Wheat Harvest
The first half of the year is past. The fields are the color of gold. The 4th of July is the time to begin wheat harvest. We begin slowly. We will make one round with the combine and then we will take it to town to be tested for moisture. If it is not dry enough we will get docked when we sell it.
I remember the days as a lad, spent taking load after load of wheat to the Grabill Mill. They were long days, until 10:00 at night and then up early the next day, just to start all over again. Those were fun days, probably even time to grab a candy bar or a soda at the mill. I told you in those days the price of wheat was $2.25 a bushel, which was equivalent to nearly $50 a bushel today. Seems like in those days the farmer really did have a better life.
Each trip the mill will take a half dozen samples off of different places on the load, mix them up and test them. Any moisture over 15%, was docked 25¢ or more a bushel. We always thought that was a gimmick, because it was all loaded into the same railroad car and was plenty dry by the time it got to the buyer.
After the wheat was off, there were always several days of baling straw, and in a week or so oats harvest will begin. The entire crop of oats was put in the bins and fed to livestock during the winter. It was always a good feeling of having the bins full of wheat and oats. Part of the wheat crop was kept because the price might go up, or we might need some money, and sell it as needed.
I told you about our company coming this summer. It was all for naught. We got sick. My wife and I both had The Summer Crud. We went through all seven stages of it. We got sick the day my brother-in-law from Maryland was supposed to come. Just the time we were getting better, my son couldn’t come because of a business complication.
At my age, it’s almost a blessing because any extra activity can be difficult. At any rate we will enjoy the summer, and take the weather as it comes.
“All the builders’ tools are silent
No more time to harvest wheat
Work on earth has been suspended
As the king comes thro’ the gate
The king is coming
Oh, the king is coming
I just heard the trumpet sounding
And now his face I see
The king is coming
Praise God he’s coming for me”
Addendum: The flower is Beebalm. It blooms the 4th of July and looks just like a firecracker. Beebalm is the herb Bergamot, the ingredient in Earl Grey tea. I have tried years to find a red variety like I had years ago. Its most common color is purple. It’s growing by the bridge at Jack Harris Park in Grabill. Do your Master Gardeners grow it? Have you seen any wheat ready for harvest this year?
—James Neuhouser
