Harvest USA Report

09/07/2026

Glenn Jones, a farmer from Greenfield, Iowa, detailed his current agricultural activities, focusing on the challenges and planning involved in mid-harvest. After harvesting wheat in Oklahoma and Southern Kansas, Jones returned to Iowa early due to drought conditions, bringing only one combine. He anticipates commencing the local corn and bean harvest in about three weeks and is currently occupied with tasks like cleaning out a bin of beans and chopping silage.

Jones highlighted the impact of extreme weather conditions, including high temperatures and humidity, on agricultural and everyday activities. He attended the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, despite the oppressive heat and humidity. The persistent high temperatures and dew points have been unusual, making outdoor work unbearable. Despite the high humidity possibly benefiting crops by reducing moisture loss, the lack of cooler nights has been problematic.

The conversation touched on widespread weather-related challenges faced by farmers in other regions, such as South Dakota, where drought has seriously impacted corn crops. Weather fluctuations, such as heavy rains leading to potential flooding and dry spells causing crop insurance claims, complicate farming decisions. The discussion included the need for possible crop reallocation depending on weather forecasts and market conditions, with potential shifts from corn to wheat planting.

09/04/2026

Harvesting Efforts and Challenges: The discussion with Dillon DeBock highlights the ongoing harvesting efforts in the Powers Lake area of North Dakota, where they are cutting Durham and spring wheat. Despite good yields averaging about 65, the test weight is down due to July's heat, which affects the crop quality. In the region, while straw is typically not essential, some farmers do bale it for practical purposes. Weather conditions fluctuate from extreme colds to mild temperatures due to Chinook winds, affecting farming operations.

Economic Aspects and Crop Quality: Incomes are influenced by crop qualities such as test weight and protein content, but premiums for protein are rare, affecting profit margins negatively. Some Durham, labeled as feed grade due to poor test weight, highlights the problem of inadequate compensation for higher quality. Recent rain impacts the harvesting schedule, with rainfall reports varying from a few tenths to inches across regions.

Harvesting Techniques: The shift to straight cutting, even for canola due to new shatter-resistant varieties, is emphasized for its efficiency over traditional swathing, which can lead to bunching, particularly when cutter bars exceed widths of 35 feet. Rollers are commonly used during swathing to manage the harvest against wind interference.

Personal Anecdotes and Events: The conversation concludes with references to cowboy poetry gatherings and the appreciation for such cultural events shared on platforms like YouTube. Hale Broadcasting extends well wishes for the harvest and appreciation for participation in the interview.

09/03/2026

Mint Cultivation Process: Tegan Hubbard, a mint farmer from Corrine, Utah discusses the cultivation and management of mint fields, specifically spearmint on their farm. He explains that the initial watering phase occurs before the second cutting of the mint. The farm uses flood irrigation, and the first cutting of mint is typically done in early July. The first cutting of the season yielded slightly below average output due to lower oil content in the leaves.

Mint Varietals and Longevity: The farm grows spearmint and peppermint, with spearmint being more resilient and longer-lived, lasting up to 13 years. Peppermint is rotated every four to five years, involving plowing under old roots and planting new, youthful roots to encourage vigorous growth. The option exists to either purchase certified roots or spread roots from existing young fields.

Irrigation and Equipment: The farm has transitioned from traditional siphon tubes to a more modern flood irrigation system with PVC pipes and risers for improved efficiency, a change supported by state and federal funding. The setup ensures water is well-distributed and minimizes manual labor. The larger PVC pipes are standard in the area and buried underground.

Mint Harvesting Techniques and Equipment: Mint is harvested using specific mint planting equipment, and the roots are managed through specialized conveyors and planters that spread the roots effectively in the fields. The plant rows are closely spaced and spread aggressively, leading to a dense coverage over time.

Economic Aspects of Mint Farming: The financials of mint farming are discussed, with native spearmint being covered by government marketing orders, which help stabilize the supply and pricing. Mint yield is measured by the amount of oil produced per acre, with spearmint typically yielding significant returns per acre. Peppermint, not regulated by the same marketing orders, fluctuates more with market conditions.

Mint Aroma and Market: The interview touches on the aromatic nature of mint plants and the stability of the market for spearmint compared to peppermint, which is more subject to market variation. Hubbard discusses the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between purchasing new roots and spreading their own, to manage costs effectively.

Conclusion with Miscellaneous Details: The conversation concludes with mentions of equipment manufacturers (such as New House Manufacturing) and technology for improving oil extraction from mint fibers. This includes a brief mention of innovation in oil extraction via new equipment developed by neighboring farmers.

09/02/2026

In this radio interview, Jesper Hansen from Scobey, Montana, discusses the current state of agricultural activities in the area. Harvesting is ongoing, with crops experiencing variability in growth and yield. Some crops, such as lentils and peas, are already harvested, while farmers are currently working on durum wheat, chickpeas, and canola. Recent rains have been beneficial, despite interfering with combining activities. The crops have shown unexpected resilience, with some looking promising but not yielding as expected, highlighting variability because of earlier weather conditions.
A significant windstorm in May affected the crops, moving a lot of dirt and damaging some plants. This event led to exposed seeds and chemical displacement, with some fields requiring reseeding. Post-storm rains helped crop recovery, resulting in better-than-expected outcomes. The general sentiment is that despite initial concerns, things have turned out better than anticipated.
Regarding farming practices, the region is predominantly dryland with minimal irrigation, noted by the scarcity of irrigated circles. Jesper and our co-host David Woodruff reflect on the challenges and unpredictability of farming in such conditions, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptability. The conversation also includes a note of gratitude from the broadcaster for Jesper's availability and insights.

09/01/2026

Introduction and Location: Jade Coyle speaks with Hale Broadcasting, discussing their location in Teton, Idaho, associated with Grand Teton Ancient Grains.

Farming Land and Practices: Jade describes farming on both owned and leased land, engaging in regenerative organic farming focused on ancient grains. This practice emphasizes building fertile soil without synthetic fertilizers, instead using cover crops, crop rotation, and recycled farm products to enhance soil quality.

Irrigation and Water Sources: The farm relies on irrigation from the Teton River. Challenges discussed include managing water levels and maintenance of canal systems, overseen by irrigation companies.

Flooding Risks and History: They discuss historical flooding due to the Teton Dam failure in 1976 and its impact. Jade notes that the Teton River has stabilized, reducing flooding risks over time.

Interest in Dam Reconstruction: There is an expressed interest in rebuilding the dam due to drought concerns, although trust is low due to past failures.

Ancient Grains and Regenerative Agriculture: Jade explains their interest in ancient grains like einkorn due to its gluten properties, which appeal to those with gluten sensitivities. They also focus on regenerative farming techniques and building a niche market for ancient grains.

08/31/2026

We're talking to Brandon Roland. Hemingford, Nebraska. Now I saw something the other day on social media somewhere that the Ogallala Aquifer is shrinking, going down. What do people do just...

"Water regulations. It's all regulated through the state and guys have to basically decide which pivots they even want to keep running for their water allegation. So they can't go to any deeper with their well and expect to hit more water? Nope, and they aren't even allowed to. In my county as well, you can't put out a new irrigation. Basically, you had to be grandfathered in. There's no more drilling."

All things being said, how's the water quality? Has always been pretty good?

"Been pretty good, but guys are starting to get really worried for how much water they've been putting on and water allocations where this year for guys that have been putting on the water this heavy this year, they don't know for sure how much they'll even get for next year on it. There's a lot of pivot ground that I've heard that's only been ran through maybe once or twice where they've been shut off on waters and guys have picked and choose which wells they wanted to run."

When that happens, you have to go more to...

"More drought resistant crops is what you're trying to hope for."

Milo?

"We don't raise very much milo in this country. It gets too cold too quick. Our environment's just not quite right for it."

So it's cold in the fall?

"Can get cold real quick in the fall. You just don't have the growing season. A couple guys have tried it once or twice and it just never really works out."

Hemingford, Nebraska's Brandon Roland with our co-host David Woodruff.

That's it for today's Harvest USA report. Thanks again for listening and may God bless.

I'm Brian Hale.

08/28/2026

Agricultural Conditions and Practices: Brandon Rowland discussed the agricultural challenges faced in the panhandle of Nebraska. He mentioned the difficulties posed by drought conditions affecting corn and wheat planting. The area relies on irrigation, but due to water regulations, there's a restriction on drilling new wells. As such, farmers have to judiciously choose which fields to irrigate. The discussion also touched on the benefits of planting sunflowers due to their deep taproots, which can access moisture in dry conditions. The adoption of no-till drills and concerns over chemical costs were also mentioned in relation to farming strategies in dry conditions.

Impact of Weather and Climate: The conversation addressed the agricultural impact of the weather, particularly noting the quick transition to colder fall conditions that limits crop choices like milo. The Ogallala aquifer's depletion was also noted as a significant concern, affecting water availability for irrigation.

Grassland Recovery Post-Fire: There was a relief expressed about the recovery of grasslands after fires, which had initially raised concerns about long-term damage to the pasture. The successful return of grass, despite expectations, was seen as positive, although it will be some years before cattle grazing resumes.

Cultural Aspects and Cowboy Poetry: The discussion ended on a lighter note regarding cowboy poetry and gatherings, which celebrate western culture and history through stories, poems, and music. These events were highlighted as important cultural gatherings that foster community and preserve traditions.

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

Interview Details: The conversation is a recorded interview involving Hale Broadcasting and an individual named Austin Waukenan from Brady, Montana. Austin works at the Collins Grand Elevator, operated by Mountain View Co-op.

Current Harvest Situation: Harvest operations are ongoing in the Dutton-Brady area. The elevator is nearing full capacity, necessitating the transfer of grains using Mountain View trucks to make space for spring wheat.

Grain Types and Storage: The grain involved is dark northern spring wheat, and low protein spring wheat similar to winter wheat is stored in outdoor piles. Each pile can hold up to 2 million bushels. These piles are covered with tarps to protect them from weather.

Tarp Securing Method: The tarps are anchored using 2x4s and secured with eight-inch lag bolts to withstand wind conditions typical of the area. The setup includes cutting and rolling the tarp for additional security.

08/25/2026

Let's take a look at where our harvest crews are now.

First of all, Bashutski Harvesting is in eastern Montana. They're still working on lentils, but the end is in sight for that crop. The crew has got to experience some rough terrain getting into the field. No flat fields here, they wrote.

American Harvesting left Richardton, North Dakota early Friday morning, had one blowout along the way, but made it safely back to Burlington, Colorado by Friday evening. While the crops from south to north were not what they expected or wanted, they are grateful for the jobs they had and the amazing people they met along the way. They are currently looking for fall acres, happy to travel north or south. Corn, milo, sunflowers, if you need help, American Harvesting has the equipment and support to do it. Find that post on Harvest USA Report page.

And an update from the Demaray Harvesting and Trucking crew. They're closing in on the end of wheat harvest in southwest North Dakota. Next, they'll move to canola, then it's off to Langdon in the northeast corner of the state for wheat and canola. They're probably there now. If not, we'll be soon.

Zeller Harvesting was working on milo about six days ago with a customer who likes to fill his silo and then do a ground pile. For some, it's a lost art, but not for this farmer. He's pretty special.

And I hope you had your waffles yesterday. It was National Waffle Day and we're celebrating farmers who grow the wheat that becomes the flour behind some of our favorite foods. A big thank you to America's wheat growers for helping feed families across the country one breakfast at a time. That message is from the National Association of Wheat Growers.

We'll be back again with more harvest updates tomorrow.

That's it for today's Harvest USA Report. Thanks again for listening and may God bless.