Picking Corn 2019 - Part 1

Title says it all. Corn harvest 2019 gets underway.
It's muddy. Some of the equipment won't play nice at first. The yield isn't great, but the cover crops we interseeded between the corn rows look awesome.
Things you won't see in this video:
Auto Steer
Yield monitors
Machines that adjust themselves
----- Basically anything computerized at all--------
Diesel tractors that start well in the cold
Equipment manufactured after, say, 1975
Equipment that's owned by the bank
Farmers who give up easily
Link to Part 2
• Picking Corn 2019 - Pa...

[@modelb9332]

I remember doing these chores when I was a 12 - at least until my uncle lost the farm(dairy) in the early 90’s. It’s a shame so many are gone. Glad to have found your channel. This is how I picture my retirement - picking corn with a two row picker - except on an Oliver. Ha!

[@ravenviewfarm]

Thanks Model B! Nothing wrong with Olivers!

[@dehavenfamilyfarm]

Nice to see the older equipment at work!!

[@ravenviewfarm]

Thanks! We don't jockey equipment much, so almost everything we use has spent the majority of its life on our farm. Those old tractors and implements get to be like family after a lifetime of working with them. I just checked out your channel as well. I dig it! I'm especially looking forward to watching the short series you did on goats. We've got some pasture land that is in dire need of some livestock once I get the fences updated, and I've been contemplating goats for awhile now. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!

[@dankinnard1833]

For older equipment that New Ideal picker is doing a super job of husking out that crop of corn, probably the best I've seen!

[@raincoast9010]

The sound of the chains and paddles on the elevator as you climbed up brought back some memories...

[@goodseasonproductionscraig2000]

I really like that you're keeping farming simple as it should be, and you're not afraid to try different ways to market your goods. Mostly, I like the way you appreciate your way of life.

[@ravenviewfarm]

Your comment made me stop and think - you're right. Even on the hard days we're grateful for our opportunity to live this way. I'm glad that it shows, and I appreciate your taking the time to watch and comment because in doing so, you become a little part of it too.

[@haroldolson5877]

How I grew up, it was great, I miss it. Corn picking was always my favorite harvest, we had a single row, took forever.

[@ravenviewfarm]

Dad always tells stories about picking corn with his Dad. One-row picker on a Farmall H with flair wagons. He and one of his brothers would haul loads with the John Deere B. They always had to wait in the field for the next load to get full, so they’d throw a corn cob like a football back and forth to pass the time.

[@MillennialFarmer]

Good to meet you on Tuesday! I love that old M. My family had several of those back in the day. Grandpa was a strict Farmall man. I'll be keeping an eye on the channel, good luck!

[@ravenviewfarm]

Millennial Farmer Good to meet you too Zach! That M has served three generations of my family and has more than a few stories behind it. We’ll be doing some fun stuff this spring, like using this old iron to plant green into cereal rye, and doing a bunch of practical soil health tests in the fields. With a little luck it’ll be a better growing year. Fingers crossed. Keep in touch! If you’re ever down around the cities you’re always welcome at our place.

[@stephenrice4554]

Love seeing the equipment being used , all the problems that come with it are just part of using it . Deepest respect to you . Greetings from England .

[@raincoast9010]

Pulling in the muddy field with a two wheel drive can be a challenge. I liked Duke coming over to supervise the changing of the picker tire.

[@cesmith4566]

Hi Mike, like watching the older equipment! I've got 100 acres of my own in northeast Ohio. Keep up the good work it won't take long till you have a few hundred subscribers!

[@philkathol]

brings back fond memories in SE So Dak. thanks for sharing!

[@dfarmer_]

Very well done! I enjoy seeing corn picking and remember it fondly as a child, and we still have one round crib standing. I help on the family farm in SW MN when possible - corn, soybeans, hogs, no more cows.

[@BonnieKay13]

New Idea is a great picker, good husk removal system, clean corn keeps and dries down far better and that's some clean stuff going in that crib. Center drying vents are a great idea also, I used to blow hot air up, 3 days of that it was plenty dry enough. I hate blat tires, new is best, or find really good used ones, tubes... no tubeless, just too much rim leaking.

[@harrythehermit3685]

Enjoyed the older equipment. It brought back memories from long ago.👍

[@organicpaulguy]

Nice video! We use to pick ear corn with a newideal 324 picker. Spent many hours using one of those and we also use to use a Keewanee flight elevator to unload with. Lots and lots of good and bad memories of doing that.

[@ravenviewfarm]

I hear you on the good and bad memories part. The work can be downright joyful when everything's going well, and the polar opposite when conditions are tough or things break down. But hey, I spent a few years sitting at a desk doing office work, and I'll take this over that any day!

[@danielpullum1907]

Interesting to see it done when I was a kid. 80 now but I'm just a wanna-be farmer. Worked for a farmer family in the 50's and worked four years for a farmer in 2005-2009. My career was at Caterpillar Inc. in Decatur, IL 1970-2002. Be proud you can work with your dad.....

[@miguelamaya6246]

AWESOME, we love farming... thank you for SHARING your VIDEO...

[@Indicounselor]

Brought back memories, I want to go back...oh how I hate the 21st century.

[@lavernfiely1326]

Used to build those 2 row pickers at the New Idea plant in Coldwater Ohio in the mid 60s

[@ravenviewfarm]

Honestly, I wish they were still being built. I know most farmers have gotten to a scale where picking doesn't make sense any more, but for the small guy it does offer some significant advantages.

[@dennisfoulk82]

Nice machinery.

[@davidchappell4759]

Really good picker. The corn is really clean.

[@ravenviewfarm]

Thanks! We've found over the years that really dry corn doesn't husk as well. The dry husks are slippery, so the rollers don't tear them off as well. This corn was pretty high moisture, so the husking rollers really grabbed the husks a lot better. In the grand scheme of things, I think I'd rather have dry corn, but we'll take what we can get!

[@jaysteidinger7380]

FYI I have a 325 picker and found out that an old low pro 24.5 semi tire works perfect on a 24” rim. Most times there free after the tread is worn done. Love that old equipment. 👍

[@ravenviewfarm]

It gets the job done, and I don't have to cut a check to the bank for it every month. That's worth a lot these days.

[@farmcentralohio]

Merry Christmas 2020 :) Hope you were able to get this years harvest finished without any major pains

[@ravenviewfarm]

Merry Christmas! Harvest went really well this year - I took a lot of video, but finding time to edit has been challenging. I'll get them up soon!

[@somethingabouttractors241]

Awesome stuff thanks for sharing

[@donaldshellmanjr6196]

your doing a good job

[@richardcleasby105]

Love the job the new idea pickers did husking

[@ravenviewfarm]

It's a good machine on the whole. They have a few quirks, but then again everything does. The biggest problem we have with it is the rubber fingers in the husking bed falling apart, but that's a common complaint and only a minor problem in the grand scheme of things. Thanks for watching!

[@semihozgol8933]

Videoyu yeni izliyorum.1000 metre kare tarladan ne kadar agirlikta mısır hasat ediyorsunuz.Türkiyeden selamlar.

[@Crazyfarmer67]

I can't help but wonder. Who's more profitable? The farmer who farms 1000's of acres with millions invested. Or the guy who's equipment is old but paid for? I'm envious of you.

[@hubertbergen3000]

The big farmer will turn more dollars but the smaller guy using paid for equipment will clear more profit.

[@Bernie5172]

I had a great dog , just like yours .

[@jimmylaws9340]

Boy I like to have all that I still pick mine by hand

[@ravenviewfarm]

Can't imagine it Jimmy! That's truly old-school.

[@jackleigh4613]

What do you do with all that corn. Hi from australia

[@familyvlogs9105]

Tile doesn’t cost, it pays

[@ciprianungureanu8668]

Nice big like from Romania 🌽👍

[@kevinstallman519]

Why change to the Deere 4020 as the picker tractor in muddy conditions when the IH seems to do fine? Mentioned in the video?

[@ravenviewfarm]

Hey Kevin. The 686 does pretty well as long as the ground isn't muddy. It's got plenty of power for a picker with a load of ear corn, but it runs out of traction pretty fast because it's a fairly light weight tractor. It used to have fluid in the rear tires for extra weight, but we had it removed some years ago to save the rims from rusting away. Greasy conditions and hills can lead to some exciting times when the load gets full. In that situation we'll sometimes put the 4020 on the picker because it's a lot heavier, it has wider tires, and it also has a differential lock that can be engaged if it starts to slip. Dad doesn't like to pick with it though because it uses a quite a bit more fuel, and there are more visual obstructions with the cab. It's pretty loud in there too with the old Hiniker cab that doesn't have any sound deadening.

[@5er593]

Nice video. Why do you chop corn stalkd?

[@ravenviewfarm]

It helps the residue break down and spreads the material on the ground to form a nice covering. Typically the field goes into soybeans the next year, so having everything knocked down to the ground keeps the field cleaner as well. When we used to plow our corn stalk ground, it helped keep the plow from blocking up. Honestly we probably wouldn't need to chop stalks any more and could save on the fuel and maintenance - Dad and I have had several lively discussions on the matter - but he keeps insisting, so we keep doing it, lol.

[@jerrylansbury9558]

Id say you need much better week control ! I use the same picker and have harvested 250 bu. per acre......its handles it fine and 4 miles per hour. I cheat though. I use an adaptor for a 1000 rpm tractor output..and idle the tractor to half speed ! Everything changes with using the 1000 rpm. Not sure why...but never plugs in the elevator........or anywhere else ! I think over all...........a great video.....but please look into " maintenance" !

[@TheJohndeere466]

Would it not be easier to open up your corn fields with the combine and then sell this shelled corn and then pick the rest.

[@ravenviewfarm]

Yep! It sure would. We probably could've done that in 2020, but opted not to take the time to set up the combine and switch heads just to do that little bit. Instead we borrowed a mounted picker from a neighbor. Videos on that are on the way! But it's a great idea. The only key would be making sure the moisture level on the corn is low enough for storage right out of the field. Lots of years we hit that mark, but 2019 when this video was made was way too wet. Corn was coming out of the field at 25% moisture. Late planting, cold temps all summer, and way too much rain conspired to slow the maturity on the crop, and it never managed to dry down sufficiently in the field, even after freezing.

[@kylecollingwood5175]

What implement is that that's harvesting the corn from the stalk

[@ravenviewfarm]

Just dead reckoning. This year we tied some weights to the marker arms to help sink them in a little better. Next year we'll probably throw some notched coulters on the marker arms and if that doesn't do the trick, I've got my eye on some guidance systems for planting and spraying.

[@lesliekirkland4603]

Are you going to start making new videos

[@OnePieceatatimeranch]

Do you guys feed all of your ear corn to cattle?

[@ravenviewfarm]

Nope! In fact, we don't have any livestock. In the spring we shell it out and send it to the elevator, although I do market some during the winter for wildlife feed.

[@jamesmckay9966]

Would you be able to rent a combine. It would be more interesting to the viewer if they knew where you are. I am betting Austrailia or South Africa.

[@ravenviewfarm]

Oh boy, now see James, I can't tell if you're joking or not. We're located in Minnesota, so you were... kinda close...

[@jamesmckay9966]

@@ravenviewfarm Unless you tell the viewers some specifics such at time, location, etc it is just a guessing game. Nice videos though enjoyable.

[@dennishayes65]

Are you located in Mn. ?

[@ravenviewfarm]

Yep! We sure are! A little less than an hour south of the Twin Cities.

[@firecaptaintom1977]

Any guesstimate on yield loss doing it this way verses combining?

[@jerrylansbury9558]

Ive been using the same 324 picker now for 35 years. Loss ? It dont really matter. The cost of a combine will eat you alive ! Fact is.......I bought a 6600 John Deere combine this year. Learned real fast as a " one man " operator I can do two semi-loads a day with my two row sheller compared to a semi-load and a half with my combine. Its all about chasing the wagons......dumping.and chasing the wagons down again after they are filled ! Then the fuel cost.......then the climbing up and down the ladder of the combine. Repairs ? I spent 200 dollars on my two row in the time I had it ( 35 yrs ) Trust me.......... I have plans to go back to the two row !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@firecaptaintom1977]

@@jerrylansbury9558 Thanks for the insight.

[@jerrylansbury9558]

@@firecaptaintom1977 So.......have you considered the same ? Who cares about the ( up to ) three bushels per acer on the ground ? Try and go to your John Deere dealer and get by with 200 dollars for repairs in 30 some years? .....see where it takes you ? Can a combine get by using only a half gallon of diesel per acre ? Been there done that ! My father owned and " we " operated a Massy 540 combine for years ! Of course with two people hands down a combine wins. But given the reality of a single operator using a 324 picker...... there is no stopping and waiting to unload or chase wagons. Fill the wagon full....... move it to where you want to dump it.and off to the next load !

[@firecaptaintom1977]

@@jerrylansbury9558 I wasn't being critical at all. Just curious about yield comparisons.

[@jerrylansbury9558]

@@firecaptaintom1977 I understand totally.....just bringing out the points farmers often over look. My neighbor ....an upcoming 30 yr old first time farmer asked me a few months ago what he might do to get by with less overhead / expense. He said he spends everyday running to get things done...and paying bills. He mentioned about the cost of combining his corn each year. I asked him if he would ever consider going to 38 inch rows and buying a two row picker for around 1,200 dollars? He laughed at me and told me he would never get done ! Hes only got 50 acres of corn. I suggested he reconsider. He thought I was joking with him ! With a two row picker .....yah can easily do 15 acres per day......thats a total of about .maybe seven days. Too often farmers look over the fence and fail to realize whats in their own back yard !

[@GeigerFarm]

NO ONE AROUND TO HELP ME :( ! Sounds familiar ;)

[@jamesmckay9966]

SHOW REPAIR WORK. WE WOULD ALWAYS FIND IT INTERESTING.

[@fernandoparada7150]

It's so cool to see how a "smaller" farm operates. I am highly interested in some of your equipment, how could I contact you? I would like to ask you a couple of questions. Thanks a lot

[@ravenviewfarm]

Hey Fernando! If you're on Facebook, you can look up Ravenview Farm and send me a message through that platform, or shoot me an email at [e-mail]. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have. Thanks for watching!

[@fernandoparada7150]

Legend! Thanks a lot.

[@foreignermakingmoney-phili1458]

hi Ravenview Farm, Great video. Really enjoyed it. So much I have liked it and subscribed to your channel. I particually like at 2:00 seeing how you did the harvest. Its good to use simple non - computerised equipment and being debt free. I liked how you did running repairs to the elevator. Its nice seeing your farm operation. I thought you put the point across well. I was as I was growing up raised on a mixed farm of arable, pigs and beef.Like yourself I like sharing skills and knowledge. i have had apprentices and young people work with me. To share some of my knowledge I have set up my own you tube channel. You should check out. Well many thanks for a great video. Keep the good work up. Look forward to future videos.

[@kendavis8335]

At 8:48, “the yield isn’t that great but that’s okay because the prices aren’t that great”. That statement makes no sense.

[@ravenviewfarm]

It's dark humor Ken. It's not supposed to make sense. But then again, I'm a farmer, not a comedian.

[@heartscards6335]

good video until you cranked up that awful music

[@ravenviewfarm]

You know, after a year of making videos and learning how to edit everything together, and getting a feel for what looks and sounds good, and moves the story along without ruining the main idea behind it all... I agree with you. But we all start somewhere.

[@glenncollins294]

Why don’t you use corn silage?

[@ravenviewfarm]

Well, I would say the main reason would be because we don't have any animals.