From the Fields: ‘Always remember to be safe out there’

POSEYVILLE, Ind. — Mark Seib, a grain farmer in southern Indiana, has finished soybean harvest and is closing in on corn.

He shared his final From the Fields update for the season with AgriNews.

Q: When did harvest start on your farm and how is it progressing?

A: Happy to share that soybean harvest was completed on Oct. 8. We have a little over 500 acres of corn to go, but the cribs are getting full, and we started moving corn to the elevator on Oct. 14 to make room for the last of the harvest.

It is a beautiful week, and it pains me to not be in the cornfield, but first we make room for corn. Moisture is down to 17%. We’ve not had to run the dryer much at all.

Q: Did the effects of the hurricane reach your farm, if so, how?

A: Hurricane Helene dropped a much needed 4.5 inches of rain and no wind damage. The rain came slowly and the surprising part is with that much rain the field tiles did not run. The creeks and ditches showed very little water accumulation.

Q: Do you have any concerns with crop quality or yields?

A: We have no concerns at this time. We are still above average on corn. And soybeans have been up and down on yield, but above average.

A farmer friend in South Carolina has 300 parts per billion of aflatoxin. We are allowed 10 ppb. I feel bad for them.

Q: What’s a memorable moment you’ve had this harvest season?

A: This is my first harvest without my mom. We have been able to take every Sunday off this harvest, not that they were restful days, but no fieldwork.

Q: How do you balance farming and everything else going on during this busy season?

A: All of my life planting and harvesting took priority, but with age — I am 66 — I find myself doing other things in addition to harvesting.

The Posey County Area Plan Commission involves several hours a week, and Indiana Farm Bureau requires a full two days a month for board meetings and extra time for county events. It is surely keeping me busy.

Then Sheryl will call randomly to let me know something has been brought to her attention that needs my attention, too.

Q: Any INFB updates?

A: Dec. 12-14 is the annual INFB State Convention in French Lick. Great breakout sessions have been planned. Young Farmers & Ag Professionals will conduct the Discussion Meet competition.

The Book of the Year will be announced, and special speakers will inform and entertain us. We will also adopt the policies for INFB for 2025.

Q: With the election right around the corner and farm bill in the works, what are some legislation topics or issues that are important to you as a landowner and a farmer?

A: Property taxes, water rights for state and federal, and the farm bill. Get it done. We need to plan seed, chemicals and so much more that we cannot do or plan without a farm bill.

I did just host state Rep. Wendy McNamara on my farm. She is endorsed by INFB’s AgELECT PAC, the organization’s state-level, nonpartisan political action committee, for the 2024 general election for state representative of District 76.

Rep. McNamara visited the farm and learned more about agriculture. Sheryl and I are always excited to host guests and elected officials at the farm to share the story of agriculture and get them engaged in issues impacting the farming community.

Q: Anything else you’d like to talk about in this issue?

A: As this is my last update, I would like to thank AgriNews for allowing me to do this. I’d like to thank Sheryl for her two cents’ worth, spelling and grammar help.

Thanks to Wayne, Carl and Matthew for allowing me to talk about Seib Farms LLC, Colleen Settle for making this happen and, from me, always remember to be safe out there.

Harvest is not yet over, and farm machinery is still on the road and getting to the next field. Let’s all be patient and respectful so everyone makes it home safely each night.