Custom harvesting

Custom Harvesting:

– Custom harvesting is the business of harvesting crops for others.
– Custom harvesters own their own combines.
– Custom harvesting industry started in the mid-20th century.
– Custom harvesters charge for their services in various ways.
– Availability of labor and timing of the harvest are key challenges for farmers hiring custom harvesters.

History of Custom Harvesting:

– Before combine harvesters, farmers owned their own harvesting machinery.
– Combines becoming widespread reduced the need for migrant labor.
– World War II caused a surge in the custom harvesting industry.
– The industry transformed into family-run businesses over time.
– Custom combining turned into a family tradition in many regions.

Decline of Custom Harvesting:

– The number of custom harvesters has decreased in modern times.
– Farm consolidation into large-scale operations reduced the need for contractors.
– Competition has driven down prices in some regions.
– In China, an influx of custom harvesters led to low-profit margins.
– Various reasons have contributed to the decline of custom harvesting.

Related Films:

– “The Great American Wheat Harvest” (2014) by Conrad Weaver.
– “Wild Harvest” (1947) starring Alan Ladd, Robert Preston, and Dorothy Lamour.
– “Amber Wave” (1980) starring Kurt Russell and Dennis Weaver.
– “Race Against the Harvest” (1987) starring Wayne Rogers and others.
– “The 2000 Mile Harvest” produced and directed by Dylan Winter.

References:

– “Encyclopedia of the Great Plains” edited by David J. Wishart (2004).
– “Regulation and the Revolution in United States Farm Productivity” by Sally H. Clarke (2002).
– “Irrigated Pasture Production in the Central Valley of California” by Barbara Reed and Larry Forero (2007).
– “Livelihoods Today: Understanding the Cultural Landscape” by Bret Wallach (2005).
– Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Custom_harvesting&oldid=1146820603.