I'm dirty, I'm tired, I'm sore

Jpshostr · May 11, 2002

Finally got a chance to get in the fields again today after a long layoff due to weather. Planted beans for 13 hours today and covered 130 acres, a new best for us in 24 hours time. God I love just sitting in that Magnum cab putting in the crop listening to the radio over the hum of the 8.3L CDC, such a sweet sweet sound. Only had one spot where it was muddy and I almost was posting a picture of me instead of others in bad situations, sure got nervous with those four rear tires just spinning and spinning and me going downhill and not forward, finally hit the diff lock and crawled out of it leaving a bit of a mess behind. Yes, for all you off-roaders I did say I just hit the diff lock, we've had these remotely activated ones for years on tractors, just hit a button and each side splits the load. Too bad its going to start raining and keep raining after midnight tonight, it'll be middle of next week before we can go back out.

Zane · May 11, 2002

That sounds pretty cool. Pictures would be interesting to look at..

antig24 · May 11, 2002

yep, pics would be cool to see

TheScaryGuy · May 11, 2002

Never really cared for the smell of manure myself. ;)

Jpshostr · May 12, 2002

Well I finally got back some pictures from when I planted corn about two weeks ago, not quite bean planting but close.

ScaryGuy, this is fieldwork, not a cow in sight, no smell of manure at all.

These first three views are what you are constantly looking at while planting. You straddle the mark the planter lies down on the previous pass so your rows are evenly spaced, in the second you watch the moniter which tells you how well the units are planting and how many seeds per acre you are putting down (in this picture you can see that I'm planting 28,500 corn seeds per acre), and in the last you keep an eye on the planter to make sure things are working smooth on it, nothing is broken or close to broken. Keep in mind this is all taking place at the neckbreaking speed of 5.0-5.3mph, any faster and you are doing a poor job and will end up with a very poor stand that will not give maximum yield.

Its amazing that Dad puts me in charge of running this machine, the cost of this rig is more than lots of people's homes, as well as it is the most important field operation of the year. Do a poor job at this point and you'll suffer for another 12 months as what is done here cannot be reversed. This setup is now five years old and has served us well, Dad has pretty much turned over the maintenence of it to me and has me run it 75% of the time.

May 12, 2002

JP, I posted this last year, but I want to repeat it.

Thanks so much for being a farmer. We don't give you guys enough credit or money and I appreciate you feeding us (and most of the world).

Kansas Kid · May 13, 2002

Only had one spot where it was muddy and I almost was posting a picture of me instead of others in bad situations, sure got nervous with those four rear tires just spinning and spinning and me going downhill and not forward

Jp, you know as well as I do that CIH tractors don't get stuck. Its only those dang green tractors. ;)

Getting the crops into the ground wether it be in the spring or fall is always a great feeling. Definitely lots of work, and long days as it always seems as if we are trying to stay ahead of the weather. I know I've made many a run to get more seed or fuel as the day is growing short so we can get finished. I haven't got to do any planting this spring, just been busy getting ready for that first cutting of alfalfa....

General Lee 01 · May 13, 2002

Jp, you know as well as I do that CIH tractors don't get stuck. Its only those dang green tractors. ;)

Does this mean all that green blood is out of your system now?

Jpshostr · May 13, 2002

Just a few more pictures, interesting to me at least.

This planter goes from being ~27' wide in field postion to less than 14' for road travel in 45 seconds without having to leave the cab. Hydraulics are wonderful things.

The truck is always sitting at the edge of the field with more seed in case I run out. Those 8 bags of seed there cost about $800. :0

Doesn't look like much here, but if all goes right what I planted will go from looking like this and grow into tall fields of corn with good yield so we may get a chance to pay our bills.