The work doesn’t end after harvest

BROOKVILLE, Ind. — Once harvest is complete on Mindy Orschell’s farm, the family doesn’t slow down. They take a deep breath, then jump back in.

Orshell, a farmer in southeastern Indiana, shared an update with AgriNews.

Q: What’s next on your to-do list on the farm?

A: We have cleanup, brush work on hillside pastures and lots of cattle and calving work, all while trying to analyze the yield maps in an effort to plan our fertilizer and seed needs for the next year.

Q: What’s one small win on the farm this week that gave you a big smile?

A: We finished our faraway farms just before a big rainfall which was so nice. This allowed us to use the rain days to move equipment instead of losing peak conditions on the almost two-hour caravan drive home with all our equipment.

Also, finding a new healthy calf through all the hustle and bustle of busy season was a pleasant surprise and reminder that calving season is just around the corner for us.

Q: What do you enjoy most about harvest season?

A: For me, it’s the added push to be outside and witness God’s beauty this time of the year. Working full time off the farm as a tax accountant, I unfortunately spend too much time behind the computer.

Harvest gives me the excuse to take time off and soak in the farm. Between the breathtaking sunsets to the colorful foliage, my time sitting in the grain cart is usually not boring.

Harvest has a way of showcasing agriculture, so we always try to be aware that we are in the spotlight and make the most of that opportunity.

Whether it’s keeping our cool when someone runs us off the road, or trying to make sure that we include neighbor kids and our elected officials in our combine rides, we try to use harvest time at our family farm as a way to share a little about what we do and why we do it.

Q: Looking ahead, what’s one lesson or insight you gained this year that you know you’ll carry into next season’s planning?

A: We got a gentle reminder this year to always keep one eye on the calendar and one on the weather. The weather this year was a little tricky and we kind of lost sight of the calendar, which led us to feel a little behind the gun.

Lesson learned — weigh in on both when making planting and harvest decisions.

Q: Do you have plans to adjust herd size or grazing strategy next year based on what you’re seeing this season?

A: We plan to keep the foot on the gas with our herd size and we do have plans to work on more paddock and grazing areas in an effort to utilize more rotational grazing techniques.

Q: Any Indiana Farm Bureau updates?

A: This upcoming weekend, I will step away from the farm and attend the INFB Women’s Leadership Committee retreat. The retreat is our planning session for the upcoming year, as well as reflection on achievements and hurdles facing our committee.

We are also gearing up for our Indiana Ag Gathering, formerly known as State Convention, which will be held in French Lick this December.

It is a great time to catch up with our farming friends from around the state and share our challenges and triumphs of the past year.