Greenfield, Iowa – As the crew prepares to leave for Oklahoma this week, the list of things left to do seems endless. The check list that leads up to summer harvest has a lot of boxes to tick, and sometimes just surviving spring seems like an accomplishment. There’s lots of loose ends to tie up, and on occasion our frayed nerves seem to unravel from the stress of it all. It’s in this final week of panicked packing when you begin to question your life choices and the sanity of preparing to live on the road for the next 12 weeks.
This spring has been less stressful than some, thanks in large part to cooperative weather. Of course, cooperative also usually comes with consequences. We sailed through fall harvest with virtually zero rain delays and impressive yields. Winter wasn’t too trying either, with only a handful of snow events and mild temperatures. That lack of precipitation has continued into spring, with an early start to the planting season that wrapping up ahead of schedule. We’ve been enjoying the mud-free calving season and a fantastic start to our growing season, but increasing drought conditions is the tradeoff we could live without. Remember those consequences I mentioned?
It’s not just Iowa that’s been really dry for quite some time. Until recently a large portion of the wheat belt has been experience a rain deficit. Up and down the Plains, almost anywhere you go could use more moisture. Much of the winter wheat hasn’t looked that great all spring, particularly down south. Thankfully the last few weeks brought notable rains to many areas all across the country. Our acres in Oklahoma really benefited, and we are anticipating some very good yields. But those rains also brought sever storms, and we already know we’ve lost some work due to hail. Just as harvest is about to begin the extended forecast predicts rain nearly every day going forward, a problem that continues to idle many crews in Texas.
With rains all but certain in Oklahoma, the crew has pushed back our departure a few days. While more time to tie up loose ends might sound welcome, trust me….it just prolongs the agony of preparing to leave. Being half packed is the worst, always trying to remember where things are a never being able to completely finish loading up housewares, tools and clothes. We feel a little frayed and frazzled, but it’s important to be thankful for how smoothly spring has gone. The worst is almost behind us, and with any luck we’ll be in Oklahoma next week officially kicking off our 43rd year harvest.
Brian Jones can be reached at [email protected].
Thank you to our 2025 All Aboard Wheat Harvest sponsors: High Plains Journal, New Holland, Merit Auctions, Oklahoma Wheat Commission, Kramer Seed Farms and U.S. Custom Harvesters.
