Harvest Monsters

I finally managed to catch one of the local combine harvesters in action. Monsters like this Lexion 600 (at one time this was the most powerful combine in the world apparently) can cut nine meters at a pass and move at a brisk walking pace. The corn lorry has its job cut out keeping up with the process.




Another sign of the times is the process that occurs at the blunt end of the combine, where I noticed a larger than normal cloud of dust and chaff.

In years gone by farmers would simply burn the straw (which is now illegal) or bale it for bedding. Straw is not very valuable and these days it is often not worth baling and moving. This combine has a straw chopper and spreader in the rear, so there is no sign of a swath behind the machine. 

There is nothing to collect, burn or bale. In fact the straw will get ploughed back into the ground as added nutrient for next year.




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