These combines are some kind of machine! They cut a swath about 30' wide. (Certainly different from our Iowan grandfathers who were lucky to cut a couple of rows!) A common sight, combine/gleaner and a row of trucks ready to haul the wheat to the elevator. Every town has a grain elevator, which is a concrete structure that stores grain before it goes to the mill.
They cost $350K!!! and are GPS-driven. The thing can drive itself! It measures the rows and does all other kinds of "magical" things like measuring the moisture all long the way.
With the GPS, you can multi-task. Just ask Doug!
An up-close view!
It's a hot, dusty job, but in an air conditioned, sealed cab it's a "piece of cake". Everyone needs a break once in a awhile!
Back to work! The new equipment is on the left, the old on the right. The old combine cuts a swath of about 24'.
It was a great day for Rich. For Doug and his family, harvest is done and the fields have been re-planted. No time to rest! Now we are waiting for rain!
Yeah, I guess for a native-Kansan like myself, wheat harvest is sooooo very normal for June. So, I'm glad you've shown some great photos to your non-Kansas friends :)
ReplyDeleteWe LOVE wheat harvest and miss it so much. Al's brother has it done for him now so it isn't the same anymore. Wish Sophia and Hannah could have those good memories too.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing wheat harvest through new eyes. We tend to take it for granted and don't remember it's kind of a big deal. Thanks for the reminder!
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