Summer 2026 Newsletter - Growing Crops, New Technology, and Long-Term Stewardship
The County Road 55 farmhouse in the early 1900s, with Jim's great-grandmother May and great-great-grandmother Krise.
Summer is well underway across northeast Indiana, and the 2026 crop continues to develop. With planting complete, our attention has shifted to crop care, scouting, and making the decisions that will carry us toward harvest. This season has also brought a new perspective to our farm, both through new technology and the opportunity to reconnect with a piece of our family’s history.
Below are highlights from our Summer 2026 Newsletter, recently shared with landowners, neighbors, friends, and family.
What’s Inside This Newsletter:
A Place Close to Home
One of the farms we operate along County Road 55 has been part of our family’s story for generations. This summer’s newsletter shares the history of that land, our return to farming it, and the responsibility we feel to continue caring for it as good stewards and good neighbors.
Corn growing in Cereal Rye in DeKalb County.
When the Plan Meets Reality
The spring of 2026 reminded us that every field and every season are different. Planting conditions varied across our farms, requiring patience, flexibility, and a willingness to adjust when weather or equipment changed the plan. Careful preparation helped planting progress smoothly, even when the original plan did not.
Crop Progress and Stewardship
Crop conditions are encouraging as we move through summer. Corn has developed well, side-dress nitrogen applications are complete, and weed control has been excellent. We also continued planting into cereal rye cover crops, building on practices intended to protect the soil and improve our fields over the long term.
New drone preparing to scout corn in Allen County.
A New Perspective
This summer we added a drone to strengthen our crop scouting efforts. It will not replace walking fields and examining plants up close, but it provides a perspective that is impossible to see from the ground and helps us identify areas that deserve a closer look.
Looking Ahead
With the crop established, our focus now shifts to protecting the yield potential we have worked to build. We will continue scouting, monitoring crop health, and making thoughtful decisions as conditions change while also preparing equipment for the harvest season ahead.
Ready to read the full update:
Download the complete newsletter for additional detail, photos, and perspective on how we approach planting preparation, stewardship, and spring management decisions.
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Questions About Our Farming Practices?
We value transparency and communication with landowners, neighbors, and those interested in how we care for the land. If you have questions about our operation or stewardship approach, we’re always happy to connect.
Contact Jim Smith
📞 (260) 413-7881
J&K Smith Family Farms has been farming in northeast Indiana for almost two decades, with family roots in Allen and DeKalb Counties spanning more than 170 years. We remain committed to long-term stewardship, disciplined management, and treating every acre with care.