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West Central

June 16: Corn is starting to shade

    This week has been a good one. We got right around 0.7 of an inch of rain, which was much needed. We have officially reached the point where our corn is starting to shade, which is a good sign. It’s past knee high. The beans are coming along nicely as well. The hay crop is taking on growth w…

    Clayton VanAernam, West Central Iowa CropWatch

    Clayton VanAernam, West Central Iowa CropWatch

      Clayton VanAernam is 17 and a junior at Audubon High School. He farms with his parents, Andy and Ashley, near Exira in Audubon County. They have a cow-calf herd, and Clayton helps his uncle with his row crop operation. He is involved with FFA, serving as chapter president, and is also active…

      June 8: Cattle are looking great out on grass

        We ended up with roughly seven-tenths of rain over the past week, which was much needed. We could use a bit more though, and Thursday we have a good chance. The crops are taking off and appear to be in a good spot. On the cattle front, pastures are standing well and cattle are looking great …

        June 1: Most of our first cut of hay got wet

          We ended up getting a half inch of rain this weekend. It got most of our first cut of hay wet, which was a bummer. The corn and bean crop is coming up well and appears to be on the right track. The pastures are nice and thick and appears to be a good year. Overall we are standing well.

          May 22: Finally started to receive some rain

            This week has been a great one. We have finally started to receive some rain, right around an inch this week. Overall we just need some heat to get everything going strong. On the cattle front, we have moved everything out to pasture and are getting ready to mow hay once it dries.

            May 18: Inch of rain is a blessing

              We received an inch of rain over the past two days, which is a blessing! We have completely finished planting and pretty much everyone is done around us. The sprayers are starting to roll. On the cattle front, we are hoping to drop hay in the next week and are moving cows out to pasture this…

              May 11: Could use a rain

                We finished up planting this past week. The biggest thing we could use at the moment is a rain. Some of our first-planted crops have begun to come up the past few days. Hay crop is looking to be dropped within the next few weeks and looks to be a good cutting. We started to A.I. cows over th…

                May 4: Most are getting to the end stretch

                  Planting is a full go in our area. Most guys are getting to the end stretch. If I had to guess, most have a week to two weeks left. The big thing that we need is a rain so we can get everything to come up well due to simply how hard the ground is becoming. On the cattle front, we moved a few…

                  April 27: Most people have started planting, but a few are still waiting

                    Once again planting came to a halt due to a light rain last night. We are hoping to run tomorrow morning. Most people have started, but a few are still waiting. On the cattle front, the pastures are growing great, and we are looking to get a few out on grass next week. The hay crop is starti…

                    April 20: Pastures are beginning to take off

                      Planting season is just starting around here. We are planning on starting sometime today. We have received large amounts of rain within the last few weeks — roughly 3.5 inches. It has finally dried off enough so we can being to start field work. The pastures are beginning to take off, and th…

                      Clayton VanAernam, West Central Iowa CropWatch Journal

                      Clayton VanAernam, West Central Iowa CropWatch Journal

                        Clayton VanAernam is 17 and a junior at Audubon High School. He farms with his parents, Andy and Ashley, near Exira in Audubon County. They have a cow-calf herd, and Clayton helps his uncle with his row crop operation. He is involved with FFA, serving as chapter president, and is also active…

                        Introducing Clayton VanAernam

                          Clayton VanAernam is 17 and a junior at Audubon High School. He farms with his parents, Andy and Ashley, near Exira in Audubon County. They have a cow-calf herd, and Clayton helps his uncle with his row crop operation. He is involved with FFA, serving as chapter president, and is also active…

                          Wrap-up: We received rain when needed

                            On the corn front this year, we averaged right around the 220 bu./acre range. On the beans, 70 was pretty average around this area. The biggest challenge was southern rust. It caused stalks to break off. We did not have issues with rain this year, which is a bright spot. We received rain whe…

                            Nov. 3: Most are on the downhill slide of corn

                              Corn harvest is still underway around here! One neighbor still has beans left to harvest, but most are on the downhill slide of corn and can see the end. Some also have begun to do anhydrous and tillage. On the cattle front, we have been baling corn stalks and are in the process of moving ca…

                              Oct. 27: We have had a light frost around here

                                Corn harvest is in full swing around here. A few neighbors still have beans standing, but for the most part everyone is focused on corn harvest. We have had a light frost around here a day or two. On the cattle front, we started baling stalks this weekend. I have started moving cattle to cor…

                                Oct. 20: Corn stalk bale making has started

                                  Harvest is still underway here. Most everyone is on corn harvest. Corn has been yielding well, and the moisture has been good. On the cattle front, corn stalk bale making has started and pasture grass is still good. Overall, doing great.

                                  Oct. 13: Most are on corn harvest at the moment

                                    Crops are getting harvested fast around here. Most are on corn harvest at the moment. Beans averaged well around here, in the 70-72 bu./acre range from what I have heard. Corn moisture has been good as well and they’re yielding well also. Cows are doing well also.

                                    Oct. 6: Some have already come to a close on bean harvest

                                      Overall harvest is full swing around this area. Some have already come to a close on bean harvest. We are looking to start corn harvest this week as well, once it begins to dry up due to receiving rain last night into this morning. Yields have been doing well. If I was going to say an averag…

                                      Sept. 22: Silage harvest is still underway

                                        Crops are looking good at the moment. Some have started harvest around us. We are looking to start in the next couple of days. The corn silage harvest is still underway around this area. Hay season is over around here, I believe. Overall everything is looking really good.

                                        Sept. 15: Crops are turning in a hurry!

                                          Crops are turning in a hurry! Harvest appears to be right around the corner. A few have begun to start on their beans, but most are waiting a week or two for leaves to drop due to them still looking green. Corn silage harvest is still going around here at the moment as well. Overall, pasture…

                                          Sept. 8: We began to chop silage this weekend

                                            We began to chop silage this weekend, and that was very impressive in my opinion. Corn looks good except for having a small amount of rust in it. If I was to guess it would have yielded 230 to 250. The hay went well for us as we finished up our last cutting of that for the year. Crops are be…

                                            Aug. 29: Hay crop looks to be thicker than first cut

                                              Crops at the moment are starting to turn, which is something that I have always enjoyed because it means harvest is on the way. The corn and beans look great, just hoping that the yields turn out even better. On the cattle front pastures still look as green as the spring. The silage chopping…

                                              Aug. 25: Dropped our third crop of hay yesterday

                                                Crops are looking good at the moment. We dropped our third crop of hay yesterday and tonnage is looking good. We are going to start chopping corn in the near future. Crops are starting to slightly turn for harvest.

                                                Aug. 18: Enough rain to get us through the year

                                                  We got some rain this morning (Monday). We're sitting in pretty good shape right now. We probably have enough rain to get us through the year. Hay crop looks pretty good. The third cutting of hay should start here sometime soon. Corn and beans look really good right now. We do chop silage, b…

                                                  Aug. 11: Looks like spring for how green the grass is

                                                    Overall, we are doing well. The biggest issue on the cattle side has been the ability to make hay. Due to the rains it has caused our hay crops to get rained on while the hay is down. I truly believe that we have received enough rain to be able to make it through the rest of summer. To be ho…

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