Loose ends, New beginnings

 LOOSE ENDS
      Just a wrap up of some of my previous comments:
      From March post;  My corn head that I purchased and rebuilt worked great and was able to harvest faster and did a better job managing residue from the corn stalks.  Total cost was $17,500 and should save time and reduce grain loss in the field.
     From March to August;  Talking about all the rain all summer and the fact that we had a very wet year prior to that for field work.  This fall turned out to be quite dry and that helped the farmers to do a better job with fall tillage (tillage breaks up compaction from field operations and wet fields compact more).  However the dry spell has the fall seedlings of winter wheat looking sparse.  The rains received this week should allow the wheat to grow enough to over winter.
     August post about yield checks were fairly accurate with the soybeans better than I had thought.
     September post about warm weather allowing the crops to dry fast and here it is Oct. 25th and it is still warm.  That allowed for a record harvest speed and lower harvesting expenses. My energy cost for drying corn was 10% of last year (last year was a record year for corn not drying in the field thus higher than normal expenses).
     October  post about the Government Numbers (corn inventory and yields) has resulted in corn prices nearing $6.00 per bushel.  The markets continue to move higher and lower as people try to sort out the numbers of demand and supply.  China has been a strong buyer in the Soybean market and ethanol plants are running stronger than before.  I do believe that these prices have stopped livestock expansion plans and probably caused some reductions.
     The Harvest Celebration had around 500 visitors and I hope you were able to make it this year.  If not we will see you next year.  The corn filled sand box was a huge hit for the tike's and the combine rides never get old for the grown-ups.  It is fun to get together like this, celebrate our bounty, and send help to others that want to feed themselves and appreciate our aid to allow them to do that.
NEW BEGINNINGS
   I have attached a picture of my wheat seedlings that will be harvested as a crop about July 10th 2011.
This starts a new crop year; seeds are already ordered, fertilizers applied,tillage done, and some have already entered contracts for delivery of the crop yet planted (I sold 50% of my 2011 wheat crop on 8/4/2010 eleven months prior to harvest).  I will continue my posts and encourage you to get involved with FRB.
                                                                                                  Serving together,  Dean