From custom spraying to custom harvesting, our years of farming experience and equipment can help get you through the difficult season. Contact us to find out how we can help you manage the busy season.
Custom farming services we provide:
Spraying
Kevin’s brother Randy returned to the farm after serving four years in the Air Force in 1977. In 1979 we purchased our first spray plane. Randy was the pilot and Kevin was the ground crew. We maintained this business for nearly eight years after which Randy moved to California where he started his own aviation business.
Kevin and Sharon have stayed on the farm raising crops and cattle. He also worked seasonally for Baker Spray Service in Wecota, SD. In 1999 Kevin and Sharon purchased their first ground sprayer and they have maintained this business ever since then. We own a Case 4430 Sprayer with 120-foot booms to apply herbicides and variable-rate liquid fertilizers to our fields. We also contract with Agtegra Cooperative to help them meet the needs of their large customer base. They have been keeping us busy locally but have also sent us to other locations to cover acres for them. We have also contracted with various co-ops and chemical companies in Texas, Nebraska, and North Dakota to help them with their spraying needs. We have always enjoyed spraying in different areas of the country, so if you or your co-op could use some help, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Planting
We plant our crops with a Case 1250 30” X 24 row planter. We continue to upgrade our planter’s precision equipment when feasible. We use a liquid starter to give the new seedlings a good start. Along with seeding at a variable rate, we are capable of applying variable-rate liquid nitrogen which is delivered 2” on each side of the furrow.
Each year we plant a few acres for one of our neighbors. The logistics of venturing too far from our farm for planting can be a challenge, but if you think we could help with your operation, please contact us.
Lime & Manure Spreading
We have been spreading 4000 to 5000 tons of manure on our fields since 2008. In 2016 we were told that we needed to apply lime to some of our fields. To improve the efficiency of the manure and lime, we determined that applying these products at a variable rate would be the most efficient and economical option. In the fall of 2017, we purchased a Bunning 180 spreader with the capability of spreading at a variable rate. Along with the scale on the spreader, we now also have a scale on the payloader to give us an accurate account for the amount of product delivered to each field. Our goal is to achieve the highest rate of accuracy as possible. It is our understanding that over-applying lime on soil that does not require additional lime could raise the pH levels higher than what is generally recommended. This could have an adverse effect, because having too high of a pH level could be as bad as (or worse than) having too low of a pH level. Therefore, we feel that the fields should be zoned or grid-sampled, and the lime applied by variable rate in order to ensure that this will not happen.
In the fall of 2018, we spread 19,000 tons of lime and 7000 tons of manure all over the region -- from Cresbard, SD to Oakes, ND to Rock Valley, IA and back up to Huron and Miller, SD, not to mention many other areas in between. If you make the decision to apply lime to your fields, please contact us. We can source the lime, have it delivered directly to your fields, and apply it for you.
Harvesting
We harvest our fields with a Case 7120 and a Case 7230. We also custom harvest for neighbors who are trying to get their crops harvested. Sometimes they may only need a combine and an operator to help or a full crew to get their harvest done. If you find yourself in need of an extra combine, please contact us. Harvest can be the most enjoyable time of the year, but getting your crop off the field and into the bin in a timely manner is crucial and can be quite stressful.