Hayden on Harvest: Harvest crew navigates muddy conditions and equipment maintenance

Several days of rainfall temporarily halted wheat harvest in Central Texas before a custom harvesting crew returned to the field as crop conditions improved.

The operation resumed harvesting after receiving an estimated 1 to 3 inches of rain. Moisture levels in the first field were about 14 percent, while operators also found limited pre-harvest sprouting in some wheat following the wet weather.

The day began with an unexpected repair after a combine tire lost air because of a deer antler puncture. Crew members plugged the tire in the field before harvesting resumed.

As harvest continued, the crew performed scheduled 50-hour maintenance on both the combine and tractor. The operator said completing routine service before returning equipment to the shop would simplify preparations for the upcoming move north after the Texas wheat harvest concludes.

Following maintenance, the crew scouted its next field to confirm county roads could accommodate combines and header trailers. Narrow roads and small concrete bridges can complicate equipment moves, making route inspections a routine part of harvest logistics.

The crew also entered field information into John Deere Operations Center before moving equipment. Recording the farm name, field identification and crop information allows combines and grain carts to share data across the harvest operation.

Despite weather delays, yields remained strong in portions of the harvest area. Yield monitor data indicated some areas exceeded 60 bushels per acre, well above what the operator described as typical for much of Central Texas. The remaining fields were expected to be completed before equipment returned to the shop for cleaning and final inspections ahead of the next harvest stop.