvest.com

Leon and Montana cut down the tree line to further open up the field to make it easier to use our GPS. The benefits to using GPS in our combine is that we are more productive because the entire header is always full and being completely utilized. Instead of going around the field, we cut up and down the field when using this option.

Oak and Theo just get done dumping Callum and Dave on the go. If you notice by these pictures, everyone has a rider. That is because our new guys are getting trained to properly operate our machinery by returning crew members.

Getting chaffed once again. As you can see by the odd looking extensions, we now have the electric ones which are new to the S-series combines. Anyone who has ever used the manual fold down extensions knows how nice this new option is. Now you can stay in your seat, and with the push of a button, control your grain tank covers.

Kaidence and her dolly Holly pose by the wheat. I think she thinks this is the custom harvester’s version of flowers! : )

Upon arriving to our new field, a combine opens up the field so Theo is able to get our truck off the road and parked. We park at an angle towards the fence so when loaded, we have a straight shot out of the field. It helps prevent us from getting stuck in fields that are soft or sandy as our loaded trucks are very heavy.

All Aboard Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and Syngenta. Jada Bulgin can be reached at jada@allaboardharvest.com.

Well, so far so good. Day one of traveling has been successfully completed. Our friends back home can’t believe we are leaving for wheat harvest when our wheat back in good ol’ Grafton, ND is literally an inch out of the ground. We’ve been taking the same roads to our first destination for so many years, an atlas is obsolete. We’ve got the route down. An example to prove this would be today when Dad announces we will be stopping at the next town, we all object because we know which gas stations along the way have good snacks, and this is NOT one of them.

We made it to southern SD today, shooting for the Mason-Dixon line tomorrow!

Equipment all ready for take-off

Three generations of custom harvesters. Left to right: my brother Brandon, Grandpa Hiladore, Grandpa Bob, and my Dad (another Bob)

In case you forget where you are.

All Aboard Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and Syngenta. For more information contact stephanie@allaboardharvest.com

We got a late start in the fields because of moisture but temperatures up to 99◦ helped the wheat dry out quickly. For the first time since we have been here, we weren’t even pushing the moisture max. We were even cutting wheat with single digit moisture. Due to this factor, we were able to get in a longer day of cutting.

The culprit to our tire problem is pictured top left. Today was the first time I didn’t have my video camera in tow with me and I really wished I had it. Johnny of Holub Tires came out and repaired our tire in no time. Along with some of our crew, he was assisted by a hand-held remote which moved an arm where the tire was chained to. It was neat to watch. You can always tell when someone has done a particular job before and Johnny certainly has!

James and Jessie, the fuel man prepare to fill our service truck up.

A visit from family friend, Billy Hubbard, a welder/ caterer in town.

All Aboard Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and Syngenta. Jada Bulgin can be reached at jada@allaboardharvest.com.

Rocky works for the Campbells and helps man the bins for us.

As Jonny was dumping on the go, we heard him on the radio quickly telling Oak to get the grain cart away from under his auger. Thankfully he was quick to react or we would have had more trouble than a flat front tire on the combine. He had run over a gauge wheel from the air seeder. It must have hit the right spot because the tire was flat before any of us was able to drive over to inspect the damage.

A view of what the wheat looks like west of Olney, Tex. Yields are ranging from 30 to 40 bu./ acre.

Not ten minutes later Callum was broke down too. Thankfully his was just a fan belt- quick fix. Tomorrow morning will be spent trying to hoist the combine with the flat tire up to see if the tire is repairable or if we’ll have to buy a new one. As you can see by the size, it’s not a cheap tire to replace. It is also not an easy tire to find. We are hoping on a repair; but, as fast as the tire went flat, who knows what the case will be. For now we’ll just be happy that  the flat happened towards the end of the day and didn’t get us too behind schedule.

Oak, Jonny, Mike and Leon inspect the damage; A front view of the combine with the flat; Leon tries to figure out how we are going to jack the combine up; Another view of the flat- the ladder is resting on the ground; We off-load wheat from the hopper onto a truck to relieve it of some pressure to make it easier to hoist the combine up.

What I am digging today! GUS.

We received a visit from Kelly with Gus in tow. He is the Campbell’s new dog who is intended to eventually be a cattle dog. For now, he’s a cute and cuddly puppy. I think Kaidence and I were more excited to see him. Our tiny watch dog was on guard!

All Aboard Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and Syngenta. Jada Bulgin can be reached at jada@allaboardharvest.com.

Nothing has really changed for us because we’re still up and down the roads. After we made the long haul home after the 2011 fall harvest we took a well deserved vacation to Montana to spend the holidays with my grandparents. We also headed to Grand Island, Neb., for the U.S. Custom Harvesters Annual Convention. We had a chance to see and catch up with our fellow harvesters.

We visited Davenport, Iowa for the “Gathering of the Green” convention held every other year. The convention is a gathering of antique John Deere enthusiasts, and that’s right up our alley! When things finally settled down we were able to start working on the winter business of repairing combines and antique tractors. The repairing business was sidelined this year because harvest has been early. Harvesters have had to pick up the pace to get their equipment ready, loaded and hauled south much earlier than expected. We welcomed the unanticipated push south because last year’s crop was such a disaster, and this year’s crop looks to be much better.

I am looking forward to this year’s harvest and from the looks of it we’re only a few short days away here in Elk City, Okla. My brother, Dan, went out to check fields earlier today and we’re estimating moisture to be around 18 percent. Hopefully sometime this week we’ll be in the fields testing south of Elk City.

Several harvesters have already started their summer wheat harvest in Texas, and southern Oklahoma. I can’t remember a summer harvest this early, but I guess that’s the life of a harvester. You just never know what to expect.

The Miseners: My mom, Kristy. My brother, Dan, and me, Emma. We couldn’t forget our dogs Heidi and Jesse.

All Aboard Wheat Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and Syngenta.
Emma Misener can be reached at emma@allaboardharvest.com 

Texas – Portions of South and West Texas received up to six inches of rain last week while other areas only received scattered showers. Wheat and oats are being green chopped or baled for hay, and many grain producers have began harvesting or are preparing for harvest. Several who have started to harvest have reported above average yields. The High Plains is seeing irrigated wheat in good condition, while dryland wheat remains in need of moisture. In North Texas harvest was on hold due to rainy conditions.

Oklahoma – Harvest continues to progress, but weekend rain showers stopped combines in southwestern Oklahoma. Wheat in the Panhandle is still in need of rain, although the state received rain in portions of South Central and Southwest districts. Cooler temperatures in the mid to low sixties have continued to halt harvest. Conditions have been rated mostly good, and 80 percent of wheat heading is in soft dough stage—44 points ahead of t he five year average.

Kansas – All districts in Kansas have at least some wheat turning color as the crop progresses an estimated three weeks ahead of schedule. Ninety-eight percent of the wheat is headed, well above the 55 percent from last year, and the five-year average of 46 percent. Wheat in the South Central and Southeast districts are already at 50 percent turning color. Precipitation is not expected in many districts causing the condition to decline slightly, however 84 percent is rated fair or better.

Nebraska – Jointed wheat was at 95 percent, ahead of last year’s 67 percent average. Headed wheat is at 52 percent. The impact of freezing temperatures in the northern Panhandle is still unknown. Cool and dry conditions have slowed the advancement of disease in the South Central and Southeast districts. Wheat conditions are rated 97 percent fair or better.

Colorado – Winter wheat continues to progress and has increased to 98 percent jointed and 64 percent headed. Three percent is beginning to turn color, and most of the crop is rated good to fair condition.

South Dakota – Winter wheat is 76 percent boot and 14 percent headed. Ninety-six percent of spring wheat is emerged, and nine percent in the booth stage.

Updates courtesy of USDA. For more information contact crew@allaboardharvest.com. All Aboard Wheat Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and Syngenta.

You know it has rained for too long when you get to the point that there really aren’t any odds and ends jobs except washing random things like the campers, replenishing the service trucks demand for paper towels and strategically cutting up watermelon. That is when you know it needs to quit raining.  Everyone is asking where all the good jobs have gone.

Kids have it much easier. Colston Debock of Debock Harvesting and Kaidence have been playing and enjoying life. They are oblivious to the boredom around the campground because they actually aren’t bored. The adults are a little less patient with our circumstances. We are sure we will be able to get in the field later today it is just when it will be.

All Aboard Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and Syngenta. Jada Bulgin can be reached at jada@allaboardharvest.com.

Last night we celebrated our Annual Campbell Cookout earlier than normal due to the rain. It is a fun tradition that we always try to fit in at least once. Mike is always at the helm of the grill while Julie and I can be found in the kitchen. We enjoyed a roping lesson from ex-rodeo girl, Kelly and plenty of conversation. Steaks, French bread, potato salad and Julie’s Peach Cobbler with Blue Bell ice-cream were on the menu along with several appetizers.

The guys enjoy a round table discussion on the Campbell patio.

Julie hands James a napkin after he goes through the food line.

Kaidence and Julie enjoy each other’s company.

Montana takes time for a smile while filling his plate.

Even team mascot Malibu got to attend the Campbell Cookout.

All Aboard Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and Syngenta. Jada Bulgin can be reached at jada@allaboardharvest.com.