by Logan Gruber
operations@thenewsleaders.com
“I’ve never seen a harvest like this,” said Jerome Salzer of St. Joseph while sitting in the cab of his pickup in one of his corn fields along W. Minnesota Street.
In August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast Minnesota’s corn yield at a record 184 bushels per acre.
Salzer’s grandson, Tyler, also of St. Joseph, was co-piloting the chopper on Aug. 28 alongside Harvey Roske, who runs his own custom-chopping business.
“This time last year, the corn was 2 feet high; this year, it’s 14!” Roske yelled down from the cab of the chopper.
Roske and Tyler chopped about 30 acres of corn. Four tractors with boxes attached ran back and forth to keep up with them. Drivers included Dan Meyer, Vern Roskea and Jeff Salzer, all of St. Joseph, and Jim Dunmeyer of Pelican Lake/St. Anna. Riding shotgun with Jeff was his daughter, Sofia.
Dan Meyer of St. Joseph drives a tractor with a box attached through Jerome Salzer’s field Aug. 28. In the other tractor, Harvey Roske and co-pilot Tyler Salzer were chopping the corn down and throwing it into the box.
Dan Meyer of St. Joseph drives a tractor with a box attached through Jerome Salzer’s field Aug. 28. In the other tractor, Harvey Roske and co-pilot Tyler Salzer were chopping the corn down and throwing it into the box.
