Wheat Harvest (Photographs)
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Wheat HarvestCombines merged several wheat-harvesting functions into one machine, and soon replaced the traditional harvest by threshing crews and steam-operated machines. Large wheels cut the wheat stalks, while threshing machines located behind the drivers separated wheat seeds from chaff. Large teams of horses pulled the earliest combines across the rolling hills of the Inland Northwest. Gas-powered tractors eventually replaced the horses. In addition to simplifying the harvest process, combines greatly reduced the labor costs associated with annual wheat harvest. |