Seven Neighbors Formed A Ring To Harvest Soybeans

Seven Neighbors Formed A Ring To Harvest Soybeans SPECIALTY/SERVICES Specialty/Services 28-1-5 Last fall we took a picture of a bunch of combines harvesting a field near Effingham, Ill. It looked like a group of neighbors might have come together to help an injured friend. But when we checked into it, we learned that it was actually a modern version of an old-time threshing ring. Working together, seven neighbors have formed a ring to harvest soybeans. It's an idea that gets harvesting done at peak time. Roger and Bruce Elliott, Montrose, Ill., came up with the idea. During the off season, their farm shop serves as a meeting place where new ideas are often hatched. A couple years ago, conversation turned to Freddie Stirewalt's seed soybeans. It so happened that his beans were ready for harvest, but the Elliott Brothers' seed beans were not. So, the idea came up: "Let's go down and combine Freddie's beans." They did, and later they took care of the Elliott beans. Everyone liked the way it worked out. "It saved time for both of us, and it helped yields because we could work when the moisture was right. Soybean moisture needs to be between 11 and 14 percent. If we cut beans by ourselves, we could fall out of that window," says Roger. Seeing what was happening, neighbors Ronnie, Mark, and Paul Schottman of Wheeler, Ill., wanted to join in. They also raise seed beans, so all six men arranged to plant varieties with staggered maturities that wouldn't all ripen at the same time. Later, Dick Bushue of Teutopolis, Ill., joined in, too. He doesn't grow seed beans but he coordinates planting with the other harvest partners. The threshing ring runs four machines - two Case IH 6080's, a Case IH 1660, and a Gleaner R62. The Elliotts have a few more acres than the others so they provide two 800-bu. semis and a grain cart. The machines have to be thoroughly vacuumed out when changing bean varieties. It takes about two hours to clean the four combines. One of the best aspects of the threshing ring is that when a mechanical problem develops they can pull out a machine for repairs while the other combines keep going. Everything considered, all seven farmers give the combine ring a thumbs up. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Roger and Bruce Elliott, 19478 North 400 St., Montrose, Ill. 62445 (ph 217 924-4350).

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