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[September 21, 2012] 
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On Wednesday, Farm Credit Services in Lincoln
visited the farm of Matt Haseley, just a short distance north of
Lincoln. The Haseley farm is one of three Logan County farms
where FCS delivered a noontime meal in recognition of Farm Safety
Week. The purpose of the
meal is to provide a break for farmers during harvest time. It
allows them the opportunity to get out of the combine or off the
tractor, sit down, relax a few minutes, and be reminded that a tired
farmer is a dangerous farmer, and taking breaks and getting rest,
even in the height of harvest, is important.
This year, harvest is starting early in
Illinois. According to reports from the USDA, harvest is well
ahead of schedule in many parts of the state. With grain
coming in early, one would think there is less sense of
urgency in the harvest, but that isn't always so.
While the harvest season may be a little more laid-back than
in other years, one factor that is driving farmers to push to harvest
their crops is the fact that prices are falling. Unfortunately
it is a fact of life that when harvest begins, prices fall. However, the earliest
farmers to have their crops out of the field will
benefit later on in the fall when crops reach the point of being 80
to 100 percent harvested.
Matt Haseley, who farms approximately 2,800
acres with his dad and uncle, is a third-generation Logan County
farmer. He proudly predicts that his 17-month-old son, Brayden,
will be generation four. Brayden was in the field Wednesday along
with mom Jackie to enjoy a fried chicken or meatloaf dinner, courtesy
of FCS. Haseley said
this is certainly not the best year he's ever seen, but compared
with
what he had feared, his yields are coming in better than expected. From
talking with others in the group, including members of the FCS staff,
that seemed to be the consensus among several area farmers.
The facts that are coming to light this year
are that harvest yields are all over the place. Some are very
poor, while others are better than were expected. The bottom
line, though, is that the local farmer is not going to see a
lot of profit this year.
Pictures by Nila Smith |
