I actually had someone ask what I do on the farm now that the crops are planted but not yet ready for harvest. She wanted to know if this is when I get to “take a break.” I told her that she was right . . . I do get a break from planting! Instead, I:

• haul last year’s corn out of the bins to make ready for storage of the new crop in the fall;
• inspect the corn fields (and the ones used in the Bloomsbury Farm corn maze) so I can be sure the crop is growing properly and not attacked by some dreaded disease. Remember, I farm over 3,000 acres, so checking those fields of corn and the pumpkin patch is a full-time job in itself!
• pull out the John Deere tractors (8430 an 8420) to perform maintenance. While Jiffy Lube can get your oil changed in less than 30 minutes, maintenance on these tractors takes a big bite out of my “break from planting” time.

I’ve also spent time looking, deciding on, and finally ordering a new 12-row combine, the 9670 John Deere. This baby has 305 horse-power and can handle up to 79 bushels per minute! Let’s see, 3,000 acres, half of which are corn. That means I harvests about 280,000 bushels. So, if I tried to harvest all the corn from start to finish, it would take slightly more than 59 hours!

Speaking of farming, I was recently awarded the Conservation Farmer of the Year by the Benton County Conservation Commission, which recognizes outstanding producers/farmers who are using soil and water conserving practices in their farming operation. I’m pretty proud of this because as a farmer, the land is our lifeline. I want it to be in the best shape possible for the next generation!

Dave