Harvesting "downed" corn in the snow

[@woolybuck6852]

Back in 1982 I had 300 acres of corn yet to harvest when the early snow hit. Had to wait until February when the temp finally got down below 17 deg F to finish harvesting the corn. Worked for 72 hours non-stop in order to get it done. I'm 66 years old now, disabled from farming and enjoy watching your channel. The last combine I bought was a 7720 Turbo JD and payed $27,000.00 for it brand new in 1978. Big difference in the equipment between then and now. Cheers...

[@ShermanT.Potter]

I run a 6620 Sidehill, I think alot of guys could still run them if they didn't care about putting in more hours. But if they want to buy twice the combine for 100k on 1000 acres and sell a 6620 for 8k in good shape, I won't complain. :) It does bother me when they bitch about grain prices, though. Quit buying new pickups you dingbats!

[@kevinkenny1367]

For a farmer from west Australia watching the condition that you are harvesting in could not be more different to what I'm about to harvest. I'll be listening to the sport of cricket on my radio tho

[@AASparkChaser]

Like grains of sand through an hour glass such are the "Days of our Lives". Your videos are starting to sound like a television soap opera. I can't wait each day to tune in and see what the latest crisis is on the farm. If you can't make it farming you could always be an actor on television.

[@connerdevitt7220]

I hope you get through all of the downed corn and all of the other problems. I love your videos and think you are the best. Keep up the good work!! I love the harvest videos.

[@murph0666]

Living vicariously through you this year, Zach. Didn't make it back to help on the family farm... Brother didn't figure there was any need given things were going to go so slow from the rain y'all got. Hate to miss a harvest. One of these years I'll make it back for street dance season! Lol

[@jimmylocke2314]

Really enjoy your videos, I'm not a farmer but a diesel mechanic by trade from NW Illinois. I like watching all the day to day duties around your family's farm, man it would be great to just wake up and get to work on your own land. Not to mention the awesome equipment and killer shop you guys have! Keep the videos coming!!

[@jaxsonmiller2663]

I love your videos . I’m 14 years old and I really Love have you commentate . Keep up the good work I might make videos like you

[@SoybeanFarmer3300]

I got a serious admiration for your determination to get all of your corn. good job young Man!

[@boydde]

I used to farm and work full time at my job. I understand some of your struggles. Good entertaining videos. Thanks.

[@Military-Museum-LP]

Oh dose this film bring back memories!! Digging the snouts into the mud, blocking the fan, and etc. plus on an older NH combine. We went day and night non stop till we picked up a rock that the rock trap let pass and destroyed the rotor, bent supports and etc. looked like a bomb went off inside. We had to contract out the rest of the corn. Disaster year. Moral of the story,,, some times it's better off leaving it there till better weather. Be careful!

[@MillennialFarmer]

Military Museum don't scare me like this!

[@agger838]

keep rock trap cleaned out if taking in snow. especially if trying to scoop in down corn. Didnt know corn heads could bring a rock in tho.

[@robertreznik9330]

I hit a rock when finishing the first field. It jammed the gathering chains and the head's gear box two output shafts snapped. That was cheaper than the STS rotor. The rocks came from feedlot manure as we do not have natural rocks.

[@Military-Museum-LP]

Your an educated smart farmer. My generation was taught work and push hard first. I wish we had 1/4 the knowledge you have. Your dad should be proud.

[@MillennialFarmer]

Some of my knowledge came from him but I don't like to let him know that....!

[@paulc8581]

Love the grain dryier fame . Would make a good picture to hang on the wall . And sorry about your problems with the snow . Like they say Better Luck Next Time

[@MillennialFarmer]

We'll get through it!

[@bjorgvinorhararson9973]

Hi greetings from Iceland. Very good youtube channel. Im self an farmer growing barley and canola here in Iceland. I must say i have seen this snow trouble in my farming and the cold. I did harvest canola in -13 degrees celsius. Worked good but the combine driver vas cold had no heater.

[@Farmall450]

Great video as always. Sorry to see the weather is holding you up. It was in pushing 50 today at UIUC.

[@robertreznik9330]

In Texas harvest is about finished with the dry weather pattern. We finished Nov. 13th. We planted thicker back in the 1960's and the corn went down often after a snow fall. Today, we plant thinner and the hybrids stand much better even now harvesting below 16.5% moisture. Down corn is a pain. There are still millions of acres of cotton...ours was finished a few days ago.

[@MillennialFarmer]

Robert Reznik We keep getting told to plant thicker and thicker every year... this field was actually planted just a hair higher, so we are thinking that may have been a problem

[@2fast65]

Great video thanks for sharing have a great night be safe hopefully things go better soon for you guys.

[@MillennialFarmer]

2fast65 we're getting there!

[@webandmn82]

What a mess, glad to see your almost done we farm on a much smaller scale in central mn, fortunately we are done go vikes!!

[@raffy1ca]

California duster used at the end of the day on your windows and mirrors is the best thing ever. Great video! Cheers from Saskatchewan 🍻

[@MillennialFarmer]

raffy1ca I might have to try that

[@thedonleroy]

That downed corn did not look fun at all. I hope you can get it all picked up.I agree a steaming dryer at night is a beautiful sight. That's my job during corn is to haul the corn & look after the dryer so I saw it a lot this year. Thanks for the video.

[@garlandremingtoniii4679]

You do make the best farming videos!!!!

[@japppan1]

Very very good! Greetings from Hungary!

[@benbonderson3731]

I'm also from Nebraska and I also thought you were listening to the Nebraska-Minnesota game. That was unfortunate for us, but not unfortunate like the down corn and snow you have. Sorry you have to deal with such rough conditions.

[@45Deere9500]

No snow to add to the trouble, but I've helped Dad with down corn in past years, and it's no fun! I remember one field where he could only harvest it one way, and I stood at the spot where it was down the worst, waiting for him to get there with the combine. When he got to that area, the corn would stop feeding at least twice, and I got to be the person pushing, kicking, throwing the stalks to the back of the head so the auger could grab them.

[@freddeere5343]

I like the VIKINGS TOO...even from Australia !!! :)

[@danielmoeller7977]

I remember those days of the combine freezing up. some times had to actually take the sieves out to let them thaw. Of course that is when it was easy to do

[@MillennialFarmer]

daniel moeller that would be an all day job now!

[@treeman8881]

They say the 20" row is better especially in a dry season something for you to think about anyway later pup lol its good to see the younger generation of farmers your my son's age

[@Northern_Farmer]

Thats how A lot of guys around here were last year... we were very lucky that it didnt snow much at all all winter in some places... people were harvesting in January... that had to be a new record!

[@MillennialFarmer]

Northern farmer Do people ever leave corn over the winter in your area? Once in a while people leave some here because the moisture content is so high. We did it in 2009 and were really nervous about it but we combined it in March on frozen ground and it worked awesome. One bad blizzard though....

[@Northern_Farmer]

No corn around here....only for chopping...Cant grow corn here to short of a season. But we were in similar conditions with the downed wheat and Canola that your having with the corn. The Canola was easier cause most of it is windrowed...but we were the same with the snow going through the combine. Im learning more about the corn more everyday though.

[@banjobenson9348]

In Idaho they leave corn out all winter and just get to it when they get around to it, and it dries down very well.

[@MillennialFarmer]

Do blizzards ever knock it over? We had some big snow drifts in ours and were really worried about it taking the corn down

[@banjobenson9348]

Southern Idaho doesn't get blizzards for the most part, we are at 3300 feet and snow often melts in a few days. with hot summers and irrigation they can get 250 bu corn and 4 cuttings of Hay.

[@Agedmetal.40]

Love the videos. In South Africa is a struckle with water. So we don't plant corn, wheat or soy beans. It is fruits en vegatables that we plant.

[@minnesotaoutsider1083]

typical boy 123 do you plant rice

[@Agedmetal.40]

@@minnesotaoutsider1083 no

[@Agedmetal.40]

In cape town they plant wheat

[@keenankelley187]

I know you’ve been fighting corn harvest just hope all that moisture from that snow doesn’t cause bearing problems for next year.. Winter maintenance will tell awesome vid like always.

[@MillennialFarmer]

That's a big concern of ours. Problems next year from too much abuse this year...

[@keenankelley187]

MN Millennial Farmer I’m wondering the same for my combine bean harvest has been wet and hard on the machine just more money that’s all. Like you said The Harvest That Never Ends!!!

[@robertpayne2717]

Picking up downed rice in the days before draper headers was terrible. Especially in in fields that are still flooded or muddy..also can be nasty if you have alot of Skunks you don't want to ever pick up a skunk in the header...

[@gaugebrady5416]

Watching the game while harvesting for sure country

[@Pete-from-Tn]

Thats where we used to hand pull down corn. Then fed it through the combine. Last time we just used the bean header to get it though.

[@OriginalRazar]

Sorry to hear about the trouble you are having with the snow. I was just wondering about something that I am not sure if it will help. Why not use a bucket on a tractor to pick up as much as you can, and dump it into a trailer. Then back the trailer into the building to thaw some of the snow. After that is done, then you can find a place outside that it clear enough to dump it. Then use the bucket again to scoop it up and dump it into the harvester. I figure that might be safer than risking messing up your harvester anymore. Just check to make sure there are no rocks in it that can damage anything. I have not worked with a harvester before, so I am not sure if this would even work. Either way, I hope that you are able to get everything done without anymore problems. And I hope that you and your family stay safe out there. Razar.

[@dhansel4835]

I remember hauling round bails of hay at 11:00PM. I had two big halogen flood lights on the top cover of the tractor and two on the back top cover. The tractor also had it's two lights on the front and one big one on the back. I looked like a UFO going across the hay field. It was a full moon, I would line the moon up at about 11:00 o-clock and drive until I saw the shinny aluminium gate in the distance. That was my bearing or dead reckoning of hay hauling at midnight.

[@karljacobson1575]

I feel for you! That's a mess with snow! We very seldom have that issue here in northern Kansas! We do have down corn however you need a corn reel!!! Pulls corn in better! I can't imagine your drying cost!! Here it drys down in field good!! Even the irrigated..... I had none over 14 percent this fall got done 1 week ago.....

[@MillennialFarmer]

That's crazy. We have only had 2 years in my life where we barely had to dry it down because it got down to 17% or so. We have combined at 32-34% before. It's terrible....

[@Nitz02]

Haha that's what I do when I'm listening to football games in the cart

[@FarmingDreams]

Keep battling! Awesome video. Sent you a shout out in my veterans day video!

[@MillennialFarmer]

FarmingDreams I just checked it out, hadn't seen it yet! Thanks! And I think you're right, after a couple weeks of long days in the combine or tractor, we've all done it!

[@DennysCountryLife]

You guys must be up in Northern MN. I was just in south eastern MN and Northern Iowa yesterday and didn't see a single white spot! Not what I was expecting. Ha ha

[@MillennialFarmer]

We're in the west central part. 5 miles south of us there is no snow. Our's is pretty much gone now too.

[@user-zu2bw7ig5v]

That corn dryer is really driving up the price of my propane 😉

[@MillennialFarmer]

Sorry about that!

[@tf7274]

We have a neighbour who only combines his corn in March...freeze dried. Comes off the field at 17-19%. Works only in cold climate and small operation.

[@curtweatherbee2523]

Millennium farmer u have ur work cut out 😳 with the weather ⛄️ Here in South Jersey the weather is not that bad 😛Yet 🌞First of the year is are worst ⛄️we get ❄️ when it’s time too plant & 🌧 !!!! Take care frog hollow farm

[@MillennialFarmer]

We've been through it before and we'll get through it again!

[@farmertan13]

Thanks for the great video! Hope you guys have made good progress the last couple of days. Question for you: what is the latest you've gone before finishing your corn?

[@MillennialFarmer]

farmertan13 in 2009 we combined until mid-December before we chose to let 300 acres stand over winter and finished it in March. It was really really wet that year.

[@jjlowe01]

I feel your pain but sure don’t miss harvesting corn, we ran into the same problems here in Idaho. I will agree running the corn dryer when it was cold is pretty awesome watching all the steam rise. Like the video keep them coming

[@keithbrettell2058]

Lovin' the more regular videos!

[@Farmable]

same

[@MillennialFarmer]

Keith Brettell I don't know what I'll do when harvest is over!

[@keithbrettell2058]

Maintenance and prep for next year. I'm sure you're busy through the winter, just doin' other stuff which is all cool.

[@MillennialFarmer]

I'm thinking about travelling around some and visiting other farms. Dairy, hogs, beef, poultry, etc...

[@keithbrettell2058]

Love that idea!

[@albertafarmer916]

Found your channel about two months ago, I love farming and this is the BEST channel on youtube!!.You do an excellent job of educating non-farmers about farming and the misconception about farming.Also i enjoy seeing how farming is done different in your area, its like being there without actually being there.KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!

[@mericafreedomland3583]

I know nothing about farming so bare with me but its super interesting which is why i watch, if the corn goes down due to the snow will it come back up after it melts or no? Is it once its down its down?

[@FaughABallagh2696]

When we get downed corn like that we fire up ol' #2 S680 and throw the flex head on. Its a pain, but it works better than the corn head.

[@lynwessel2471]

Snow combining with STS works up to about 22 degrees then get outta there!You can run with the seive removed and close the chaffer down.One less thing to thaw out and clean up.

[@farmingwithgeorge6458]

TOUCHDOWN,, SKOL, The farms here in upstate N Y are having some problems with combining but mostly with mud. Good videos

[@rykery1034]

Hi how are you doing I hope you ha e a safe rest of the season

[@grahamwilson6994]

Hello from New Zealand. I was brought up on a dairy farm, I am not on the farm now. I have two sisters, one married to a potato farmer and the other one married a minister. I still like watching your farming etc. Stay safe.

[@JM24mama]

Nice vid hope everything is keeping on track and going better

[@MillennialFarmer]

DK OUTDOORS we'll get it done!

[@treeman8881]

I have to comment on your site JD has a new 20" row corn head 18 row it looked like it would do a better job of picking up that down corn especially when it's wet I've had my share of picking downed corn with the same head your using having to unplug it or keeping it from pushing up a mess like you have there

[@PAFarms]

Not very familiar with JD numbers. There is a 9770 STS at my place today, how does that compare with yours?

[@MillennialFarmer]

Exact same machine, ours has a little more horsepower. We had a 9770 before this one.

[@bro-dirt680]

Theres still people out there that watch NFL? Great channel by the way. Maybe we can finish getting a crop in this year. Might be Christmas time we do but we will make it!!!

[@Farmable]

GET GOING AND GET SOME CORN HARVESTED! Hahaha I'd help ya out if I could! Seems like you've been harvesting corn forever now and more and more problems come up..

[@MillennialFarmer]

Farmable we're almost there! At this point we can't even keep the guys we have busy because we just can't really do anything.

[@michaelstevens652]

Coming from a Packer fan,the vikings are looking really good this year will probably make the nfc divisional game

[@p.thadeushornswoggler4987]

Yeah we are screwed in Wisconsin this year I'm afraid.

[@heyerstandards]

Go Pack

[@meanjoegreen4925]

RAMS VS MIN = rams win play n.e. in Super Bowl LII ==== rams win it all, ok i know I'm dreaming but it been a long time since we played them in S.B. & we were cheated BIG time by those cheater england team pay backs are a bi@@h

[@lowercherty]

Nothing like Paul Allen doing the Vikes play by play.

[@MillennialFarmer]

B Laquisha absolutely!

[@fensie2724]

I’d help but I’m only 15 1/2 and I don’t live in Minnesota haha!!!!

[@rattlinurcage3]

Thought I seen where they were using a flex header on the downed corn ?

[@MillennialFarmer]

Mark Sinn it's been done, we considered it here...

[@BadassWeldingVideos]

what if there is more snow earlier next year? is there a plan for that?

[@MillennialFarmer]

Badass Welding Videos The best we can do is not plant this hybrid again.

[@69druth]

Nasty stuff.Whirl wind cause that. Had some silage one time and I was off 6 rows with a 2 row head. It wasn't weather related it was the corn. The sales guy said oh won't be my corn. I had 4 different variety's and his was flat all others fine, he didn't say much. lol

[@ryanconrad1516]

Paul Allen calling the Vikings game in the beginning of the video!

[@richardmarsh3879]

Why do you wait until the corn stalks are brown to pick the corn rather than picking it when it’s green?

[@Jeffersonstarship01]

which part of Minnesota are you in? I'm down here in SW most corner of the state not seeing too much snow on the fields this way

[@MillennialFarmer]

Cole Ludolph west central. South of Alexandria

[@Jeffersonstarship01]

MN Millennial Farmer very nice. I lived in willmar for a while so probably not to far away from you. but great videos!

[@norbbread135]

Wow less than 100 acres left? C'mon man you got this! Let's pray you don't run into anymore problems!

[@MillennialFarmer]

Tractor1150 one day at a time!

[@Farmable]

Tomorrows video better be a good one, no more bad news!

[@45DerekS]

How many acres of corn did you have planted this season? Seems like you've been harvesting corn for a month.

[@MillennialFarmer]

about 1400. The last week has been really slow because of the weather.

[@nashguy207]

Man tough conditions for harvesting are these typical conditions for harvest time in your part of the country or is the harvest a little or weather a little early this year?

[@MillennialFarmer]

nashguy207 it's a little earlier than normal but this isn't really uncommon. The last few years have been too easy!

[@joeystorer2978]

2:48 the piece is still missing from when the axle snapped lol

[@smcox1991]

Even the heater is green 😂

[@gospartans86]

Would it be more economical to just not pick up the downed corn? Or, at what point would you decide to leave corn in the field?

[@MillennialFarmer]

Since it's our last stuff and it's right next to the yard, we'll keep working on it until we absolutely can't. So until either snow is coming or the ground is freezing solid.

[@AirborneRenegade]

Wish we had a 9870 vs our 9770. But now we're upgrading to the S780.

[@festus51]

Have you ever thought about a Case IH combine? Just wondering??

[@endafarrell9762]

Can u do a video on all ur tractors

[@mr.boersen979]

could you do a video on the stopmers on the corn head?

[@austinseubert6047]

We have that same flash light lol

[@tomlong2782]

Challenging but rewarding time of year for sure. Do you all lease your equipment or purchase it? How old are you, you seem like a seasoned vet even though you’re a “millenial.”

[@MillennialFarmer]

We are leasing 1 tractor as of now. Dad owns most of the equipment yet and I rent it from him for my acres. I'm 33

[@donald1056]

Have to put the grain head on ?? for the down corn - unusual but ti works

[@MillennialFarmer]

Donald Ellett we might try it

[@donald1056]

If you do I hope it works - good luck

[@jeffa3758]

If you try it you will probably end up removing the reel. We had to do it one year... & you probably don't want to hear how it finished. One person on each side of the header with a pitch fork feeding it in... it was a miserable few days.

[@nicholass5405]

Wouldn't the corn go through just as good or better if you put the head on float?

[@MillennialFarmer]

But the stalks that are down are only about 2-4" off the ground...

[@curtweatherbee2523]

I no ur a hard worker 😉⛄️⛄️

[@denisgallagher109]

I understand help is scarce on farms . I called up a custom combining outfit last year. His deal was I get to live in a trailer with 7 other guys work 16 HR days and I have semi licence and can operate combines. For this I was to get $2400 a month. I thought it was a wee bit low. I have no idea how much farm staff make nowadays. I'm in Ireland at the moment and same problem now staff to be had . Any contractor or large farmer are all complaining about it. They pay 10 euros and hour but now that construction has picked up workers are jumping ship to work on building sites. Way better pay and conditions.

[@nolanmosher2541]

I'm from Nebraska but love the Vikings let's go Minnesota 7-2

[@NoFroth]

If you ever need help I’m in northern iowa😂

[@trevor6248]

It would be pretty sweet if there were a way to redirect the air from the radiator down inside the machine to help melt that snow.

[@MillennialFarmer]

WalkTheWalk at times, yes. The downfall would be when it's cold enough for it to blow through then it would melt and cause this problem again...

[@Ethanj387]

Just wondering what town ur closest to. I'm also from minnesota and we farm near Fergus Falls.

[@MillennialFarmer]

We're south of Alexandria

[@Spaude123]

whats the corn dryer do an hour? what do you dry it down to?

[@MillennialFarmer]

spaude123 about 900 bushels. We dry it to about 16% and as it cools in the bins it ends up around 14.5

[@amandaosborne3020]

Zach, love your videos but I gotta say, GO PACK GO!!!! 😂

[@andrewmata5359]

You looking for any help for next year? I can drive tractors an I use to be a mechanic on semis.

[@MillennialFarmer]

Andrew Mata we're good for now, thanks!

[@salmankahlonkahlon9812]

Nice good job bro

[@garlandremingtoniii4679]

Excellent. Excellent.

[@p.thadeushornswoggler4987]

would 150 psi of air and a 3/8 inch nozzle blow that chaff / mud out?

[@MillennialFarmer]

anathema I think it would splatter it all over the sieves and just spread it around more. I think it would move it though

[@stricklandfarms9123]

Great video

[@deerejohn6074]

Nice video!!

[@stanleyjones4180]

great video thanks

[@kadehimsel7602]

You would think the snow would melt in the machine lol

[@MillennialFarmer]

That would be nice.

[@Northern_Farmer]

Thats actually what you dont want.... thats how you get everything plugged up inside cause it gets everything all wet. We waited till it was really cold and the friction of threshing didnt melt the snow and it just blew out the back... but it was cold...

[@adrianklaver113]

I just can't help but think there is diesel engine cranking out all sorts of heat and it seems it should be possible to redirect that heat to melt the snow. Think jet airplane deicers where the engine heat is redirected through slots in the wings. JD might have a fit if you did that on your own though:)

[@maxandwillscrazyadventures4933]

For you your worried about the snow and for us it is the header burrning

[@libertyevanko1794]

How many cuttings do you get?

[@libertyevanko1794]

A yer

[@imrankundalic6147]

On a svake of 1-10 how rough is IT Boeing a farmer (1 is easy, 10 is hard)

[@jasonvortherms1167]

That looked like fun

[@TheBertjeT]

3:09 is that an animal scooting away right there?

[@MillennialFarmer]

TheBertjeT no, just corn husks being thrown forward by the chopping knives