The heat and drought around Rockham have been relentless, but Jade Jandal says the row crops on his operation are hanging on better than he ever expected.
- Janelle Atyeo
Mid-July was dry, allowing Minnesota Crop Watcher Megan Horsager to work steadily on haying.
- By Kylie Mockler of Centerville, S.D.
As the last few weeks have flown by, the farm has kept us busy. The forecast has been filled with hot, dry weather and has continued to dry out soils, increasing stress within not only crops but animals as well.
- Katelyn Winberg
A powerful storm that tore through the Rockham, South Dakota, area June 29 left its mark on Jade Jandal’s operation, but recent moisture has him feeling better about where things stand heading into July.
- By Megan Horsager, Montevideo, Minn.
"The hot weather has helped crops grow, but it has increased our risk for cercospora leaf spot in the beets."
- Janelle Atyeo
The leafy plants have closed rows earlier than in recent years. That typically means good things for future yields and provides some help shading out weeds growing between the rows. However, it creates conditions for harmful fungus to flourish and spread from plant to plant.
- By Kylie Mockler of Centerville, S.D.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks on the Mockler farm. Within the last 10 days, we have cut, baled and stacked our first cutting of hay.
- Katelyn Winberg
Jade Jandel farms near Rockham, S.D., where the rain gauge has offered just enough to keep hope alive and not much more.
- By Megan Horsager, Montevideo, Minn.
Overall, it has been a successful start to the season on our farm. We had good windows for planting with well-timed rains to get the crops germinated timely and evenly. The long stretch of cold and wind in the middle of May put a damper on growth, but we managed to avoid significant frost da…
- Katelyn Winberg
Recent rainfall has improved conditions for Jade Jandal and his family operation near Rockham, South Dakota. After a dry start to the growing season, Jandal said moisture arrived at a critical time for crops, pastures and hay ground.
- By Kylie Mockler of Centerville, S.D.
"Just as the planter was getting put back in the shed for the year, Mother Nature had other plans."
- Janelle Atyeo
Minnesota farmer advocates for changes to sugar imports as new crop is planted
- Katelyn Winberg
Near Rockham in northeastern South Dakota, spring calving season stretches across much of the year for Jade Jandel.
- Katelyn Winberg
On the Mockler family farm near Centerville, spring planting is a full-family effort.
- By Becky and Shawn Feikema of Luverne, Minn.
"Working with family has both joys and challenges, but at the end of the day it is quite rewarding to see the skills of farming being passed on."
- By Ava Kerner of Burke, S.D.
"Each season has brought something different, and looking back, it’s clear this year was shaped by changing weather, steady progress and plenty of long days."
- By Casey Briggs, Clark, S.D.
"Keep moving forward, try to at least get yourself in a position to try it again next year."
- Janelle Atyeo
The last fields of corn at TEH Farms were combined Nov. 19, putting a wrap on the year and a large pile of corn on the ground. “It was definitely a roller coaster out here,” Teddy Holzwarth said. “It was an interesting year.”
- By Becky and Shawn Feikema of Luverne, Minn.
“It was the most disappointing record crop we’ve ever had.”
- Janelle Atyeo
Harvest is taking longer than usual in Central South Dakota as farmers take the extra step of running corn through dryers in order to remove enough moisture to store the grain without spoiling.
- By Ava Kerner of Burke, S.D.
As the fall season winds down, many operations in my area, including ours, are starting to wrap up the last of the fall work before winter fully arrives.
- By Casey Briggs, Clark, S.D.
"Fall residuals are uncommon in our part of the world, but they really work well. It saves big money on herbicide for next year."
- By Becky and Shawn Feikema, Luverne, Minn.
"Right behind the combines there is much work being done. We have the balers going, putting up corn stalk bales for bedding, our drill planting cover crops, our strip till rig preparing the soil for next years’ planting and manure being applied."
- By Casey Briggs of Clark, S.D.
We finished up corn harvest Friday night, Oct. 24. Things went fairly well and the weather was pretty nice for most of it. I think we had just one short rain delay.
- By Ava Kerner of Burke, S.D.
As October comes to a close, harvest is wrapping up for most farmers across Gregory Country.
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