Choppin' Corn

For weeks, Noah has been asking about when my dad will chop corn. Well, the time finally came and the experience did not disappoint. For the most part, the corn that my dad plants is destined to become corn silage (aka chopped corn). Dad hires Duerksen Harvesting to do this job, while dad and my uncle manage the silage pile at the farm. This was all new to the boys, somehow we had missed this in previous years, and Noah's excitement level was near the giddy mark.

Dad in the tractor on the bunker/pile of silage. This was at the beginning of the morning and by the end of the chopping the pile was much, much larger.


Duerksen Harvesting runs 3 trucks and one chopper. The tucks were constantly coming in. Interestingly, two of trucks didn't dump there loads like you would expect. Their back doors would swing open and then a conveyor belt moved the entire load out the back of the truck.


As soon as the truck pulled away, dad would start to push the silage up the pile to make for more efficient storage.


All the way to the top and all around. The boys thought this was neat, my mom and I were on pins and needles! It's unsettling to watch a huge tractor up on a big pile of chopped corn.


Dad and Levi watching another load getting dumped.






Noah and Grandpa had plans to go on the chopper in the corn field, but since the crew had to switch fields it took a little while before they could go. There was lots of impatient waiting, while watching the chopper and trucks from the front porch.




Waiting and waiting...


Finally, though, Noah and grandpa left for their ride. Levi, mom and I left for Hillsboro to visit The Garden Center for some mums. Noah told me all about his chopper ride and I think he had a great time. He also learned about another type of harvest - the combine doesn't do everything.