After the sun rises over this idyllic Iowa farm scene, hard work is in store, gathering in the corn crop before the rain. The details of most farm chores remain a mystery to the casual observer. Sightseers enjoy the picturesque settings, and at times romanticize about a good life on a farm until some of the smells and aromas are detected. But some young city slickers have given up their hectic lives in the city, taking on the challenges of farming. Interesting tales relate how they've embraced the long hours and low monetary benefits, as they have found clean air and a rewarding rural lifestyle.
On this Iowa farm, the browning cornstalks are being turned into silage. The corn crop easily adapts to mechanization, from planting to harvest. Chopped corn silage is compressed into the silo and a cover is immediately set in place after the last load is packed. Care is taken to keep out oxygen, as trapped carbon dioxide ensures a desirable fermentation process. Drought, high temperatures, blight, frost and hail are a few of the natural problems that the farmer must face.