Where did 2019 go?!

2019 was a year that will not be soon forgotten. It was a growing season full of challenges. Mother nature, politics, trade, and insurance decisions all posed challenges at the same time. This spring we watched it rain, waited, and calculated potential outcomes daily. The summer brought nearly ideal conditions, at least here in DeWitt County. Even with being a month behind normal with our planting, the growing season provided us with the precipitation and temperatures to grow an abundant crop. We lucked out again in September. Temperatures were well above average, much like having a second August, speeding the crop to a finish and diminishing our fears of early frosts. Harvest did not start until we were well into October. Too say the least, yields were surprising. Our final whole farm yields for both corn and soybeans were each within a 1 bushel per acre of our five-year average. Who would have thought that you could plant corn in June and have such amazing results?

We have only been done with harvest for a couple weeks and we are already well into the 2020 crop. Crop rotation decisions have been made. Fertilizer, seed, herbicides, fuel, and many other inputs have been decided on and purchased for the upcoming season. Along with the planning, some of the other things going on at the farm since harvest include hauling corn and working the completion of interior of the new office built over the summer.

Thank you to all of you we partner and do business with. As frustrating as the 2019 season was, the teamwork, understanding, and willingness to compromise from all of you is much appreciated. Let’s hope 2020 brings us some of the same successes with fewer of the frustrations!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!