June 26, 2009

Cutting wheat by the Bison Farm

From the top of my pasture hill I can see wheat fields three different directions, and could hear the humming of the combines as they rolled across these fields this week. It’s super hot, humid, and the wheat is ripe. Everyone’s in a dash working as late as they can, combining until the wheat straw gets too tough to cut at night, which might be anywhere from 7 pm until midnight.
 
Farmers are racing to get the wheat harvested because weather can change their crop from a bumper yield to nothing to cut. Hail stones can pound a year’s worth of work and income in the ground in seconds.
 
We had a quick 2.5 inches of rain on Saturday that stopped the combines for two days. That rain dropped the quality and weight of the wheat kernels a little,  but so far the yield in our area is very good!
This year’s wheat stalks are clean and bright, making beautiful yellow straw that the farmers are baling right away to keep it that way.
 
Straw is used for bedding for livestock, and can also be ground for feed. We buy small square straw bales from a neighbor to make our little mazes that people walk through during our maze season too.
 
The goal for our area is to be done cutting wheat by the 4th of July. By the looks of all the cut fields surrounding the Bison Farm, they will make it in time to enjoy the holiday.