Great Weather leads to successful Corn Planting Season

Five perfect days of weather has led to the successful season of corn planting for McKay Farms. We have made the switch now to soybeans and continue to work early mornings and late nights.We expect this week to bring us rain so it was great to finish corn so early in the season. Check out the picture above where Dan McKay is using the seed tinder to load up the corn planter as Rita McKay delivers lunch for the day.

McKay Farms begins #Plant17 on April 19th

For the second consecutive year, McKay Farms begins the Planting Season on April 19th. An extremely mild February followed by a wet spring delayed the early planting season. We are excited to be back at work with over 100 acres planted in the first full day. 

National Farm Machinery Show held in Louisville, KY

The 52nd National Farm Machinery Show and America's largest indoor farm show is being held in Louisville, Kentucky. Dan and Rita McKay attended the show to learn about the latest equipment, technologies and best practices. Do not forget to save the date for the Farm Progress Show 2017 held August 29-31 in Decatur, Illinois.

Preparations begin for 2017 Farming Season

As the snow melts away in Central Illinois, McKay Farms is preparing for another successful Farming Season. We have a lot of work to get accomplished before planting time including the cleaning of 11 grain bins. Grain is currently being hauled away and before we know it, we will be beginning #Spring17.We can't wait!

McKay Homestead 2017

Tyler McKay lobbies Politicians in DC

Mr. Tyler McKay spent the week meeting with Speaker Ryan (WI), Senator Ernst (IA), Senator Grassley (IA), Senator Daines (MT), new Ambassador to China Terry Branstad and new Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke. Discussions were focused on elimination of WOTUS, preservation of rural land, fair trade for farmers and the upcoming Farm Bill.

Ambassador to China Terry Branstad

Chairman of Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley

Speaker of House Paul Ryan

Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke

Senator Joni Ernst

First Corn hauled out of Bins for 2017

Happy New Years!

Top 3 Photos from #Harvest16

We would like to share our top 3 most popular photos from #Harvest16. After hundreds of hours of hard work and dedication, we are blessed to finish another bountiful harvest.

#3  A grey scale photo of beautiful corn stalks with huge clouds in background.

# 2  Dan McKay, hardest worker of the family using our brand new hopper bottom dumping into bins at home.

#1  Three generations of McKay Farms with Baby Benson experiencing his first Harvest season and Benson McKay greatly enjoyed a ride in the combine from his father Jason.