Harvest

        In little over a week Derick was able to start and finish the 2014 soybean harvest.  This year was filled with it's share of surprises due to the very wet summer and fall we are having.  In late summer sudden death syndrome started appearing in soybean fields across the area.  At a distance it appeared the beans were turning early, but what was actually happening was the plants were dying prematurely causing some of the pods to not fully develop.  We knew it would affect yields.  Field averages ranged from 65 to 40 bushels per acre with some spots hitting as high as 95, but others only getting up to 29.  This year's best field was rolling ground on the backside of the golf course where water was able to shed easily and sudden death syndrome stayed away. 

      Evan had his fair share of first, too.  His first Caterpillar ride strapped to the front of Momma as we pulled Daddy out in the combine.  Later in the week he helped drive the cabless tractor as we pulled the semi out in a different field.  Since Derick couldn't park the semi in the field he had to cart all the beans out.  Literally going over the river and through the woods....but no grandmothers house at the end of the road.  Everyday he helps shuttle daddy back and forth between fields during the day and home again in the evenings.  Needless to say the Baby Bjorn carrier we are borrowing from my aunt has been a lifesaver when getting in and out of equipment.  Maybe once harvest is over we can work on a daytime schedule, as for now naps and bottles are squeezed in wherever we happen to be.