"It's a slow, slow progress."

Carter Bodell, a second-year Lakeland College crop technology student, says this year's harvest is drawing out due to a delay in crop maturity.

"Our wheat was late maturing. We had to wait until the middle of September to get it sprayed and dried down. When we took off the barley, it came off pretty dry, as well as harvested two fields of canola which are in cold storage now."

As of Oct. 23, there were only 60 acres of canola left before they'd be done harvest, says Bodell. "But we have a lot of drying to do regarding wheat and canola. As the moisture is too high to store and to sell it."

Students seeded 977 acres this year on the Student-Managed Farm - Powered by New Holland (SMF), which turns 30 next year. However, 130 acres of corn silage and 176 acres of barley silage left the SMF crop unit with 662 acres of crop harvested this fall. The silage was sold by them directly to the SMF dairy or beef units.

Bodell explains their harvest was affected by inconsistent weather between May and June, which delayed germination and overall growth. "Everything was about two weeks late this year," he says.

As the analysis manager for the SMF crop unit, Bodell says his responsibilities include overseeing the aeration bins. Crops are placed in these bins until they are sold. Currently, the unit is transferring the crops into aeration bins.

“We have limited aeration bins, so once we've dried down our crop, it's moved into another bin to cool. We aim to freeze it and store it until it's sold. Our drying method is using a diesel frost fighter, which can only fit onto one bin at a time."

A highlight of the harvest season included the use of the New Holland CR8.90 combine, says Bodell. The CR8.90 brings together a powerfully efficient engine with advanced harvesting technology, including auto guidance, to deliver even greater efficiency.

"There's new autonomous settings in there. As you're moving the combine it's adjusting itself so you can pull the best crop. It's a newer technology which means it's the best, top of the line - it's a privilege to get a hold of."

Photos: Crop students are hastily finishing their harvest season using the New Holland CR8.90 combine.