hamtrack Loc: Omaha NE

I grew up on an IA farm. I left it for what was over the next hill after HS. That was 62 years ago. I still have dirt under my nails and every year wonder as I see the new equipment harvesting corn and beans. I actually picked corn by hand with horses pulling the wagon as a kid. Not many urbanites have any idea of the use for corn outside of cereal and animal food. Paper products, spark plugs, tires, toothpaste, paint, instant coffee and tea, pesticides, fertilizer, cosmetics, ethanol, beer, drugs, plastics & drywall all use corn in the process of manufacturing. There is a Corn Museum just outside of the village of Earling, IA. It has interesting historical corn information and restored old planting and harvesting machines .

Picked by hand


When they planted with horses

Murex Loc: Bainbridge, Georgia

I was a kid, helping to pick corn in North Alabama about the time you graduated high school. Great photographs; thanks for the memories. I have no experience with the new havesting equipment but I think it is wonderful.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

How does that guy keep his combine so clean? Is this a first day of the season photo?

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

Probably a new combine.

hamtrack Loc: Omaha NE

No actually on both counts. His name is Lincoln and he spotted me taking some photos, pulled up to the road I was standing on to shoot, and hollered at me to come on and ride with him. He began for apologizing because this picker was a 1993 8 row and the new machines are 12 row. His would sell for about $350,000 and the big tractor and 500 bu wagon would go another $150,000. Inside the cabin was like sitting in your den watching TV. Had satilite radio, GPS and his cell phone to give his helper directions. Said he hosed the unit down each night and kept it in a machine shed. My Father bought a 1939 F-20 IH new for $500 and another used F-20 for $250. I am guessing he spent another $1,000 for all the other equipment, including a 2 row picker. We farmed 640 acres, all tillable, fed 400 head of cattle each year and farrowed and sold 1,000 pigs each year. Everything got used, including my Dad, a hired man and me. My Dad lived to be 90 and I wonder how. He would cough up black junk for weeks after putting up hay. All the crops were fed out through the animals. Lincoln said he could pick about 150 acres of corn in a day. We were lucky to get 10. Todays equipment looks to me like it could be used to build interstate highways by comparison.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Very interesting information. I also think it is a great portrait of a rightfully proud man. Nice job.

sammywoody Loc: Moncks Corner, SC

Wow - this is neat and I have some education on harvesting corn now- thanks a million

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

There's nothing any prettier than a corn field except maybe a cotton field ready for harvest. :-) Beautiful pictures of the heartland.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

EXCELLENT set!!

Rabbott Loc: Grass Valley , California

Good story, Great photos,,,, gotta love that John Deere green !!!!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

It sounds like we have a lot in common. That checkrow planter really brings back memories.