2012 Corn Planting Begins in Illinois

Despite a freeze warning for the same night, this Will County, Illinois farmer planted his first corn acres April 11, 2012.

Planting corn on April 11, 2012 in Will County, Illinois

Here is a video of corn planting 2012 with a 6 row John Deere corn planter and an International Harvester 656 Tractor:

Shelling Corn with a Minneapolis Moline Corn Sheller

Here is a video of my dad and brother shelling corn from our corn crib with a Minneapolis Moline Corn Sheller.  I am always amazed at how many moving parts power the corn shelling process!

2011 Double Crop Soybeans

Double-crop soybeans refer to soybeans that are planted in the same growing season as another crop, usually wheat.   In part due to high commodity prices for soybeans this year, a farmer decided to take a chance and plant soybeans on July 10, 2011 after wheat was harvested and straw was baled.  

Here a farmer discbines a newly-harvested wheat field in order to both bale straw and then drill in soybeans.  The discbine cuts the remaining wheat stubble and places it in windrows to be baled into small straw bales.

Farmer disbining wheat stubble in order to bale the straw

Here is a close-up shot of both the disbined wheat stubble and a small section that was not discbined, for comparision:

Wheat stubble

Next, the wheat stubble is baled into straw bales:

Baling wheat straw

In this photo, almost all of the wheat stubble is baled and the field is almost ready for planting soybeans.

Baling wheat straw

Next, a no-till drill plants the soybeans:

Planting double-crop soybeans in a wheat field

Here is a closer view of the field after the drill planted the soybeans:

Soybeans planted after wheat harvest and straw baling

Cows Cool Off in Prairie Creek

Cows on pasture escaped the heat today in Prairie Creek.  This photo was taken in Manhattan Township, near the Wauponsee Glacial Trail.

Cows on pasture cool off in Prairie Creek

More on the history of Prairie Creek in Will County.

High Commodity Prices influence farmer's decision to plant more corn acres

On the eve of the USDA's March 31, 2011 Farm Acreage and Stock Report, one Will County farmer was increasing his corn acreage by plowing up an alfalfa field.  The farmer said high corn prices influenced the decision to plow up the hay field early.   The alfalfa field could have produced a good crop of hay, but the farmer decided to take advantage of high corn prices by increasing his corn acreage.  Also influencing his decision was the fact that he already had enough hay fields to meet his hay customers' demand.

Commodities such as wheat, corn, and soybeans have increased steadily since the 2010 harvest.

An alfalfa field gets plowed under in order to make room for more corn acres in response to high prices for corn

High commodity prices influenced this Will County farmer to plow up an alfalfa field earlier than originally planned in order to increase corn acres on his farm

Shelling Ear Corn from a Corn Crib

Shelling corn from a corn crib

Minneapolis Moline Corn Sheller Shells Ear Corn from a Corn Crib

Farmall Super C Tractor at Madison, Wisconsin Capitol for Protest of Walker's Budget Repair bill

Check out this photo of a Farmall Super C at the Madison, Wisconsin Tractorcade around the capitol square:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/12/wisconsin-protesters-refu_n_834927.html

This tractor parade was organized by the Wisconsin Farmers Union to protest the Budget Repair Bill recently signed into law by Gov. Walker.