SPRING FARM REPORT 2020

It’s hard to believe we’re already into spring planting for 2020. It seems like just yesterday we were seeding oats for our first-ever plow day in 2019. Luckily, this year we weren’t delayed by a late April snowstorms and rain that pushed planting season into late May and early June for a lot of farmers in the area.

With the right weather and some time to step away from a few Section22 projects we recently finished planting corn, soybeans and wheat. New this year are 12 acres of wheat, which will serve as our test bed for Plow Day 2020 later this summer.

Chloe on the 504

This all-purpose IH 504 was bought new in the 1960s by my great uncle Tommy Elfstrum and my dad then bought it from him in the 80s. It has seen a wide range of uses - everything from hauling wagons, running augers and this year, seeding wheat.

Seeding Wheat

It was a bit blustery out in the field but with the sun out it made for a great day for seeding wheat.

SEEDING WHEAT

Old-style seed drills have a platform along the back to allow a farmer to more easily refill the drill. It also makes a great spot to take a ride and “monitor” progress.

First Wheat Seedlings

Less than 2 weeks after seeding the first wheat seedlings sprouted up. They’ll be ready for harvest in mid-late summer, followed by summer’s newest must-attend event: Plow Day.

IH 986 + Digger

In the late 70s and early 80s the International Harvester 86 series tractors were popular for a wide variety of tasks - including the hard work of tillage work. Today most tilling is done by powerful 4WD tractors with triple the horsepower of an 986. But this tried-and-true field stallion still has what it takes to get the fields ready for planting.

IH 656 + 8-Row Planter

You’d be hard-pressed to find many farmers still using planters with 8 rows or less being pulled by an open-station tractor but that’s how we roll on section 22 - simpler farming methods from a simpler time.