Corn Chopping 2014

It's that time of year when the scene  from my kitchen window changes . Some of the  tall corn stalks that I normally see , as I do dishes will be gone by noon today.  The field of irrigated corn that we raise behind our home with my 
father in law is chopped for feed for our cattle.  

We hire Luke Fensky Harvesting to chop the corn for us.  The corn is chopped and then dumped into a silage pit. Normally Milton would run our tractor to smooth out the pit, but since they are using large semi trucks this year, the crew is also doing this part for us.  
Their tractor can keep up better.  It's a very quick process and interesting to watch!

The silage pit is in my view as well from my kitchen window, but I notice it a lot less than I used to. Some might call it an eyesore as I used to, but I know it won't be there forever 
and it provides nourishment for cattle that will feed our family and others someday.  

We are growing something that feeds another product we are growing.  

As with any business, using your own resources is beneficial to the bottom dollar.  

Milton got up close and personal and took a photo for me of the cutter 
actually chopping the corn.  

We now have silage to feed the cattle. 

The rest of the corn will be harvested by us as usual in the future.

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie

Corn Harvest 2014 & a few other things

It felt so good to be able to take photographs yesterday of my family farming!  It brings me joy and I didn't realize how much I have missed it.  I wish I would have recorded Milton's conversation with our daughter today.  He was teaching her about the header, and how it picks the corn, and how there are different headers.  She is six and I think she is starting to remember things from one harvest to another.  She mentioned today, "Dad, do you remember when we saw a bunny in the field (while they were cutting another year)?"  I know that isn't much to others, but that's what family memories are made of, and it makes my heart swell!

Before harvesting today, Milton decided to update a few things on the corn header.

Here he is putting new gathering chain on the header. He will put the rest on today as we received rain this morning.  

Milton's view for the day!

Heading to unload!

Unloading.

Yesterday morning,  PV and I cleaned the chicken coop, I think the chirps were pleasantly surprised when they got to get back in to lay their eggs!  When we were gathering the hay for the coop, Charlie was with us.  I got this photo of them! I love it!  She really has taken to this pup!  I'm glad she has a friend here at the farm!

Today she started first grade so I am home alone attempting to get a routine going.  The past month has been a roller coaster so perhaps I can catch up on some things.  I do miss her already though, and she has only be gone for about 30 minutes!  :)  She was VERY excited to start school though, which I am very thankful for!

I hope your summer is winding down in a good way.  Our Fall harvest will include harvesting corn, milo, and soybeans.  It is spread across a few months, so you will be hearing about the different harvests here and there!

Thanks for stopping by!
Julie