2021: -Spring -Summer 2020: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2019: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2018: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2017: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2016: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2015: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2014: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2013: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2012: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2011: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2010: -Winter -Spring -Summer -Fall 2009: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2008: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2007: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2006: -Spring -Summer -Fall 2005: -Summer -Fall Harvest 2004: -Wheat Harvest -Fall Harvest Older Photos: -2003 -1980s Last Updated 02/16/20 Send questions and comments to info@nfarms.com © 2020 nfarms.com	The Nelson Farm has been located in South-Eastern Minnesota (Chatfield) since the 1970's. A gradual shift from beef to commodity production began in the middle 1990's, with the last of the beef cattle being sold in 2005. This websites hightlights much of the activity that takes place around the farm throughout the year. I am a 2007 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I worked for an agricultural machinery manufacturing company in east central Iowa from 2007-2015, and returned to the family farm full time in 2015. 2016 Fall 09/29/16:Soybean harvest has begun. Yields have been above average. 2016 Summer 09/21/16:The crops are looking good after above average July, August, and September rainfall along with a warmer than normal summer. Corn moisture has recently been testing 25-34%. We struggled making dry hay this summer, as usual. 2016 Spring 05/13/16:A majority of the corn is in and we have a good start on the soybeans. Corn is emerging and looks very good so far. Low temps in the mid 30's and highs in the low 50's are not allowing things to progress very rapidly. 2010 Fall 10/21/10:We finished the beans on 10/14. With all the warm dry weather we have been having, many of the beans had to be harvested below the preferred harvest moisture of 13%. Overall soybean yields were the best we have ever had. We started harvesting corn on 10/16 and are now about 20% done. 2010 Summer 07/17/10:The first of our second crop hay was baled on 07/19/10, followed by a nice 0.6 inches of rain that night. Most of the corn is now tasseling and looking good. So far the soybean aphids have not been present this year, a welcome relief from the damage they caused last year. 2010 Spring 05/13/10: The corn is all in along with 2/3 of the beans. Excellent weather early in the season enabled us to plant a majority of the corn during the last half of April. May has been cool and damp but warm, dry weather looks to be right around the corner. 2009 Fall 12/06/09: About 75% done with corn. We are currently combining the very first fields we planted this year. As long as it stays cold the snow doesn't bother the combine too much. Corn yields have been good but high in moisture and low in test weight. 2009 Summer 08/29/09: Based on growing degree days, we are approximately 3 weeks behind the 5 year average for our area. Other than being behind, corn and soybeans both look very good. 2009 Spring 04/19/09: We planted our first 20 acres of corn for the year over the weekend before getting rained out. This is the earliest we have ever planted corn. 2008 Fall 11/13/08: We have about 40% of our corn harvested, delayed by cool damp weather over the last week. Whole field yields have ranged from 100-200 bu/acre. 2008 Summer 09/06/08: We have had good growing conditions throughout the summer, but the cool wet spring has left the crops behind schedule. Hopefully there is not an early frost this year. 2008 Spring 06/15/08 The river has receded, with water left standing in only a few spots. We haven't checked things out too closely yet, but from the road it looks like we will be need to replant about 5-10 acres. 2007 Fall 10/03/07: We started combining beans around the 20th of Sep, which is over a week earlier than normal. Soybean yields have been very good, and I am expecting very good corn yields this year as well. 2007 Summer 08/01/07: July has been warm and dry, which has made for some easy haying but has negatively impacted potential corn, soybean, and hay yields. Soybean Aphids have been present again this year, requiring many acres to be sprayed. 2007 Spring 5/30/07: A much welcomed 1.3 inches of rain fell on 5/23. Corn emergence was excellent. Many have started or completed their 1st crop of hay. 2006 Fall	Articles Chatfield News - April 2016 No-Till Farmer - Dec 2011