Never the twain shall meet –
Harvest by fire!
What’s the meaning of the phrase ‘Never the twain shall meet’ – Two things which are so different as to have no opportunity to unite. While not pursuing that phrase specifically, it reminded me of the 2019 harvest that began in August 2019 and for some farmers isn’t over yet, and most like will end with the lighting of a torch.
As I write this, May 24, I recall the story in another part of the AgriPost with Jason Hildebrand describing his rutty, sinking, almost getting stuck with a track combine on May 9 experience taking off yet another pass of 2019 canola. Still grading No. 1 on the first truckload harvested on the frozen field, but the next one graded No. 2.
Simon Ellis of Ellis Seeds at Wawanesa, MB tweeted a short video May 23, holding a torch on the opening frame, lighting a canola field, quickly to show the strange coloured flames consuming part of the field several more frames into the show.
I asked him how many acres and why now.
“Around 20 acres that were too wet. We were finally able to get a fireguard around it earlier this week, and today was the first day without absurd wind,” said Simon.
While 20 acres may not seem like a lot, it is symbolic of what farmers have to do to take off one crop and plant the next at the same time.
While tweeting my by now regulation questions asking farmers and supply people to tell me how things are going, along comes the storm, gigantic and devastating for some along the TransCanada with hail and heavy rains exceeding seven inches in a few places. Then Rolf Penner east of Morris who finished his seeding late last week, obviously waiting for rain and didn’t get any.
Again the twain shall meet meaning if you have fields too wet to harvest last year’s crop and seeded on another part of your farm, the rain not welcomed on one piece and more than accepted on another.
Craig Bandura, a Saskatchewan farmer, responded to Simon Ellis. “I did that to 2000 acres last spring with no crop insurance to help out.” Neither did Ellis have crop insurance because they had combined more than enough last fall not to qualify.
Shelley Bartley tweeted, “Sorry for the loss,” Simon responded with, “This doesn’t bother me at this point. Just happy to be done another job. Now to fertilize what we can and seed wheat!”
He isn’t callous or anything like that, a typical attitude of young or old farmers who know what needs doing and when. In his case, it was time to move on, the same with Jason Hildebrand, who still isn’t sure what they will do with the 500 acres or less still standing canola from last year. He was sinking the combine, making deep tracks realizing wow this job is for another time.
Jason Voogt, @field2fieldag tweeted, “Rain update. Carman had 1.2” up to 2” north of Homewood and 3” by Fannystelle to Starbuck. 1.2” by Elm Creek. 6/10ths at Roland and Miami and nothing at Altona that I’ve heard so far.”
I believe Winkler received 1.5 inches.
Tammy Jones Manitoba Agriculture weed specialist said, “Central/eastern Manitoba seeing lots of beans going in, heard a couple of guys got done seeding before the rain (Congrats!!). Corn/canola/wheat still to harvest, lots of ground still to go. Some (mainly west) guys needed the rain on the high areas, but not the potholes. Lots of weeds!”
Eldon Klippenstein, who farms at Altona, said, “wrapped up #harvest19 this week—still planting canola and oats. More or less caught up with ground ready for seeding(waiting for some to dry a bit more). Finding some time to custom plant canola for a few guys. Stretching recommended seeding rate from 10acres/bag to 16.”
You get the drift, and the twain shall meet. •