Home Heating

in

Tractor Boy Country

Many citizens in the Great Upper Midwest have acquired alternative sources for heating their homes. This heating system with the firebox remote from the house burns wood. In the case of this application the home owner resides near the Mississippi River which has an abundance of timber areas in addition to ample areas for cultivating cereal crops. If the land owner has a mix of crop area in addition to timber area the supply of wood is only limited by the ability to replant the trees. In this case the landowner has a plan in place to replant the trees that are harvested for lumber and using the tree tops for a fuel source to heat the home. Certainly an excellent source of furl and certainly cost effective.

2009 Corn Harvest Report

As a former Iowa Tractor Boy now residing in Georgia I know that once the Corn harvest is complete that there is a feeling of accomplishment on another year of crop production is complete. A satisfying feeling to be sure. My Nephews in Clayton County Iowa reported that the last corn stalk was run through the Harvester on Sunday afternoon, November 15, 2009.

Even though there is a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction on a Crop Season being Completed the focus soon changed to preparations for the 2010 Crop. Here you see one of the Nephews operating a Green Tractor, a John Deere of course, with a chisel plow. The seedbed for the 2010 must be prepared when the weather is cooperating such as right now.

I post this blog entry to simply let my city friends know that a Farmer's Work is never done. In order to be successful in the business of providing our foodstuffs they must constantly work within the parameters of the weather to also be ready for the next season.

As a former Iowa Farm Kid and now living in the City I can appreciate the labor and committment of our Nation's Farmers.

Thank You!!!

Corn Harvest

Clayton County, Iowa

Recently I posted an entry regarding the fact that it was too wet to harvest. Here you see two Iowa Tractor Boys, even though they are not visible engaged in the 2009 Corn Harvest in Clayton County, Iowa.

Note the climate controlled Operator Stations on both the Tractor and the Harvestor. This equipment allows the operator to breath dust free air and also contributes to the well being of the farmer when the weather conditions are such as the almost freezing temperatures during the early days of November each year.

It now appears that us City Folks will have ample supplies of corn so that we can enjoy our Corn Flakes and Corn Bread.

Thank You, Iowa Tractor Boys.

Harvest Time In Iowa

Most Iowa Tractor Boys are patiently waiting to get on with the 2009 harvest. The soybeans are ready and of course the corn crop is next. But as of October 7th, 2009 it was simply too wet for the harvest. This scene is from Clayton County, Iowa and duplicates the situation in far too many areas of Iowa.

Former Iowa Tractor Boy at Work in Georgia U.S.A.

Here you see the originator of this Blog in a long sleeved shirt to avoid skin cancer working with his Son as they finish the electric fences around the future pasture for a beef cattle operation. Of course both of us were well supervised by the Young Girl who was a keen observer of our work.

This picture was obtained yesterday, August 14, 2009 near Dublin, Georgia.

Iowa Tractor Boys

and

Thinking Green

Admittedly not everyone in this picture is a current Iowa Tractor Boy. This Blog Originator now resides in Georgia but you can be sure that every Summer he connects with his Iowa Heritage. Here you see two real Iowa Tractor Boys. Of course the one in the middle is the most proflic Iowa Tractor Boy. In addition to being a Farmer he also works for John Deere.
Here you are viewing a Country Church on the edge of an Iowa Corn Field in Clayton County, Iowa. Many of you may not appreciate the fact that farming is one vocation that involves a lot of risk. The weather being the most critical. One hail storm can wipe out an entire year of crop production.

Just as city dwellers appreciate kicking tires at their local automobile retailer, Iowa Tractor Boys enjoy kicking tires at their local implement dealer. Here you are viewing a row of small, general purpose, handy around a farm.

Of course this is one huge Tractor with eight drive wheels. I checked the options list for this Tractor and if you desire the large flotation tires it is a $12,000.00 extra.

This row of Harvesters was also most interesting to view. If you have to ask the price you have no business considering becoming a farmer. Depending on the model and the options you need for your operation you can quickly run up a price tag of at least $350,000.00. Recently I watched a television special on the manufacture of these Harvesters in Moline, Il and learned that you can watch your machine being built and receive a gold key and run your Harvester off of the production line. To learn more about the Gold Key Program please visit:

http://salesmanual.deere.com/sales/salesmanual/en_NA/combines_headers/2008/model/gold-key-tour.html

John Deere Tractors

a

Brief History

As a former Iowa Tractor Boy I recently had the opportunity to visit the Museum in Froelich, Iowa that showcases the development of the first gasoline powered traction engine. Shown here is a model of the first one which was operated in 1892 and developed by John Froelich.

To learn more about this first traction engine which was powered by gasoline please visit:

http://www.froelichtractor.com/

As the machine age progressed John Froelich sold out to a firm in Waterloo, Iowa. They improved the traction engine and marketed a tractor known as "The Waterloo Boy."

From that humble beginning we can see that in later years the owners of the Waterloo Boy Tractor Works sold out to a firm that we now know as "John Deere," the implement manufacturer that paints it's products green.

Now You Know!!!!!