A little elbow grease completes corn combining
Published on October 29, 2024 at 12:55pm EDT | Author: frazeevergas
0By Tyler Trieglaff
Notes from the Chief
Notes from the Farm…Well good news…The feeder chain in the parts combine came out in about 10 minutes and fit right in the feeder house of the running machine. The new to us chain still had original International red paint on it and it looked to be in very good shape. The new chain went in without a hitch and it was running nice and smooth before we put the guards and covers back on the feeder house.
After a few more acres were combined, it was decided that we needed to replace a leaking hydraulic hose. It would still run while leaking and a new hose wouldn’t be hard to get from the repair shop, but I realized that there was probably a hose on the hill on the other combine. The hose on the parts combine came off in a couple minutes as there were other parts missing. Now the hose on the good machine, that was a whole different story.
There were years of oil, corn chaff and oat dust gummed up in the area around the hose and there was not an easy way to get it off. I can honestly say that I have never been so dirty as when I was done taking out the old and putting in the new hydraulic hose. Part of my forearms were solid black with a thick oily paste that could have been used to grease a steam locomotive. The new hose went in and the leak was fixed.
The corn was finished on Monday and the combine was washed off and stored until next season. The cows have been on the hayfields for pasture the last couple of weeks. We turned them into the cornfield and we will let them chew on the corn stalks and leaves for a week or more before deer hunting. We will feed the cows some hay and corn silage as the corn leftovers don’t provide the greatest of nutrients, so we will supplement with other feedstuffs.
We averaged around 110-120 bushels to the acre I think so we will be sitting very well for our corn needs for a couple years. The cows will be pregnancy checked on Oct. 31 and the calves will get their weaning tags put in to start the weaning process. I can already tell that there may be a couple cows that will not make the cut due to their age and poor body condition score. These cows will most likely go to the sales barn. Any young animals we may put in with the animals we are fattening and butcher them for ground beef.
Friday, Oct. 18
2:15 p.m. Report of a loose dog. Unable to locate.
7:38 p.m. Assist with a disturbance in a vehicle on Co. Hwy 29.
7:41 p.m. Records check for FBI.
Monday, Oct. 21
11:28 a.m. Domestic incident on Main Ave E.
4:18 p.m. Lost property at the rest area. Frazee Officer picked up the items and they were picked up the next day.
Tuesday, Oct. 22
Happy birthday to my dad!!!
11:59 a.m. Parking complaint in a parking lot as vehicle was blocking several parking spots. Owner was contacted and tow truck was already on the way.
12:23 p.m. Report of a public works utility box that had been backed into causing damage. Video cameras showed a female backing into the box and officer talked with her a couple days later.
2:53 p.m. Report of a possible neglected dog. Officer talked with dog owners about the concern.
5:33 p.m. Assist with a vehicle that had lost a tie rod in the middle of an intersection.
Wednesday, Oct. 23
9:20 a.m. Report of a rooster living in town. Owner contacted and reminded that hen chickens are allowed but not roosters.
3:03 p.m Assist Otter Tail Probation with a home visit.
Thursday, Oct. 24
8:13 a.m. Traffic stop with warning for speed.
3:51 p.m. Vehicle unlock.
4 p.m. Welfare check requested on an elderly male. Male was ok.
4:30 p.m. Party requesting a standby as her ex was coming to get a vehicle he left at her place. Male did not show up.