All the rain in half the time

Jul 07, 2022

Lentils take 80 - 110 days to grow, and we talked to Marengo area farmer Richard Schmalzbauer exactly 60 days ago. It was his first day of seeding.

"Right now I think the lentils might be under a little bit of pressure just with how wet it is. If it stays like this, the disease will start showing up."

He said that the Marengo area has had 4.5 inches of rain, but hasn't seen much flood damage yet. "The disease starts showing up when they close their canopy in, and it never dries up. But who knows it could get sunny again, and it sure beats how it started out."

It's too early to say how harvest will look. Schmalzbauer says the rain may have came too late for some guys. He also wanted to note that crops like canola are benefitting quite a bit right now from this wetter weather.

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Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.