Cliff Marcus

SCS (Soil Conservation Service) Collection

September 1958

This north-facing image looks across a standing grain field located south of Palmer at a self-powered combine in center foreground as it approaches the camera. Two men are visible riding at the controls on the machine as it makes the second pass around the field. The photographer stands in the first swath cut at the left edge of the field bordered by tall weeds on the side of a road visible at far left. A thin strip of mixed forest lines the north side of the field and road across the image. Lazy mountain is apparent at far right in near background and Talkeetna Mountains are faintly visible at left and center in far background. This self-powered combine marks a significant evolution in grain farming in the Valley from the stationary threshing machines of earlier days and brought dramatic changes in the amount of work necessary to produce the grain.

South of Palmer, Alaska

Black & White Paper Print, 4" x 5"

Farming#5nx-SCS