Terry’ has been working on the corn combine getting it ready to start corn harvest. Seems like equipment always has issues after sitting around for a year…even if it is put up nicely. (Of course it could be ours has issues because they are old.)
We’ve been seeing lots of little visitors to the corn fields and of course the deer are still bedding down in them. Once the harvest starts they will leave, but not now. Hunting season starts this week end so they are staying close, close to the farm.
We finished the last irrigation of the year and turned off the water for good. The alfalfa doesn’t dare go into the winter bone dry. On October 31, the canal will be shut off and the dams closed at Taylor, Blue Mesa and Ridgway dams until March of 2011. Farming will officially be over of another year.
Until then, though, we still have the corn to harvest…from the field to this
That is the goal as soon as the corn gets dry enough.
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
I always liked corn harvest. Usually cool enough to not be sweaty. Not so itchy as milo harvest. (Milo dust has microscopic barbs on every particle and can be the worst for allergies.) Of course its always good to get it done before snow flies. But such beautiful grain. And the sound of it running into a bin can be like music on the ears.
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Those big machines are so interesting looking. My boys think those things in the front are awesome – robot looking!
The footprints in the mud from racoons? Makes me think of your other critter problem… I think it was a wolverine? Did you ever see it again or get a neighbor to see it?
I thank you again for the sweet and considerate gift you sent us! I am working on getting something off to you soon as well. We’ve had them twice now… and somehow they are better than any other pinto beans we have ever had!! 🙂
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Happy Harvesting!
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Well from the photo, it looks like good weather for starting the corn harvest.
It is for me, so interesting to read all about your water supplies and the regulations
attached to/for usage. Water is just so important for croppers ( farmers) to survive.
I just wish here in Australia the agencies and governments would stop fighting over
who owns what etc. as now after all the great rains and of course the inconvenience
of the floods, there is water everywhere. The major dams are all full and water has to
be released, but still they squabble like little kids over who owns and controls it.
Lets hope that you have a very successful harvest season. Great reporting on land
usage in Colorado – congratulations.
Colin (HB)
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I always look forward to your emails. It’s really nice to see another way of life. Past few days I have been glued to my television and CNN watching the rescue of the miners in Chile. By the way that footprint didn’t look so little. Wonder what it was? We have alot of deer here also living right by the National Forest in Oregon. Loved your new pup…what a lucky little guy! 🙂
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Sounds like your weather is good now, Linda. That is GOOD!!!! Hope your corn harvesting goes well…
Soon you’ll have to “batten down the hatches” –and prepare for winter….. I cannot believe that it’s already October 13…. Time is flying by!!!!
Take care, my friend.
Hugs,
Betsy
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The corn harvest is starting off slow across the river…..too much moisture in the air, the ground and the corn…..even for silage.
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The yearly (or much more often) tinkering of farm machinery. It’s a ritual. But what a blessing to have it! Still, I’d love to learn to farm the way they did before machines. In case things get weird enough that parts or fuel are hard to come by, or electronics get fried and don’t work, or whatever. Getting that equipment and learning to use it would be quite a project though. Hard to find the time to accomplish TWO ways of farming at once!
~Faith
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I guess sharing with the critters is part of farming. Fun to see the footprints of the racoons even though they and the deer are helping themselves to your crops. Best wishes for good weather and a bountious harvest!
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That is all so different to the farming that goes on round about us – I hope the harvest goes well.
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