After inspection, Farmer Gary reports that the wheat crop is ripe for harvest. One of the evergreen challenges of farming at Howell Farm is balancing farming decisions with program decisions. The wheat is ready to bind now, but the public wheat harvest program is scheduled for June 30.
A plan of action will be discussed at a farmer’s meeting scheduled for tomorrow. One option might be to harvest some of the field, and leave other sections unharvested for the program.
If the farmer’s wait too long, the crop’s yield is likely to decrease. Wheat that’s harvested overripe is more likely to shatter. A late harvest also gives deer more time to snack. On the plus side, the variety of modern wheat planted this year has a longer “beard” than a similar variety planted last year. The beard is a deer deterrent.
A plan of action will be discussed at a farmer’s meeting scheduled for tomorrow. One option might be to harvest some of the field, and leave other sections unharvested for the program.
If the farmer’s wait too long, the crop’s yield is likely to decrease. Wheat that’s harvested overripe is more likely to shatter. A late harvest also gives deer more time to snack. On the plus side, the variety of modern wheat planted this year has a longer “beard” than a similar variety planted last year. The beard is a deer deterrent.
RSS Feed
