On a beautiful fall day in South Dakota, I had a most exciting adventure. I know a knowledgeable, skilled and experienced farmer who was combining corn. I was invited to ride a few rounds with him. (Notice I said combining, not picking corn.)
This is what the corn looks like, up close.
Here is my first glimpse of the behemoth that was gathering up the ears of corn, shucking off the husks and shelling it all at once.
Brad and his father each had a combine working in that field. Brad's chewed up eight rows at a time while his dad's was a six-row combine.
Like a giant comb, the head moves through the rows.
It was a climb up a ladder to get into the cab. But what a view!
Here, Brad is driving and managing the electronics at the same time. Adjustments are made for any necessity. I couldn't take it all in.
The big screen above shows the field and the combine going down the rows. Brad can connect to GPS and let the machine run itself. But he says he still wants to "have some control."
The shelled corn is collected in the top of the combine. When it gets full, the machine alerts Brad so the tractor and wagon can come along side while the corn is "elevated" into the wagon - all on the "fly."
Next, the wagon is unloaded into a huge grain truck to take to market.
We saw vast numbers of these type of trucks on the Midwest roads we traveled.I have nothing but respect for young farmers these days and I want to thank Brad for taking this old grandma along on a great ride.
