Between the River Hills & the River Bottom

[cliftonbros89]

The most time consuming job lately has been hay. The weekends have been nothing but hay.




Got the team ready to go.













Did a couple hundred fescue bales last weekend. One farm was on shares with a landlord. Got everything done before a rain too.

 

[cliftonbros89]

This weekend has been clover. Not the best clover we’ve ever cut, but it’s something.










We finished raking and baling today. Just over 250 bales.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Between the River Hills & the River Bottom

Making hay has come with its share of problems. Last week as I finished raking the very last of the fescue the one side of the rake broke.

But we managed to patch it up on a rainy evening.


Yesterday tedding clover I got a flat on the front of the 3020. It wasn’t a big deal since we have a spare. Plus dad was at the shop anyway.

So that issue was solved.

But today was a little different. I don’t have any pictures but the 3020 isn’t wanting to start. Then one of the rubber boots for the injector lines blew so it’s leaking fuel all over. After that I hauled off a load of bales. Then after I unloaded them I had a tire blow on the gooseneck trailer. But at least I was only a mile from the shop and didn’t have to fix it on the side of the road. So I’ve had a few frustrations.

Edit: also this morning dad and I were moving wagons from one shed to the other to make room for hay. Then one of the hoses on the 4020 loader blew. Finding a hydraulic hose at 7:30 on a Sunday morning is impossible so we went to the shop. Luckily they’re just NPT fittings and we found an older hose left from something laying around. But the immediately it blew. So I did some more digging and found a hose and a few fittings to at least get by for the day.

 

[cliftonbros89]

So the hay is all made for now. But we still have some to move out of the field. So tomorrow we have to do that and move the equipment back down the road.

But by tomorrow night rain is supposed to set in from the tropical storm down south. So more water. No let up on the river either.

Prices have been up and down due to everything going on in the world. A bunch of issues with Dicamba products, luckily we don’t have to personally deal with that.

So things have been busy and a little stressful lately. I know I’m missing some stuff in there too.

 

[cliftonbros89]

To add to everything else I also decided to set up my own LLC and become a dealer for Macnaught in my area of Missouri. So last week I finished setting up all the final details on that.


Got my first order of merchandise in to sell and even made my first sale. Figured I’d give it a shot. Guess I’ll have to think of a few other companies to possible work with and try out. We’ll see how it goes.

 

[Sifan]

Good luck on the new venture! 17 bales on that trailer make the truck grunt a little?

 

[cliftonbros89]

Good luck on the new venture! 17 bales on that trailer make the truck grunt a little?

Thanks.

It doesn’t do too bad with 17 bales. We used to always pull it on the F250 like that. You know it’s back there. But it pulls just fine. The only place it pulls down is on the narrow, up hill, gravel s-curve of my uncle’s driveway. Just put it in low and it handles it.

 

[FTWingRiders]

Been a while since I stopped in..Thanks for all the updates. I always loved the smell of fresh cut hay. If I was close I'd come give a hand just because! LOL!!

Good luck with the new business..

 

[cliftonbros89]

Been a while since I stopped in..Thanks for all the updates. I always loved the smell of fresh cut hay. If I was close I'd come give a hand just because! LOL!!

Good luck with the new business..

I couldn’t tell you why, but for some reason I can’t smell that due to the fact I seem to have almost no sense of smell. But I’m sure it’s good.

Thanks!

 

[ambenz]

Curious about when service technicians come out to the farms to service equipment, like the John Deere tech working on the combine. If they have a multiday project going on, do they "camp out" on the farm till the job is done? ....since they could live 100 of miles from home. It wouldn't make much sense to be driving home only to wake early to come back. I suppose there is always a hotel with in 50 miles of a farm so I expect your answer is they hotel it. If you did have overnight guests, do you have an area for guests to camp out on the farm?

 

[cliftonbros89]

Curious about when service technicians come out to the farms to service equipment, like the John Deere tech working on the combine. If they have a multiday project going on, do they "camp out" on the farm till the job is done? ....since they could live 100 of miles from home. It wouldn't make much sense to be driving home only to wake early to come back. I suppose there is always a hotel with in 50 miles of a farm so I expect your answer is they hotel it. If you did have overnight guests, do you have an area for guests to camp out on the farm?

Well the dealership that we do business with has 3 locations that are within about 35 miles from the farm. So it’s not too far to travel back and forth really. The two mechanics that came to work on the combines are just over in Illinois and it’s just about a 35 minute drive one way. I think there are about 5 locations that are within an hours drive from us.

I can’t say we necessarily have a specific spot for overnight guests. Mainly, because we’ve never had overnight guests. But I suppose there’s always dads camper. But it’d have to be moved over by the shop to have any electric.

 

[cliftonbros89]

So yesterday we went right to it. We had a few more loads of our share of bales to move out of the field yet.

We got all the hay in the shed and then had to move the equipment back down the road.

We brought the 3020 back on the trailer due to its fuel leak and the 4020 had to go in for the hydraulic hoses on the loader to be replaced. Plus the 4010 was in there still so it was a full shop.

Got the rake and the baler both down the road and in the shed.

Then it was time to catch up on feeding. Put out mineral and switched pastures for some of the cattle.

Before I quit for the day I took off the hoses from the loader on the 4020. I had to take the platform off to take off the main supply hose that goes to the valve.

These were all 3 hoses I’d suggested to replace back in the winter when I had it in for service and replaced several of the other hoses on the loader. But dad insisted they’d be fine for awhile. To an extent I guess they were...but not very long...

 

[cliftonbros89]

Today started off with some rain that was remnants of the tropical storm blowing in from the south.

I took care of all the cattle, then went to town to run some errands.

Met up with the Snap On guy to warranty several picks and picked up a 1/2” wobble extension.

Then I headed back to the shop.

Got new hydraulic hoses and put them on the 4020. It got a well needed bath after getting a shower of oil from the blown hose on Sunday.

Dad had ran some errands to and picked up some new tires for the bigger gooseneck trailer.

Saved some money to just mount them all ourselves. So we mounted them all and out the door it went.

Then we took the hood off the 3020. I replaced the boot on the injector that blew. Naturally it’s one of those jobs that you just replace all 4 of them while you’re there.

Then it got a wash job to clean all the diesel off the engine.

But there’s also an oil leak that developed around the steering somewhere. I washed it all off too so I can investigate later.

So it’s not out just yet. Neither is the 4010.

Not a whole lot today. Rain didn’t amount to much either. But it was super windy. So windy that by this evening the top of the ground had almost already dried from the rain this morning.

With that being said it’ll likely be dry enough to start spraying beans by tomorrow. The plan is to spray the beans and attempt to spray the parts of the bottom fields that are dry enough to do anything on. There’s still lots of seep water coming in from the river still being up.

So spraying, 3020, 4010 to be worked on yet. Then we’ll likely have to start getting things ready for wheat. Trucks, grain cart, get the combine and header set. Then we’re also planning to round bale and square bale some straw from the wheat. So both balers, tractors, and wagons will all need to be ready to go too.

 

[Sifan]

Week ago Monday, went to Central Illinois to help nephew plant last 120 acres of beans. Got one round of beans planted and he got a call that one of their horses was standing in the middle of the road in front of the main house. Of course we are at the farthest farm from the main house. Surprise, some how, some way someone left the gate open and it wasn't one horse, it was four, four almost 2 yr old colts with lots of energy and Jim with a bad back and me with two bad knees. We finally spotted them at a waterway 1/2 mile from the pasture. Third time was the charm and 2 hours later we were back to planting beans. I got all the 120 acres worked and Jim got 100 planted. Left the house at 6am, drove three hours, farmed, drove three hours home and ended the day at midnight, LONG day Oh yeah, you're not having all the hydraulic fun, couldn't get rolling harrow to fold up, kept popping the hose off the connection. Looked like the connection was rounded off. Of course, I didn't have a new one. Decided to switch to another port, no go kept popping off. After 4 attempts decided to try the last port. Took three tries but finally got it to fold up so I could get down the road. Two days later, got 5 inches of rain. Isn't farming great

 

[welder57]

How are Y'all doing? Hope all are well!!!

 

[XJSuperman]

Its the busy season. No doubt he's making hay while the sun shines and dodging thunderstorms. And spraying, prepping combines, and emptying grainbins for harvest.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Hey guys. I know I’ve fell way behind on here. Everything is going pretty good. Seems like I’ve been busier than ever the last few weeks. Been going nonstop lately. I haven’t had a day off in over a month.

 

[welder57]

Glad things are ok, We were worried that something bad happen, but all is good-hate to say this. But you need a lot more rainy day!!!! Be safe!!!!!

 

[BORING HOP YARD]

Glad to hear everything is good, thank you for sharing.
Hopefully things will slowdown in the future to give you some down time.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Glad to hear everything is good, thank you for sharing.
Hopefully things will slowdown in the future to give you some down time.

Glad things are ok, We were worried that something bad happen, but all is good-hate to say this. But you need a lot more rainy day!!!! Be safe!!!!!

Thanks guys. Things have been very busy lately. Seven days a week nonstop. I checked last night and today was day 41 in a row. We could definitely use some rain. I could use a little rain myself just for a break for a day or two.

 

[cliftonbros89]

I haven’t forgot. I intend to get caught up this week. Things are finally starting to settle down a little bit.

 

[XJSuperman]

And we patiently await updates!

 

[Sifan]

Glad to hear you're okay ... was beginning to think someone wrapped you up in a round bale

 

[NKlamerus]

Can't wait for the updates!

I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but I noticed your using DeWalt TStak Boxes on the farm truck

Depending on whether or not you latch them together, all of the Craftsman VersaStack products are exactly the same thing but with a red color scheme instead of yellow, and they offer a closable bag as well as the same drawers (either single deep or double shallow)

As well as parts organizers, coolers, rolling bottom boxes, etc....

I bought the Craftsman VersaStack socket set just because it fits underneath the seat In my Silverado perfectly, and when I pull it out I can mix it into any of the tstak stacks I have around the garage.

As far as the doors on the truck go, I would recommend Milwaukee packout boxes with the mounting plate, allows you to mount and store whatever you'd like on a vertical surface, seen plenty of them in trailers with no complaints so far, I bet you could fit some of the thin model boxes right there, just ***** buying into yet another organizer system

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

[cliftonbros89]

Can't wait for the updates!

I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but I noticed your using DeWalt TStak Boxes on the farm truck

Depending on whether or not you latch them together, all of the Craftsman VersaStack products are exactly the same thing but with a red color scheme instead of yellow, and they offer a closable bag as well as the same drawers (either single deep or double shallow)

As well as parts organizers, coolers, rolling bottom boxes, etc....

I bought the Craftsman VersaStack socket set just because it fits underneath the seat In my Silverado perfectly, and when I pull it out I can mix it into any of the tstak stacks I have around the garage.

As far as the doors on the truck go, I would recommend Milwaukee packout boxes with the mounting plate, allows you to mount and store whatever you'd like on a vertical surface, seen plenty of them in trailers with no complaints so far, I bet you could fit some of the thin model boxes right there, just ***** buying into yet another organizer system

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

I’ve seen the Craftsman boxes at Lowe’s before. I haven’t been able to get around to reorganizing the truck lately. Hopefully I can get to that before fall.

I think the Milwaukee boxes are a good idea and nice. But like you said then it’s a whole new system. Not to mention Milwaukee seems pretty proud of their storage products. Like their pack out bags.

But I’m still looking into some options.

 

[cliftonbros89]

So let’s try to get caught up a little bit...it’s been awhile.

Let’s start with the cattle. Things had been going pretty well. Cattle good. Pastures good. But then flies really set in.

I’ve been keeping backrubbers loader up and mineral with fly control loaded.


Took care of calves and the little heifer we had in the barn.

When we moved our last group of weened calves with the other big calves we moved her too.

Luckily all the big calves are doing well. I’d like to sell some but dad isn’t so anxious to do so. We need to ween some more about next week too.

So I have a lack of pictures. But you may recall a group of 5 bred heifers we’d purchased back in the fall. They all had their calves with no problems and all had bull calves. A few weeks ago I noticed one of those calves had pink eye. With in a day and a half 4 of the 5 calves had it and 4 of the 5 heifers had it. Some of them were in pretty rough shape. So we separated them from the rest of the group at dads and have had them separate and treating them. It’s been a hassle. But they are starting to gradually get better.

Had a few new borns lately too.

Including this one that was born this week. But I haven’t been able to find it the last 2 days.

 

[cliftonbros89]

So on to field work.

After getting caught up on hay in June it was time to cut wheat.

On a Sunday I got the 9500 ready to go for wheat.



Didn’t turn out quite as good as we’d hoped. We hauled it all off straight to the elevator rather than putting it in the bin. Test weight was good. No problems with it. Just didn’t yield like we’d hoped.

Luckily we got my uncle to help a little bit so we were able to get some more done at one time.

 

[cliftonbros89]

So wheat harvest also meant straw. Quite a bit actually.

Dad and I made some squares.



We didn’t get too carried away though. I think we did around 760 one afternoon.

 

[cliftonbros89]

In addition to square I also bales like 180 round bales too.



Then of corse wheat and straw meant getting back to beans.

First that meant fixing washed ditches in the fields. Which resulted in a blown hydraulic hose and a Sunday morning and a nonworking a/c.

Then we had to get the beans in the ground. Between dad and I we got that done.




That job also involved a few flat tires as well...and also a blown hydraulic hose...

Also this also meant mowing around the fields and road ditches.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Then of corse field work resulted in spraying fields too.


We were finally able to do some work on our bottom ground. We decided to try and spray it rather than work the ground. Not all of it was dry so we’ve had to patch in beans here and there as the river gradually dropped and in between rains.


Hauling seed resulted in more flat tires.

But we managed to get all the beans inside the levee planted. As we waited for the river to drop we were finally able to start on the outside of the levee.

Which required going through some water as well.

We planted our farm outside the levee. Then a week or so later (just last weekend) went to the farm outside the levee that we took over renting last year.

More must too. We had to actually access part of the farm by traveling across the field of the neighboring farm outside the levee as well.

We tried to clean up drift wood and guess what...

Another flat tire! Nothing like a deer antler to ruin the day.

That was a real fun time...

 

[cliftonbros89]

Between the River Hills & the River Bottom

Besides that we also made some more hay.



Not a whole lot. Just the fields around dads and the levee.

Square baled some too.

After all that I’ve finally been able to start mowing pastures too.

 

[cliftonbros89]

One good thing is that the markets have sort of gone up a little bit.




Always bills to pay so we’ve sold some corn. Still some left in the bins. But we’ve sold quite a bit. Hopefully the markets will go up some more.

 

[cliftonbros89]

So in between everything else there hasn’t been much shop work done. That’s something I’ve fallen behind on.


But I did get my truck and my uncle’s truck both serviced.

Had a little bit today as I helped dad get the pulling tractors ready for a tomorrow.

I did not miss having these fill the shop over the winter.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Let’s talk tools for a second.

Got a set of Wera pozidrive screwdrivers for KC Tools 4th of July sale.




Used some SK Club coupons too.

Big news in the Macnaught world.


They released their first metered hose for the BOP system. Measures quarts, gallons, pints, or liters. Works pretty good. Definitely a good addition.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Well that’s sort of the highlights. Been lots of stuff going on. Rain has been a little bit scarce lately. Had some yesterday. Some in a few areas today. But we could use some.

Weather has been hot the last few weeks too. It’s been nice and humid too. Not the most enjoyable. But I guess it could be worse.

So we’re almost caught up for now. I need to get back to mowing pastures. We’ll need to spray the last beans that we planted. I really need to get back working in the shop too. So despite the fact we’re getting caught up there is still a lot to do.

 

[cliftonbros89]

In other news. On 2 of the partial 5 days I’ve had off in the last...2ish plus months...I did a little metal detecting again.

Found my first coin. In mom and dad’s yard. Was only quarter from ‘92. But not far from it, pictured to the left, was a button. Not just any button. After doing some looking and asking on some metal detecting pages, turns out it’s a Union Army Civil War button.


Went a little last Sunday. This time I went on the way back end of the farm.


Another button, larger, a little more crude, not quite as good of shape. I asked around a little on some metal detecting pages. Believed to be what’s referred to as a tombac button. Could be from 1790’s to early 1800’s. Possibly pre-civil war. Never would’ve guessed I’d find something like that around the farm.

 

[bugnut]

The civil war and prewar finds are cool. Did the calf ever show up? If the deer are a problem help is available!
Stay well

 

[cliftonbros89]

The civil war and prewar finds are cool. Did the calf ever show up? If the deer are a problem help is available!
Stay well

I was pretty excited about those two finds. Beats all the nails I’ve been finding everywhere.

No luck finding the calf today either. I don’t know what’s happened to it.

Luckily no problems with deer. But we had planted a few rows of sweet corn along the field at dad’s. But naturally right before it was ready to pick the raccoons destroyed all of it.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Well today didn’t consist of much. Checked on all the cattle.


But still no luck finding that new calf anyway. The cow has been around but no sign of a calf for 3 days now.

Dad and my uncle went to a tractor pull today so I got back in the shop.

The 3020 needed a new fuel gauge and a new temperature gauge. I’d ordered some aftermarket ones because they were each half the price as the gauges from Deere.


But the backs of the gauges are a little wider and a little deeper than the original gauges. So the plate that bolts to the dash and holds the gauges in place won’t bolt up. It’s aggravating.

So I quickly grew impatient with the heat and what not so I decided to call it a day. Everyone else took the day off. So I’ll take half a day.

 

[XJSuperman]

"Some" square bales lol. You have enough loaded wagons in that pic to make my arms hurt just looking at it. I bet that 2520 baling is the cat's meow compared to some other setups. Smooth.

I was surprised by the amount of stubble you left in the straw fields. Out west they leave a lot to help catch the winter snow, but obviously you don't need that. With straw prices in small squares as high as they are I just assumed you would cut it lower and take more. Do you set the combines for chopping or do they leave residue fairly long when you harvest the wheat? Back in my demo days we had a fella who didn't want a new Case combine because his 8820 Deere (spotless beautiful machine) could lay down much nicer straw even when we had the chopper off and the spreaders raised up.

I'm glad your fam found a pull to go to. Dad went to his first pull this weekend and I am having a hard time finding any near me this year.