Owning a farm is a big responsibility, especially where harvesting is concerned. Even with a bumper crop yield, farms can fail without the right harvesting methods. That's why it's so important that you spend time planning for the harvest. If you're just starting out with a family farm, you might not know how to plan for the harvest. Unfortunately, that lack of planning can set you up for some serious problems down the road. Here are four tips that will help you to get ready for the corn harvest.
Start With a Good Action Plan
If this is going to be your first corn harvest, it's crucial that you start out with the right plan of action. This is especially important where marketing and delivery schedules are concerned. If you're just going to be filling your own silos, you don't need to worry about those schedules. But if you're planning on marketing your corn harvest, you need to keep things on a tight schedule. The best way to do that is to outline your deliveries according to moisture content. This is helpful when your crop includes hybrid and non-hybrid corn. Hybrid corn is used for food-grade products, such as popcorn.
Get Your Equipment Ready to Go
If you're going to be harvesting your first corn crop, make sure your equipment is ready to go. You might not use your harvesting equipment during the off-seasons, which means there may be some maintenance needs to be taken care of. Several weeks before harvest season, take the time to service all your equipment, including the grain carts, combines, and tractors. That way, you won't need to deal with delays once harvest season begins.
Follow the Current Weather Patterns
If you've never been through a corn harvest season before, don't let the weather catch you by surprise. If you've been through a rainy season, you need to make sure you know your fields. There may be low spots that have accumulated more soil saturation. If that's the case, you'll need to mark those areas. Harvesting through soggy soil and low spots can be tricky, especially for first-time harvesters. It's also important that you monitor current weather trends. You don't want the first snow to arrive before you have a chance to harvest your corn crop.
Have a Corn Harvest Service Lined Up
Finally, if you're worried about surviving your first corn harvest, have a service lined up. A good corn harvesting service will help you to avoid the problems that can cut into yields and profits. As an advantage, corn harvesting services will provide the equipment, knowledge, and manpower you need for a successful corn harvest. Contact a company that offers corn harvesting services to learn more.
Share16 September 2020
Growing up, I absolutely adored living in the country. I liked to take long walks down the dirt road adjacent to my home. I also enjoyed collecting eggs from my grandmother’s chicken coop each day. Are you thinking about moving to a rural location? Consider taking up farming as a new hobby. To begin your agricultural adventure, you’ll likely need to invest in some necessary equipment and supplies. For example, you might wish to purchase a small tractor. You may also want to install an irrigation system on your property. On this blog, I hope you will discover the most common types of agricultural equipment and supplies small scale farmers invest in. Enjoy!