October 8th: Cooler Weather & SNOW??

Yes, I said it... SNOW!
Ok, so it wasn't anywhere near us, but it was in the state! Up to 4 inches in some places.That's as bad as your creepy relatives knowing what town you live in... they don't have your address exactly, but their in the vicinity & scouting around. SCARY!

 

Hwy 81 Sunrise



So, no snow for us yet, but it is decidedly cooler out with several days of lows below freezing this last week and highs only in the mid 50's. I had to use my seat warmers in the car for the first time since last march... and it was AWESOME! Something about heated seats is just great. You get all nice and toasty first thing on your morning drive with golden beams streaming in the car window from a beautiful gold and pink sunrise... yeah, that is great!

There is beginning to be frost on the ground in the mornings... kinda gives you that false snow excitement... when your almost ready for snow, but still need some time to ease into the idea. And you can see your breath in the mornings, which if you work at an ethanol plant like me, means that you can see the steam off the cooling towers for more hours in the day. The sky seems to be bluer and heavier in the mornings, and the darkness comes quicker and more intense in the evenings.



Fairmont, Ne Ethanol Plant



Ok.. so we still have a long way to go before we hit winter (THANK GOODNESS) but we are getting closer. Harvest is winding down as corn gets wrapped up and beans are almost all gone too. The mad dash for the harvest wrap-up, and fall field work sprint has begun. Excitement is building to complete the harvest and i couldn't be happier to join in with the celebration. What a great year most farmers have lucked out with. Irrigated crops have done above average on both corn & beans, while even the dryland yields being down doesn't seem to hurt as bad with prices higher than ever at harvest. Soon all the tractors, grain carts & combines will be put away for the winter, but for now bring on the Fall Fun!



Dad taking a picture from the combine of my brother pulling the grain cart next to him. - Metamora, IL