Why do farmers use an auger cart during harvest?

An auger cart is a very much appreciated piece of equipment during harvest season. When weather conditions are right, a farmer wants to get the crops harvested in a timely manor. Being efficient during harvest season helps with time. Using an auger cart during harvest is one way to help with efficiency in the field.

I remember growing up riding with my dad or grandpa in the combine. In the cab of the combine, there was window in the back that looked into the hopper of the combine. When the window was covered with corn or soybeans, I knew the hopper was close to full and it was almost time to dump into the grain truck. In a long field, I have some memories of not getting down and back the full length of field before having to empty the hopper, so would have to stop mid length, pull out of the rows and go unload in the truck waiting to be filled.

                             
 A picture of my grandpa helping me, in my little years, out of the combine from riding with my dad.

Efficiency has increased for farmers over the years.

So what is the role of an auger cart during harvest?

Farmers are able to continue combining with the use of an auger cart. The auger cart allows the farmer to continue harvesting while unloading grain into the cart, so they don't have to stop to fill the semi.

Without an auger cart, a lot of time is spent to go back to the semi to unload, creating a longer amount of time to get the crops harvested. With higher yields of corn and soybeans the combine is full faster and the auger cart is so helpful with efficiency.

The auger cart is pulled by a tractor. The tractor driver waits in the field until the combine is close to full and ready to unload. The combine has lights on the outside that flash, which helps signal the tractor driver that the combine needs to unload. The tractor driver then pulls up beside the combine and the farmer can then unload the combine into the auger cart - on the go!

This is done a few times until the auger cart is full. Then the tractor driver pulls up to the semi and unloads into the semi, all while the farmer is continuing to harvest the crop with the combine.

I help my dad and brother in the field during harvest as the auger cart driver.

Harvest is one of my favorite times of year! So many memories growing up during harvest season and love that my kids can experience it and create memories as well.

A Beautiful Harvest 2014

Harvest '14 has been over for us for close to a month now. As you may know from previous posts, we grow pumpkins, gourds, squash and all the fall decor. We host Fall Harvest Days at our farm in the month of October. We had a great season and picked a lot this fall.
I also have had a wonderful opportunity to help out my dad and brother in the field the entire harvest season this year. I have always helped out in the past years, but this year I looked forward to helping everyday driving the tractor/auger cart. I was looking through my harvest photos for a special project and wanted to share some of my favorites.  A beautiful harvest 2014 through my eyes.

Of course had to take a selfie of how I spent some of my time in September and October. Loved it! 

Meals on the go and in the field.....

With many hours spent in the field during harvest (and planting too) there are often times when the dinner table becomes the back of the vehicle. Long hours and a lot to get done in the field, it is nice to have a meal in the field so no time is spent traveling up to the house for a meal. Especially in those fields furthest from the house.

Photo from early summer of the kids having lunch in the field with grandpa and uncle.

I can remember eating meals in the field all growing up. It was fun. Mom would put the meal together, we would go to the field, eat, and go for a ride. Meals consisted from everything from spaghetti, casseroles, crock pot meals, to ham sandwiches and chips. It can be anything really, but is helpful when a full day is needed in the field. Time is valuable.

With those meals, it's nice to have a little dessert as well. Apples are in season in the fall and so I do a lot with apple baking and preserving apples by making applesauce for the freezer. I really enjoy making apple turnovers. They are great to have in the field as an after meal dessert as a mini apple pie or grab and go for a breakfast as a apple danish. However you want to consider them, they are pretty easy and also very nice to do a large batch at a time to put up in the freezer for winter too. My mom, aunt, and grandma used to get together every fall and work together to make large patches of applesauce and apple turnovers and the kids would all have a great time playing all day. I now make the same recipe and we enjoy them every year.

APPLE TURNOVERS

Crust:
5 cups flour
2 cups + 4 tablespoons shortening
1 teaspoon salt
Mix together
Dissolve 1 package yeast in 3/4 cup of slightly warm condensed milk
Let stand a few minutes.
Add 2 beaten eggs
Mix with previous mixture for the crust.
Leave in refrigerator overnight.
Set out in room temperature.
Roll out thin. You can use any circle shape to cut out your crust depending on what size you want your turnovers to be. I use a coffee can lid to cut out my circles.

Filling:
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 dozen apples diced
1 Tablespoon flour
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
Mix together and boil until apples are cooked.

Place 1 Tablespoon filling on each turnover crust piece. Fold over the crust and press the seams down with fork. Optional: Sprinkle with sugar before baking.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Recipe makes 3 dozen.

Optional: If you don't sprinkle with sugar before baking, you can also make a glaze from powdered sugar and water and drizzle over top after baked turnovers are cooled.

Beauty in October Color

Now that we are well into October....how has the month been treating you? 

Here in Indiana, we sure entered it on a cold note, but it's warmed back up a little and we have had some beautiful days! The leaves have had amazing fall color and are lasting a while. The sunsets have also been breathtaking. 

I love the quote above! I sure do love the month of October! 

For so many reasons well beyond the obvious pumpkin spice drinks and favorite cozy hoodies, 

Some of mine are...

Harvest - We grow pumpkins along with produce so we are very busy filling orders for pumpkins and hosting Fall Harvest Days where we sell our fall pumpkin harvest and other fall decor. I also have a great opportunity to help my dad and brother in the field and enjoy it so much! Harvest brings a sense of fulfillment. Pride. Accomplishment. (I will be sharing about harvest in another post)

Life slowing down (some) - We sure do love growing produce, pumpkins, and helping in the field!! On another level it is sort of nice to look forward to life slowing down a little. A short break. Time to get some needed projects done. Unwind some. Plan the next season.

Completion - It's like everything comes together in the Fall. It seems like the winter is hustle and bustle with the holidays before the new year. The Fall/October is time to wrap things up. Feeling a sense of completion as the season winds down and things are getting done. Maybe the outdoor to do list. For us, our pumpkin season is ending, out produce season is almost over, we will only be mowing the yard a few more times, etc. We sure do love to be outside and doing those things from April-November, but there is also a sense of joy that the busy season is almost complete.

Seeing God's beauty in the changing of the seasons - Everywhere I turn I see a beautiful picture! I am sharing some of them with you here in this post. 

The following photos are some of October through my eyes...enjoy!!

I also was able to make it to the Covered Bridge Festival this year down in Southern Indiana and captured some photos there as well.

Loved all the color in this vendor's booth!