Long days and big yields as corn harvest rolls through Perth County

Mike monitors yield and moisture levels as 12 rows feed steadily into the header. Readings show the field averaging 220-250 bushels per acre with moisture levels of 26-28 per cent. The Players know the weather could turn wet before the season ends, so every dry hour counts. Gary West photo

By Gary West

With the corn harvest in full swing across Perth County, local farmers are putting in long days – and sometimes late nights – even as darkness settles in around 5:30 p.m.

Thanks to a season of good moisture, area yields have been strong, averaging well over 200 bushels per acre at 26-28 per-cent moisture.

Over the weekend, we caught up with Playerdise Farms, a family-run operation based near Gadshill, where Mike, Tim and Julie Player were busy combining a 100-acre field along Perth Line 37 (Vivian Line) between Shakespeare and Stratford in North Easthope Township.

The Players are not only grain farmers but also Perth County Pork Producers, managing two large pig barns while tending to their crops. Their parents, Gord and Cathy Player, keep the operation running smoothly, handling machinery maintenance and logistics – often jokingly referring to themselves as “go-fers,” a title every farmer knows well.

The multi-generational family farm divides its work across three main crops – one-third wheat, one-third soybeans and one-third corn – and also provides custom farming services for neighbours throughout Ellice, Mornington and North Easthope townships. Always willing to lend a hand, the Players are part of the strong agricultural community spirit that keeps Perth County farming thriving.