Today I received a phone call while I was on campus working on homework, like good studious students do, from my Mom – the Farmer’s wife. She was ecstatic to share she was currently driving the tractor and operating the grain drill, sowing the wheat crop that will be harvested next summer.
It was a busy day on my family’s farm in northwest Ohio. My Dad was baling our sorghum crop which will be used as feed for our cows this winter, and my grandfathers were focused on harvesting soybeans; one driving the combine and the other hauling the soybeans to the grain elevator to put our crop in storage. My younger brother, Kyle, is currently attending college at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, studying Agronomy. Since he can only visit on the weekends my Mom found herself apart of the fall farm crew.
After my Mom informed me of the progressive excitement happening today I reminded her how great it would to text me a picture off of her cell phone so it could be added to my blog. However, her phone doesn’t take pictures, so I will have to patiently await her phone to join the 21st century. Until then here are a few photos of when we planted beans in mid-May, which are being harvested this week.
The Farmer planting soybeans • May 2012
A closer view of the planter, putting soybeans in the ground. • May 2012
Soybean seeds. These beans didn’t quite make it into the auger to load into the planter, but they’ll be the first to get in next round! Oddly these beans are a green color. That’s because they’re coated in nutrients and chemicals that keep away bugs and help them get a good, healthy start; like miracle grow! Unfortunately I don’t have any good images to show you what mature beans look like in their natural color, but they’re a light tan/yellow color.
Just Keep on Farmin’ ~ Emily
