2023 From The Fields

“We’re probably about 25 perent done on corn, I’d guess.” Hanson anticipated another four to five days left for corn, and hopes to start beans the middle of next week. In a perfect world, he said he’d be wrapping things up in a week to 10 days, but knows to roll with the punches. Hanson stated he’s feeling very fortunate, as there are farmers to the north and west of him that have very little crop seeded currently.

The cattle are doing fine on the home pasture. Hanson stated the push to get beans in is greater, so once planting is finished, he’ll bring the cattle in to be vaccinated and sorted. He commented it’s a good time to spray pastures for thistles, as well as put a little fertilizer down in places that need it.

Hanson would likely argue there’s never a good time for mosquitoes, but he unfortunately has already heard their first hum. “Why were they ever made?” he lamented with a laugh. v

Nick Pooch Farwell, Minn. May 18

Nick Pooch was able to start planting around the 4th or 5th of May. He reports his oats are up and the alfalfa is looking good. There was no winter kill on his existing alfalfa, and he states that’s looking nice, too. He planted a little rye last fall. “In the last week, it has taken off. That looks good,” he said.

Pooch started planting corn on May 11. “We should get done with corn today, I think,” he stated on May 18. In the last 10 days, the area received around 1/10 to 3/10 inches of rain on three occasions. There aren’t any wet spots and Pooch reported the forecast is showing 7-10 days of good weather, so he’s expecting to get the beans in the ground fairly easily.

Blake, Pooch’s oldest son, is currently busy with baseball along with taking care of his cattle. It

David Tauer

Hanska, Minn. May 18

Rainfall has kept David Tauer out of the fields for 13 days and counting. He reports he was able to get most of the corn in on the 3rd and 5th of May. Between the 5th and 13th, the farm had over nine inches of rain!

As of May 18, Tauer didn’t expect there to be much field work for at least a week yet. There is ponding water, and some of the corn will need to be replanted.

On the other hand, Tauer reported that the alfalfa hasn’t stopped growing with the moisture. “It thrives in those conditions,” he stated. The new alfalfa looks good, and the alfalfa that was established over the last couple of years is now 18 inches tall. He anticipated it’s about 10 days from being cut.

“Oats look well,” Tauer commented, noting they are about 4 inches tall. Tauer’s cows are staying comfortable in this weather, too. He sprayed for flies on Tuesday. “That’s something we do every two to four weeks depending on how bad they are.”

By May 26, the Tauer children will be finished with school for the summer. Ruby and Adam help out with the cows, as well as mowing. They’ll be busy with baseball and softball, and Tauer reported his wife, Angie, will also be busy running between fields. v

Jim Hagen

Lake Mills, Iowa May 19

Jim Hagen estimated his farm got about two inches of rain throughout the second week of May. “We never had any water standing,” he stated.

By May 18, Hagen had just 50 acres left of soybeans to plant. Hagen also drives bus, and an all-day field trip kept him from finishing. He was one of six drivers that transported 300 6th graders to the Twin Cities, and he stated it was likely a good thing as it gave the field a little more time to dry. When he spoke with The Land on the morning of May 19, he was back to planting. “I’ll be done by noon,” he remarked.

Soybeans were started on the first week of May, and Hagen reported three-fourths of what had been planted is up. He finished planting corn on May 1. “All the corn is up,” he stated.

See HAGEN, pg. 5