Amber Waves of Grain

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

Wheat is generally considered a western cornbelt/great plains crop(yes - Kansas!). But, we grow a field every year here on the farm in central Illinois. It helps us spread our workload among the different seasons, we need the straw for bedding, we need a place to spread manure in the summer, and it provides needed cash after all spring crop expenses have been payed.
Wheat is a beautiful crop. It greens up early in the spring when all the other fields are still barren and trashy looking. Then, when all the other fields are lush and green, its ripe amber color adds contrast to the landscape. When the wind blows the ripe wheat, the amber waves move across the field like an ocean.
This week we harvested our wheat. This old farmer had a first happen - I jumped a bedded deer out of our field. Since we are probably 2 miles from the nearest timber, that was very unusual for us. We also set a new yield record for our farm - 113.7 bushels per acre! We spun an axle on our truck, so we had friend offer to bring his semi and haul for us. We were very greatful for the help.
After harvest is complete, we bale straw. We try to get lots of strong young men to help. We usually start baling late noon, take a lunch break around 3:30, then finish for a late supper. We've accomplished our goals if we get 2000+ bales in the haymow and have a lot of exhausted people. It's a great farm tradition! We also hire a friend to make large round bales for us - 90 this year. It's a great feeling to pass this point in the summer, because it means that now we can go on vacation!

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest (John 4:35)

And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (Revelations 14:14,15)

Are we all ready for the eternal harvest?