Getting the Job Done

I loved this barn! As we completed an appraisal on Friday, we chose to take a new route back to Yankton and we crossed this barn right against the river. As I saw it, I thought, oh that would make an awesome picture and before I said anything, Curtis had pulled over and stopped--asking what he was doing--he replied--you have to get a picture of this barn. No home in sight but the cattle were grazing effortlessly.

I had said in the last blog that I wanted to explain a little of what we are doing here. We are in South Dakota for corn appraising. Of the 10 farms that we have visited, only one was in an insurance loss. The yields here are so amazing for dry land farming. We have appraised anything from 35 bushels per acre to 158 bushels an acre. Pretty awesome considering that our home farmers have irrigated farms that don't produce even 150 bushels per acre. I also stated previously that most are self family farms--everything they grow they use, meaning that they have cattle to feed in the winter. With that being said, they silage their feed and put it in on farm storage bins. Their are no elevators here. Everything is stored on their premises, if they do sell any feed or grain, they haul as contracted by dates to deliver. Very interesting for us, we really know no other way but to sell as soon as it is harvested. Anyways, if the farmer cuts feed for his own silage usage, then our job is to go measure the remaining crop, take samples of the crop, and the sample has to be weighed and moisture checked for the insurance company. The company has to know what they left to grain harvest and what the most accurate production on that crop is going to be. We measure and work on 1000Th of an acre, and then figure by formulas to get the final production. The first process measure---I volunteered to walk the wheel to take the measurement of what is left in the field---great idea to get exercise--BUT, I didn't take in to consideration of the hills involved--after almost passing out and taking several little breaks, I completed the first 10 acres (whoopee do). That hill, I promise was 10 times the hill on Ave D in Muleshoe, Texas. lol The guys will measure out a certain length of a row to pull all the cobs from several different spots in the field. After gathering the cobs--it has to be shelled(after all three of us have blisters on our hands, I realized I would pay alot more attention to those antique shellers, and would have given lots of money to have one with us), the shelled corn is weighed, then it is moisture checked. After all the figures are gathered, you complete the appraisal by the companies formulas and get the final numbers.

I have learned so much and this experience has really brought back those farm girl roots. It has been very enjoyable and the experience to meet the people has been awesome.

We were notified last night that we will be moving to DeSmet, South Dakota on Monday. Never hearing of this place ( I didn't think) I googled it to see if they even had a motel. To my surprise, this is the home town of Laura Ingle Wilder. So we literally will be visiting the "Little town on the Prairie". It will be the smallest town we have stayed so far, 1200 people, I called for reservations, developed a new friendship on the phone, so excited to see her in person. I will be keeping you updated.

Until then........