Limited rain showers are better than nothing

Corey Hanson

Gary, Minn.

June 30

“Cutting hay and our county fair is guaranteed to bring a little rain,” Corey Hanson said with a laugh on June 30. Though having to dodge some showers at the fair, it was much needed. He reported receiving two to two and a half inches of rain over a three day period. The early rains were slow and very beneficial, but Hanson said the last day ended with a

David Tauer

Hanska, Minn.

June 29

Coming back from a relaxing vacation, Tauer stated everyone did an excellent job while he was away. “Everything got done like it was supposed to,” he said, plus extra.

Tauer was feeling blessed on June 29 by the recent rainfall at his farm. He received one inch and quick 20-minute blast totaling an inch and likely resulted in runoff.

On June 30, Hanson was able to take advantage of the morning’s 4 to 5 mph winds and finish spraying soybeans. It’s his preference to work with a slight breeze as it helps the product dry on the targeted crop.

Hanson’s soybeans are about boot-top high in most places. His wheat has perked up a little, but believes he’ll come up severely short. He is expecting half or less of his usual crop.

The corn crop is nearing chest-high. He had noticed onion leafing, but stated it has since turned around. Some stunted corn and a less than desired color are giving him reason to believe the past dry weather may effect his yields. “I’m hoping it didn’t hurt too bad,” he stated.

Coming up, Hanson will be checking crops, “monitoring that the spray did what it’s supposed to.” He’ll also be managing insects and diseases as needed. Getting grain bins ready for fall and enjoying a few days with his family for the Fourth are also on the list.

Nick Pooch four-tenths on June 24 with another tenth of an inch on June 28. “We’re not short by any means.” Unfortunately, hail hit about a quarter mile east impacting some of Tauer’s alfalfa crop. He estimates a 30 to 40 percent loss in that field.

Farwell, Minn.

Originally a bit disheartened by his oats, Tauer reported some positive change. Growth has improved and he stated it’s “not above average, but probably will be an average yield, which is very surprising.”

Oatlage was on the agenda for June 28 and 29. The first 40 acres required moving equipment a distance of five miles. Tauer stated there were a few hiccups, but they had a really good day. The oatlage is stored in silage bags; and that day’s efforts filled a bag 12 feet in diameter and 160 feet long. That field has alfalfa seeded in with it, and Tauer said it’s doing quite well. The field scheduled for the 29th is 25 acres, and after the cutting and chopping is completed, he will seed millet.

Tauer stated his earliest planted crop of corn is six feet tall with excellent color. Sixty-five to seventy percent of Tauer’s most recent corn has come up, and he expects the rest to be up by the weekend.

June 29

Nick Pooch has been busy with general maintenance on the feedlot. Due to his recent sale, he’s taking advantage of moving less cattle around to fix gates, replace

waterers, and work on anything else the cattle have worn out.

On June 29 Pooch reported he cut his new alfalfa two days prior, and it looks really good for new seeding. He’ll be baling it shortly.

While Pooch stated the recent rains totaling just over an inch were very much needed, they haven’t replenished the subsoil. He has been satisfied

Jim Hagen

Lake Mills, Iowa

June 29 about an inch of rain last weekend, and has received a few sprinkles here and there, totaling not more than a tenth of an inch at a time. “Hopefully the trend has changed and we’ll get a little more rain now.”

On the day of Hagen’s report, he had been experiencing hazy skies again. “It looks like a fog in the morning, but it’s smoke,” he stated, noting the last two days have been especially thick.

“We’re just lucky the subsoil was full,” Jim Hagen stated in reference to the dry weather he’s experienced this summer. On June 29 he shared he was happy to get with weed control, but with the new flush of weeds from the rain, he’ll scout the beans. He’s not worried about the corn due to the established canopy. While his beans look average, Pooch’s corn shows more promise. “If we keep getting rain, we could get a really good corn crop,” he stated.

The Pooch operation does a range of experimenting with seed plots each year. This year, they are more focused on comparing different varieties. Pooch stated he hasn’t seen any drastic differences

Hagen reported the corn is head-high and looking clean of tar spot so far. His soybeans are looking good. He has not needed to do any spot spraying on the crops.

With not too much crop excitement, Hagen has started the tiling project on the operation’s newest See POOCH, pg. 8