25 Jul Laura: Fire danger

Hardin, Montana – Things can get pretty dry in Montana in the summer. That doesn’t sound like that unusual because a lot of places get dry. However, it takes on a different meaning when you’re dealing with some of the desolate areas that make up the state. There aren’t always the square north/south or east/west roads every mile or so like you find in some parts of the plains. If lightning strikes, and a fire starts, it’s not always very easy to fight because of the very remote, and often rough terrain. Same can be true for a fire started by harvest equipment. The fields in the part of the world can be very large, I’m talking 1000+ acres. If a fire starts and blows through a field, the consequences can be devastating and extremely difficult to fight. Crews are often driven from the field for rain, but at this stop, the crews have been asked to shut down when the fire risk seems especially high, which is completely understandable.  There are disastrous fires currently burning in the state.

Our crew recently moved to a different farm. The wheat is very good. They been averaging around 80 bushels per acre so far.  They’ve seen lows in the sixties and highs around 100 bushels per acre.  

Another sunset. (Photo Submitted By: James)

View from the cab. (Photo Submitted By: Odendaal)

A long stretch of cutting. (Photo Submitted By: Odendaal)

Dusty cutting. (Photo Submitted By: Mark)

Nearing sunset. (Photo Submitted By: Mark)

Beautiful, golden wheat. (Photo Submitted By: Mark)

Rolling hills in the background. (Photo Submitted By: Mark)

James normally drives truck for us, but it looks like Odendaal shared the combine with him this evening. (Photo Submitted By: Mark)

Popping up over the hill. (Photo Submitted By: Mark)

Such a variety of landscapes. (Photo Submitted By: Mark)

Sun down, lights on. (Photo Submitted By: Mark)

Wow, what a view! (Photo Submitted By: Mark)

Blue header getting it done. (Photo Submitted By: Willem)

Nearing the end of the land. (Photo Submitted By: Willem)

Equipment in formation. (Photo Submitted By: Willem)

Willem’s cab view. (Photo Submitted By: Willem)

All Aboard Wheat Harvest™ is sponsored by High Plains Journal and John Deere. Laura can be reached at laura@allaboardharvest.com.