If you live in the rural hard red winter wheat belt of the central US the time has arrived. Around the 1st or 2nd week of May you see the first custom cutter combine crews heading south. They appear like circus caravans, like carnies on the move. Lines of big trucks hauling huge machines, trailers with 30 foot headers, 1 tons with repair parts and tools and trailers for living quarters. All heading south to meet up with the first ripening grain. From there they slowly work their way north, cutting as they go.
Of course my observations will be from the west central Oklahoma area. By the second week of May you are generally hearing the locals commenting "Looks like the wheat is start'en to turn." The time is getting close, combines and trucks find their way out of the barns to be greased and fueled and maintenance rechecked, like fine race cars preparing for the flag to drop. As time progresses the landscape takes on a beauty of color contrasts and shades you can only see to appreciate. There are shades from dark green to pale green, gradually turing to gold. The bright blue sky with towering cumulus are just enough to set it all off as a site to behold. The spring winds rolling through the ripening fields give the illusion of ocean waves. Somtimes the dry wheat beards rusting and scraping against each other add sound effects that only serve to enhance the feeling. Soon the morning coffee comments turn to " Bet we'll be in the field in another week if this hot wind keeps up"
Sure enough, soon the word is out that someone is cutting, and like a fever it spreads. First, samples are cut and rushed to the elevator to be checked for readiness. The moisture content and weights are recorded. If numbers are satisfactory the machines are rolling.
The whole family is seen in the field, the meals are brought out and eaten on the ground, or the back of a pick-up truck. Probably not the most sanitary conditions but I assure you, never tasting better. A real magic and family time of old fashion values that are too quickly slipping away.
Not all is fun and exhilaration. Some years are plagued with breakdowns, always dirt, grease, and sweat in your eyes, skinned knuckles and short tempers. Not to mention watching those storm clouds building on a hot Oklahoma afternoon. Seemingly out of nowhere they appear, but getting more threatening by the minute.This is a common occurrence. The adrenalin pumps and the pulse increases. A heavy rain can keep you out of the field for a week, shrivel the grain, and lower the test weight. A lightening strike can start a raging fire. Not to mention five minutes of hail can devastate a whole crop and a year of work and income.
By the time three weeks have past, if multiple rains haven't been a problem, for the most part it's all over. The combines are cleaned up and put back in the barn. The tractors are hitched up to the disks and plows and the ground is started in preparation for the fall planting.
Once again the cycle starts all over.
