2021 Fall Farm

Page 38 2021 Logan County Fall Farm Outlook Lincoln Daily News Oct. - Nov. 2021 Prior land improvements on their hilly acreage have included installing field drainage tiles in low lying areas. To-date, no winter cover crops are known to create a profit by harvesting in this area. However, many seed choices are available and practical for conservation of soils. The crops put in during the fall are either terminated after the winter or self-terminating by winter kill. Cover crop use is paid in part by some crop insurances and conservation programs. Cover crop uses are varied: between seasons, on fallow lands, field edges, ditches and drainage swales through fields, and in some areas they are even used between low growing for-profit-crops to reduce the use of herbicides and for other benefits. At harvest, the Kindred family puts in long hours, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. For safety on the roads they prefer to avoid traveling with their trucks at night. They’ll work in the field into deep dark and leave the last grain filled trucks in the field till morning. It is a short night’s rest during corn harvest. Jay also has to travel home to his wife in Normal each night. While getting crops out of the field at the optimum timing, corn at the right kernel moisture, and before any event might damage or destroy the crop, Jayne and Jay admit that sitting out the occasional rainy day can be a relief when pressing every day for weeks. Ron was busy at the moment and did not weigh in. He might or might not like a break, he seems to have a lot of energy and motivation all the time. When the later soybean crop is brought in, the hours get a bit shorter. To start with, the day- light hours are shortening and also the beans need time to dry off a little from morning dew. If brought in wet soybeans get rubbery in storage. So, combining soybeans doesn’t begin till 10 or 11 a.m. and dark comes much earlier than during the corn harvest. For the Kindred family, Ron, Jayne and Jay, it is a way of life. They take conservation seriously as demonstrated by all the measures they have employed on their farm. Ron takes time to be involved with the Illinois Soybean Association and is a spokesperson. And, their love of farming shows in their land. Kindred Farm sign Atlanta’s water tower is always radiating its sunny smiley face on this farmstead.