This was a deleted scene in the original film.
Will and Caner Swann would be amazed at how farming methods have changed. Machines have replaced almost all of the people they relied on to get their crops in.
Back in 1940 they used a binder with a 10 foot cut to cut their wheat. Their work day started around 9:30 and they worked until sundown for about a 10 hour day. On a good day they could cut and shock about 25 acres of wheat. And when they did this as custom work for other people they charged $2 per acre. All this required one man to drive the tractor, one man to operate the binder and six to eight men following the binder to shock the wheat.
By late June it was time to thresh the wheat. This is where the steam engine and separator were needed. Given the same 10 hour work day they could thresh 1000 bushels of wheat if they did not have any problems. When they did this as custom work for others they charged $0.10 per bushel.
A large crew was needed to thresh a crop of wheat. There were three men who stayed with the engine: one running the engine, one tending to the separator and one hauling water for the engine and running other errands. At least two people were needed to sack the grain as it came out of the separator. and about 15 wagons were needed to haul the wheat in from the field where it was shocked. Each wagon needed two men: one to drive and one to load and unload the wheat. This whole operation involved about 35 men out in the field—plus 30 mules to pull the wagons.
For 50 acres of wheat in 1940 it took about 5 days to harvest the crop. The average yield at that time was around 30 bushels per acre so this crop would have produced about 1500 bushels. And an average price of $2 per bushel meant a gross income of $3000 on the crop. If a farmer did not have a binder or a separator he could expect around $250 in charges to have the work done. And he would have paid for the other labor by working for his neighbors when their wheat was cut and threshed.
Looking ahead 60 years a farmer using a combine with a 25 foot cut, things are quite different. The combine has lights so the farmer can work on into the night for about a 12 hour work day. And provided he has enough trailer space to hold the grain he can easily harvest 50 acres of wheat in one day. If he hires his services out he will earn about $25 per acre for the work. All this requires is someone to drive the combine and someone to haul the grain away.
For 50 acres of wheat today it only takes one day to get the crop in assuming there are no problems. The average yield of wheat today is around 50 bushels per acre. Unfortunately, the average price of wheat in the first years of the 21st Century, around $2.50 per bushel, hasn't improved with the machinery. This crop of wheat would only have a gross income of $6250. and for a farmer without a combine it would cost $1250 just to have the work done.
Here is a summary of the comparison for 50 acres of wheat from the Steam Era and today. In 1940 a farmer needed around 45 men to get his crop in. Today he would need 2. It should be noted that some of the 45 men from 1940 are counted twice since cutting and threshing were done at different times. It took those 45 men around 750 man hours to harvest 50 acres back then. The same job is done in 25, maybe 30 hours today.
In 1940, 50 acres of wheat was worth around $3000. Today, with better yields and slightly better prices, that same 50 acres is worth around $6250. But to make a fair comparison, the $3000 from 1940 should be adjusted for 60 years of inflation.
50 Acres of Wheat — Circa 1940
Here is what was involved to harvest a 50 acre (20.23 ha) crop of wheat in 1940.
Cutting the wheat:
- Binder with a 10 foot cut (3 m)
- 10 hour work day (2-3 days to cut the crop)
- 25 acres per day (10.12 ha)
- $2 per acre for custom work
- 8-10 people needed
Threshing the wheat:
- Steam engine and separator
- 10 hour work day
- 1000 bushels per day (35.24 m3)
- $0.10 per bushel for custom work
- 35 people needed (+30 mules)
Summary:
- 5 days of work (750 man hours)
- 1500 bushels (52.86 m3) at 30 bushels per acre
- $250 in charges for custom work ($100 for binder, $150 for threshing)
- $3000 gross income at $2.00 per bushel
50 Acres of Wheat — Circa 2000
Here is what was involved to harvest a 50 acre (20.23 ha) crop of wheat in 2000.
Combining the wheat:
- Combine with a 25 foot cut (7.6 m)
- 12 hour work day (1-2 days to cut the crop)
- 50+ acres per day (20.23+ ha)
- $25 per acre for custom work
- 2 people needed
Summary:
- 1 (maybe 2) day of work (25 man hours)
- 2500 bushels (88.10 m3) at 50 bushels per acre
- $1250 in charges for custom work
- $6250 gross income at $2.50 per bushel
