Thursday was what I call a ‘burner’ day. All morning was spent catching up.

We had expected a rain overnight that did not come. We were more tired than usual because we worked later Wednesday night than usual.

Some of the plans we made put us in a bind as well. Before we could go to the fields we had to move some grain, make a 20-mile equipment move, fuel, grease, make repairs, and a few other items that escape my mind.

These days are part of life on a farm. However I have a difficult time accepting them. I am all about efficiency.

By late afternoon I was finally able to climb into the combine seat and get the second combine rolling. We sent the guys home around dark but continued harvesting until the trucks were all full. It was a tranquil time after dark. Looking across the horizon I could see three or four other machines running. The frequent strobe lights flashing in the dark were a sign of a continued good harvest. (When working in the fields, strobe lights come on to indicate when the combine is getting full.)

Times like this, when the phone isn’t ringing and text alarms aren’t coming, are treasured. It was nice for operations to go smoothly even if just for a short bit. It was a good time to unwind from the stresses of the day.

Only off by a day, the weatherman was right. It began raining shortly after daybreak today. Even though the stars were out last night, we decided to roll the tarps. That ended up being a good decision. Since we were only half a mile from home, once rain was imminent, we decided to move the combines home to keep them dry.

Now it looks as though an extended rainy period has begun. The forecast may keep us out until mid-week. We are about 40% done with harvest.

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