Winter Wheat Harvest Underway

Winter wheat harvest is underway in some of the southern reaches of the country-- a process that usually takes days, weather-permitting.  But for a custom harvester like Rana Zeller who follows the harvest with her equipment and crew no matter the crop.

"With us we start sometimes at the end of March, beginning of April, and we end up usually at the beginning of November. So, it is a long six months."

Factor in 14 to 16 hour work days during peak harvest season, and travel from field to field and farm to farm across the continental US, and Zeller says it is essential for custom harvesters to have a support system in place to keep spirits up.  That system includes the company owners, the farm operations that hire crews to help with the harvest, and, Zeller says, most importantly-- crew members themselves.

"If you've got a good team, then keep the morale up. Sometimes when you're sittin' in the rain, you've gotta guy that owns a Playstation or something, they share they Playstation, or they all go out to eat together, or somebody wants to drive and go somewhere and take a trip-- they work together pretty well."

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com