American Gothic Gourds at Will County Fair

For people who attend the Will County Fair every year, the Fair can seem like one experience that never changes.  I love walking through the exhibition hall and seeing the familiar and beautiful displays of fruits and vegetables lovingly grown and displayed by local gardeners.  Last year, however, this entry for the "Gourd Dressed as a Farm Wife" class caught my eye and made me realize there is always something new to discover at the fair!

Gourds placed in a diorama replicating "American Gothic" 

CORN Yields, Harvest, Drought of 2012

How are corn yields looking now that we are heading into harvest?

Here is one picture of the drought of 2012:

Ears of corn from various fields around Manhattan, Illinois

The ears are much smaller than last year and are not fully pollinated.  My dad had previously hoped for 80 bushels per acre and now says he's hoping to get at least 65 bushels per acre.  My dad usually underestimates a little so as to be pleasantly surprised so I would say we'll most likely get about 75 bushels per acre.  Since corn planting was completed early this year, we are planning to start corn harvest mid-September.

Drought 2012 and Hay Production

As the drought of 2012 continues, farmers are trying to harvest as much grass hay as possible from pastures.

Farmer cuts hay a little closer to the creek on August 2, 2012.  This farmer is trying to get some more round bales off this pasture in response to demand for round hay bales from local cow and horse owners.

Farmers who own feeder cattle are trying to decide whether to continue feeding out the cattle using 8 dollar corn or sell the cattle---risking a possible loss on the cattle---in order to be able to sell their corn on the market. 

Here in Will County, Illinois, my dad has learned from surveying our corn field that while the corn ears along the road do not look so terrible, once you go into the field about 4-6 rows, the corn ears become much smaller.  My dad hypothesizes that the corn along the road had the benefit of better air circulation during the sweltering heat of July.  My dad is hoping to get 80 bushels per acre corn.

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.