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 in 4-H.
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 in 4-H.
Introducing Clayton VanAernam
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 the hay is the same way. We have five cows left to calve for the spring. Calves are looking to be one of the best sets we have had this year. Overall we are starting at a good point.
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 starting to look great and should be a good turnout due to the rain we have gotten this spring. We are hoping to get a good run on planting this week.
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 out to grass over the weekend, and we are looking to A.I. some this weekend.
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 the weekend and are hoping to get everything out to pasture soon.
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 week as we wrap up breeding. Overall we are standing well and are going to receive more rain tonight. Hopefully we stay out of the wind.
