Harvest

Harvesting agriculture in Volgograd Oblast, Russia

Harvest is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. The harvest marks the end of the growing season, or the growing cycle for a particular crop, and social importance of this event makes it the focus of seasonal celebrations such as a harvest festival, found in many religions. On smaller farms with minimal mechanization, harvesting is the most labor-intensive activity of the growing season. On large, mechanized farms, harvesting utilizes the most expensive and sophisticated farm machinery, like the combine harvester. Harvesting in general usage includes an immediate post-harvest handling, all of the actions taken immediately after removing the crop—cooling, sorting, cleaning, packing—up to the point of further on-farm processing, or shipping to the wholesale or consumer market.

Harvesting demonstrations

Demonstration of early harvesting with horse cart collecting sheaves cut by a binder

A number of vintage events hold demonstrations of harvesting from hand cutting and gathering corn with horse+carts for threshing through to classic and modern combines.

See also

• Threshing
• Winnowing
• Combine Harvester

References

2. Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement see Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada website - http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/webarchives/20071115152303/http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/agr/gwich/gwic/index_e.html

3. Tlicho Agreement see Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada website - http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1292948193972

External links

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Harvest

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