Gotcha!
Subscriber Jan asked the question “Do the farmers have tall enough equipment to harvest the corn?” in a comment following my previous “Knee High by When?” post. I promised to take a pic the next time I saw a sprayer. Well today’s the day. I mentioned at the time that I was pretty sure I could drive our car under one. It’s close.
Pam and I went for another ride this afternoon and there, just off the county road, parked near a grain elevator, was just the ticket.
It’s difficult to tell from this image the unit’s height and size. So I took a few more:
I’m 5′-9″ tall. Looks like the tire is at least six feet in diameter.
A little more perspective. Clearly, I could walk under it. I chose not to since I didn’t even ask permission to take the pictures.
That’s our car on the other side. I wouldn’t take a chance on driving through, but I measured it at its highest point and it is only 5′-6″ high. I guess it would have made it.
The big yellow arms that appear folded against the body of the cab – are indeed – arms. They contain the sprayer apparatuses used to spray herbicide and/or pesticide on grown beans and corn (“Spray-on Corn”). I haven’t seen one in a field lately so I couldn’t get an image with the arms extended.
To answer Jan’s question directly, tall equipment is not needed to harvest the corn. Combines (I just realized a potential pun in the following statement) actually comb through the stalks within a foot or two of the ground, collecting the stalks, stripping the corn off the cobs, and shredding the stalks, cobs, and husks then discarding them back on the field.
By the way, I visited the corn field today at which I shot the previous pics. The cobs are filling out nicely. I’m waiting a while to see them mature before giving an update on their development. I guess maybe something to look forward to?
Glad I could be of service !
Are you sure Cheryl? This corn might become many things. But most likely it does not end up as corn-on-the-cob, or any whole type corn in a grocery store since it is field corn. It may become ethanol, corn syrup, or any of many processed corn products. It might also become animal feed – also what you don’t eat (-;).
Not corn that I would eat! But the piece of equipment is impressive. You gave a great perspective in the pics~
Just a quick follow-up. The harvested corn is deposited in a collection bin incorporated into the combine then later transferred by auger to an open gondola trailer. Alternately, the corn is transferred directly to the gondola pulled along side the combine by tractor.