Gutknecht Family Farms
8226 Ranchero Rd.
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Bill Gutknecht
319 - 404 - 5081
2014 Field Notes
Early Spring Notes
Due to the unseasonably wet springs we’ve had for the past two years, everyone was hoping for good, typical spring weather. Unfortunately this past long, cold winter had other intentions. Its unusually cold temperatures lasted well into April, and on 4/7 the farm even received 2 to 3 inches of snow. At that time last year, temperatures were well in the 70’s, and farmers were in the field. Luckily though, this snow melted quickly and in less than two weeks later Jared and Dad were able to get in the field. The picture of Luke and Hayden was of Jared and Dad’s first day of working dirt in 2014. Since the cold, wet weather stretched well into spring, there is much to do in very short time frame. Early field work had to be postponed till now due to the deep frost which will again put a crunch on our planting schedule.
Currently the team is working hard to finish tile projects started last summer. In the picture of Luke and Hayden, Dad is in the background leveling dirt ridges left by the tile plow last year. This week will be dedicated to preforming tasks such as this, and hopefully this weekend/early next week we will be planting.
- Brett G.
Late Spring Pictures
Early Summer Notes
Above, Dad and Jared removing rocks from newly installed tile lines before planting the last field. While installing tile, this rock moved the tile plow and tractor to the left 2ft. Pictured is Jared digging a new, straight trench to lay this section of tile in.
Though starting the planting season late due to rain for the 3rd season in a row, all of the crops are in the ground and growing good. With everyone taking turns working hard around the clock, the team was able to constructively cover all acres in record time. In fact, Jared, Dad, and Chad were even able to finish the second of three large tiling projects started last summer before planting the last field. Currently, everyone is busy scouting fields, spraying, and side dressing the corn.
- Brett G.
Early Fall Notes
It has been a abnormally cool summer; for which we are thankful for due to the lack of rain in our area. The crop is progressing slowly due to the cool temps as well. The private forecasters are predicting a big crop, I however am not as convinced as they are. I am seeing some fields with some very large ears while other fields seem to have more of an average ear.
Our yield estimates show this to be true. We will just have to wait till the combine rolls to really know what we have. There is one thing for sure if we don't get some warmer weather to give us a few heat units, the crop is sure to come in at higher than normal in moisture. Only time will tell.
- Bill G.
Early Winter Notes
Fall ended a little sooner than usual this year. With our first major snow fall mid November followed by very cold temperatures, fall tillage came to a stand still earlier than normal. We were however were able to get done before it all hit. In fact, the last field we harvested we were combining, spreading fertilizer, and tilling all at once. Then after the combine left, 10 hours latter we finished working the field, and 12 hours after that came a snowstorm with visibility of 3/8mi.
Yields were nothing to write home about. We had some farms produce a good crop, others produce an average crop, while some farms that had below normal yields. Believe it or not, we had farms that flooded out around the 4th of July to farms that were drought stricken from then on. All in all, I would call it an average to below average year for us
The best thing of all is the fact that when the dust settled we made it through the year healthy.
- Bill G.