Farm location: Yuma, Colorado
Number of years farming: 17 years. Brophy Family Farm was established in 1918.
2025 Crop(s) harvested: Corn, wheat and pinto beans
Q. Can you share a general overview of this year’s harvest in your local area?
A. We received good moisture throughout the growing season, but severe storms negatively impacted crop yields. Our wheat crop produced below average yields due to several hailstorms during the summer, rain delayed pinto bean harvest, negatively affecting crop quality. Corn harvest is starting a few weeks later than usual and irrigated yields in some areas could be down as well due to hailstorms. We have had good weather thus far for corn harvest, with above average yields on dryland corn on our farm.
Q. What’s been the biggest challenge with this year’s crop(s)?
A. As farmers, we know that each year presents a new slate of challenges. This year it was weather and marketing. We had some weather delays, particularly in bean harvest when we received 6 inches of rain in two weeks. The marketing challenge this year was navigating the uncertainty around trade and tariffs.
Q. How do you store your grain?
A. We store most of our grain in bins here at the farm.
Q. How do you manage crop residue post-harvest?
A. To manage our crop residue, we graze our cornstalks and plant rye behind pinto beans for grazing.
Q. What’s your favorite harvest memory
A. Harvest is my favorite time of year. It is always rewarding to see the growing season come full circle. One of my favorite harvest memories is how each year my grandpa, up to the age of 91, would come ride in the combine.
Q. Do you have a piece of equipment or technology that has been a game changer?
A. By utilizing technologies with precision planting and irrigation monitoring systems our operation is more efficient in managing different terrains and crop water usage.
Q. Is there something unique about your operation you’d like to share?
A. Our family farm is a father-daughter operation. I got to learn from my late grandpa and now get the opportunity to work alongside my dad every day.
