Now that we are past Thanksgiving, it’s okay to admit the radio is tuned to Christmas music and the television is on Hallmark 24/7. Tuesday evening the kids were introduced to big band music courtesy of a live Christmas concert by Denver and the Mile High Orchestra. The kids enjoyed the show. Ivy especially liked that they invited local high school string orchestra to perform a couple of songs. (Ivy began violin lessons this fall.)

We had no idea there was a local high school program like this.

Even with community activities, it’s been back to work for us. I’ve still been working on seed orders. I’ve also done the field by field crop tallies for crop insurance and the Market Facilitation Program.

We’ve been released to deliver December corn and even had a call to bring some in Saturday because the mill was out. That will change before too long and I’ll have to climb in the truck seat. One of our truck drivers, Joe, is going to get his other knee replaced in a week. We won’t be done hauling by then!

Slow harvest completion

I’ve made a couple trips heading south in the last week. When compared to a trip three weeks ago, progress toward harvest completion has been slow. You don’t have to drive very far to find fields that are yet to be harvested. Tillage work has been virtually non-existent.

Even so, USDA says Indiana is not far off the 5-year average and ahead of last year!

I’ve heard there is talk that some fields may be turned in for crop insurance. Many of the cornfields left are laying down. Soybean moisture is still too high. Molds and rots have also become an issue.

Finishing up will be a slow, less-than-fun process. The only bright side is that the basis at the elevator has come up.

My best wishes go out to those still struggling through harvest.

The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of Farm Futures or Farm Progress.