Harvest 2018 ended for us on Monday Night just in time for Supper. The last of the Flat wheat was harvested and another year is in the books.
Then we moved north and finished off a couple neighbours. Yes people still do that and yes north of the valley we aren't lazy we just have different weather and mother nature can be a bitch when she wants to plus most south was seeding 5 to 10 days ahead of us and done before the first rain events.
Yields will go down as one of the Greatest years for us on all crops except the peas, that I thank BASF every day for the great products they have. The sad part is now that they have liberty and it was our strongest yield we might have to go back and kiss and makeup.
I find one thing totally hilarious, no one, not one seed and chem and fertilizer guys or salesman for iron or bins or sheds or pulldozers came round when we were not done harvesting (Except rocky MT and Pattison who had demos). Then on Tuesday the phone rang all day, Explain why I call them parasites or just good timing.
I do have to give a big thank you to Rocky Mt Equipment for three demos that helped me see how the product they sell work in tough conditions. I also thank Rod for running a machine on a few days. I do thank Pattison salesman Chris for bringing out a demo and running one of our machines also. Big help for couple days. Other companies like Nicks did keep our swathers going in tough conditions and yes you get a thank you also.
I thank all our men who helped get the harvest to the finish line.
Overall I would peg the Saskatchewan harvest at 96% because of the good weather and how guys did join up to help others get done. We still have one to two farms with 5 to 7 quarters left but with yesterday and maybe today they will also get done. Miracle or just a fall like when I was in Grade 11 and on Halloween we were running around only wearing a Bunnyhug and having the time of our lives with your high school friends.
Most in our area finished last week between Tuesday and Friday then the last guys worked till yesterday with no interruptions. North did have snow showers.
Rail movement and elevator space etc has been good to great for our area. Funny with issues in Alberta our terminal had a massive malt program and will ship in the next few weeks 4 100 car or more trains.
We did get some fall work completed with the Kelly. Most neighbours that were done did get a lot more in the days after harvest ended. Fields are coming back to normal from the flood years. Some Cat work is taking place on old yard sites and fields that guys are trying to make more end to end. Fence lines are getting also cleaned up. If your sitting or on Higher costing dirt every acre is important.
Red Deer farm show is next week and yes I think I need a break and maybe will make a trip West. I like that show and have a brand new Black jacket to attend. The combine we drove might be there.
Florida as is calling and the Geese are gathering and it's almost time to Take the Vehicle down south to its winter home. Wife would have left a week ago. Happy wife happy life.
Snow could be on way this weekend and that would put a halt to the burning and field work and harvest. but learner and others still have us for a warmer November. I hope so I hate winter. Maybe we can get the Sled shack tinned when I get back.
Politics
I can't believe how the group in Ottawa just doesn't get it. Listened to a guy who met with a standing committee the other day on Impact of Carbon tax on farmers that it was more than just fuel. They sat there like a deer in headlights, clueless.
I guess the legalization is having a positive effect on some.
Canada is going backwards fast and a lot are realizing the Trudeau game was a bigger mistake than Alberta with Nut case. Harper did get it right he just isn't ready. Or never was.
Sad he has still a year to do way more damage before he gets the boot.
Saturday the Conservatives pick a candidate to go against Ralph and all who are registered to get out and vote. It's hard to say who would be better. The three are all different. First is a vet and an ex-cop I think. Good choice for how awful Ralphy is with vets. Second is a young white guy who did a lot of door knocking etc. The third is a young strong woman who would eat Ralph up with the Liberal feminism etc. Either way, most in our neighbourhood are saying the same thing, Ralph, fake a family crisis or personal time and get the hell out before the humiliation happens as most have turned on you.
Halloween was last night and maybe our neighbourhood is getting older as we dropped the last few years from 125 kids to 100 to 75 to 55. More Candy for me.
So to all who still have the crop, you still might get it in November. To all that are done way to go it was a grind. To all that went to help a neighbour, good on you the rural spirit is still alive in big or small farms becasue most are a family or like a family unit.
Be safe and remember the ones at home are way more important than any crop.
Last crop report of the year here is to 2018 and planning and prep for 2019 as we will do it all again in April.
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