Spring planting a family affair for Brinkmeyers
Sirrina Martinez
Multimedia reporter
smartinez@pipestonestar.com
Around three miles as the crow flies northwest of Holland sits the farm of Matt and Kelly Brinkmeyer. Their operation, known as Brinkmeyer Farms, has been family-owned and run for four generations, Matt said.
Among the helping hands are Matt’s father, Harold, Matt’s wife, Kelly, his son, Tate, 19, and his daughter Aleryn, 16. The family is fortunate to have great help from hired men like Dalton Kor and Doug Bonine.
With spring planting quickly approaching, the Brinkmeyers are preparing to do business as usual, planting around 4,500 acres of corn.
“We could be planting corn as early as April,” Matt said. “It is all dependent on the conditions. About the April 10-15 mark, around that neighborhood, we will start planting if the ground and soil are fit and the temperature is decent.”
The family has been prepared for the planting season since December, Matt said. “We have had corn in the seed shed since December ready to go.”
The key to planting a successful crop is patience and yet knowing when it is the right time, he said.
“You want the soil to be fit as far as moisture-wise and not be out there when it is dry and tacky,” he said. “You want to plant about two inches deep and get the seed into some moisture. You don’t want to get too carried away going too deep either. Usually at about 2-2.5 inches is where I’ll end up planting most of the corn I guess. We kind of like to have the soil at around 50 degrees before we get started.”
The Brinkmeyers do not rely too heavily on instruments to help them know when the time is right, he said.
“You know, just by knowing it’s hard to explain,” he chuckled. “Just years and years of experience, you kind of just know when it’s fit.”
The Brinkmeyers have been planting Pioneer Seed for as long as Matt can remember. Their local seed dealers, father and son, J.B. and Troy Bouman, have provided them with excellent customer service over the years, he said.
Aside from raising corn, the Brinkmeyers also plant around 800 acres of alfalfa and raise around 180 stock cows and calves, and they raise around 4,000 feeder calves to finish every year to go to market in the fall.
Having the opportunity to work alongside family has been a blessing, Matt said. For almost his entire life, aside from when the family has gone on vacation, Matt has had the opportunity to talk to his father and work alongside him.
“We’re definitely very lucky. I am able to work alongside my dad, and I have worked alongside my grandpa over the years. He has passed since, but now I’m working with my son coming into the operation and my daughter. My wife Kelly and I work hand in hand on the business side of things, and she helps with everything on the farm, every aspect. It’s great having a good team to work together. It’s got its moments once in a while; I think everything does, but for the most part, we have a great relationship doing it.”
With the busy spring planting season around the corner, Matt would like to remind everyone, farmer or not, to be patient when they are out on the roads.
“I would just like to remind everyone to be patient with equipment,” he said. “Just be patient, give the farmers space around the equipment on the highway and be aware of flashing lights. Be aware of what side signal they do have on for turning wise because there are a lot of flashing lights, and it kind of gets crazy, but just take your time, and everybody will get to where they need to be safely.”
Multimedia reporter
smartinez@pipestonestar.com
Around three miles as the crow flies northwest of Holland sits the farm of Matt and Kelly Brinkmeyer. Their operation, known as Brinkmeyer Farms, has been family-owned and run for four generations, Matt said.
Among the helping hands are Matt’s father, Harold, Matt’s wife, Kelly, his son, Tate, 19, and his daughter Aleryn, 16. The family is fortunate to have great help from hired men like Dalton Kor and Doug Bonine.
With spring planting quickly approaching, the Brinkmeyers are preparing to do business as usual, planting around 4,500 acres of corn.
“We could be planting corn as early as April,” Matt said. “It is all dependent on the conditions. About the April 10-15 mark, around that neighborhood, we will start planting if the ground and soil are fit and the temperature is decent.”
The family has been prepared for the planting season since December, Matt said. “We have had corn in the seed shed since December ready to go.”
The key to planting a successful crop is patience and yet knowing when it is the right time, he said.
“You want the soil to be fit as far as moisture-wise and not be out there when it is dry and tacky,” he said. “You want to plant about two inches deep and get the seed into some moisture. You don’t want to get too carried away going too deep either. Usually at about 2-2.5 inches is where I’ll end up planting most of the corn I guess. We kind of like to have the soil at around 50 degrees before we get started.”
The Brinkmeyers do not rely too heavily on instruments to help them know when the time is right, he said.
“You know, just by knowing it’s hard to explain,” he chuckled. “Just years and years of experience, you kind of just know when it’s fit.”
The Brinkmeyers have been planting Pioneer Seed for as long as Matt can remember. Their local seed dealers, father and son, J.B. and Troy Bouman, have provided them with excellent customer service over the years, he said.
Aside from raising corn, the Brinkmeyers also plant around 800 acres of alfalfa and raise around 180 stock cows and calves, and they raise around 4,000 feeder calves to finish every year to go to market in the fall.
Having the opportunity to work alongside family has been a blessing, Matt said. For almost his entire life, aside from when the family has gone on vacation, Matt has had the opportunity to talk to his father and work alongside him.
“We’re definitely very lucky. I am able to work alongside my dad, and I have worked alongside my grandpa over the years. He has passed since, but now I’m working with my son coming into the operation and my daughter. My wife Kelly and I work hand in hand on the business side of things, and she helps with everything on the farm, every aspect. It’s great having a good team to work together. It’s got its moments once in a while; I think everything does, but for the most part, we have a great relationship doing it.”
With the busy spring planting season around the corner, Matt would like to remind everyone, farmer or not, to be patient when they are out on the roads.
“I would just like to remind everyone to be patient with equipment,” he said. “Just be patient, give the farmers space around the equipment on the highway and be aware of flashing lights. Be aware of what side signal they do have on for turning wise because there are a lot of flashing lights, and it kind of gets crazy, but just take your time, and everybody will get to where they need to be safely.”
