BROWNTON, Minn. — Fall is harvest time across greater Minnesota, and that certainly is the case in Brownton, where Ryan Mackenthun and his crew are trying to get the corn in before the "real" snow falls.
Our ongoing drone series KARE in the Air takes us up over the 5th generation farm that's been in Mackenthun's family since 1887.
Here's one from the "little known facts" file: Ryan tells us farmers can still harvest in the snow - like the stuff that fell earlier this week - if it's 'below' 28 degrees. Snow doesn't clump when it's colder, but if temps hover between 28 and 32 it's a no-go, because that's "snowball weather." That means snow clumps and clogs up the combine and other machinery.
On this day conditions were perfect, as Mackenthun's combine cut down rows of corn at the base, then processes each ear by separating the kernels from the husk and cob. While the kernels are sent to the hopper towards the rear of the combine and then moved into a bin that is pulled by another tractor, husks and cobs are chopped into smaller pieces before being spit back out onto the ground.
Leaving these materials to decompose in the field helps provide organic matter and extra nutrients for the soil.
Mackenthun grows corn and soybeans on the farm and has been professionally in the ag industry for nearly 30 years. In reality, he grew up on his father's dairy farm and has lived the life since he was born.
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