HARVEST 2005

Truly God's country. Our nation's "Bread Basket" to the world. The Heartland of America. A place where one can leave the home unlocked and keys in the ignition. Small towns of friendly folks who are always willing to greet strangers, and wave as you drive by. It's a different pace compared to city life, however, that completely changes at harvest, the busiest time of the year. The fields are ripe and ready to be gathered before the cold breath of winter sets in. A time to reap the benefits of a years hard work. Busy were the Guthmiller's on their 5,000+ acre farm near Tripp, South Dakota. The harvest was in full swing when I arrived. Yields were better than expected despite the long dry spell during the summer. Corn averaged 135 bushels/acre and soybeans 60 bushels/acre. The silos were completely filled, therefore, most of the excess corn had to be piled at the field to be shipped later to the grain elevator. It was a great experience to witness and take part in this event.

I would like to give special thanks Delmar & Carol for their warm hospitality and allowing to me to stay with them during the week. Likewise to Diane & Earl Reese, Esther & Maynard, and extended family in Miller, SD for their wonderful visits. I also would like to thank David Guthmiller and the rest of the crew, Nathan, Brian, and Richard, for all their expertise, help, and fun stories. You really made this a memorable occassion.

Below are some pics of the harvest experience, places and people whom I visited....Enjoy !

"Click on image for enlargement"

Sunrise on the Guthmiller Farm	Old barn stands the testament of time	Weathervain
Old well tower	Yep, this is the place!	Endless rows of corn waiting to be harvested
Corn stalks in 30" rows	Two of three JD 9600's combines use for the harvest	Combine in action. Note the "Pickle Fork" head
Combine with boom extended	The head cuts eight 30" rows	Bountiful quantity of corn !!
Corn is fed into the combine via a central auger and processed inside	Combine is a mechanical marvel that needs field repairs on occassion	Corn has to dry out to less than 14% moisture prior to harvest
Kernels of corn after combining	Combine ready to unload to grain cart	Combining and unloading on the fly !
The grain cart weighs tthe corn to determine yield	Grain cart unlods to a belly dumper tractor trailer rig	The rig holds approximately 55,000 lbs. of grain
Grain is hauled off to silo or elevator	Belly dumping corn into auger	Auger is run by PTO of the tractor
Silos full, had to pile in the field25.jpg	Early beginning of a 20 ft. pile !	One of two 20 ft. piles
Delmar, Carol, and Allan in front of a 20 ft. pile	A tour of a Co-Op grain elevator plant near Parkston, SD	No, this is not gravel. It's a massive pile of soybeans !!
Allan standing in front od soybean pile. over 8 million bushels !	Massive corn pile. About 3 million bushels. Silos too full32.jpg	Looks like a gravel pit operation. Actually it's winter wheat !
Elevator also supplies farm chemicals	Fertilizer plant	Concrete silos over 5 stories high
Fertilizer dispenser tower	Kerry, our guide in the control room	Grain is hauled to ships via railroad
Local engine sorts the hoper cars	Grain drying tower	Silo vaccume system
Silo vents on roof top.	View of the SD prairie	Prairie and corn pile view
Tyndall, one of many midwest towns	Quaint old style buildings	Friendly people
Local barber	Local bank	Town elevator, a testiment of time
Yours truly at the Reese's home near Yankton, SD	Earl Reese on his new 4 wheeler	Diane Reese always busy
Esther & Maynard Guthmiller, Delmar & Carol Guthmiller, Diane & Earl Reese	Mabel & Clarence Wagner	Donna & Cliff Peterson
Mary & Gene Haefner	Eunice Nicholsen, Gene, Mary, Donna	Largest adult candy store, Mitchell, SD. Bring your plastic !
Brass statue symbolizing the local game heritage	Huge ! Almost the size of a Walmart !! Wildlife scenes in all directions	Wouldn't you like to have one of these in your crosshairs ???
		This place even has a cafe !
SD is famous for pheasant hunting	And turkeys too..	Prepare for some serious credit debt
Endless guns & amo	Tons of fishing gear too !