The mad dash to get the rice harvested

Almost every year, a typhoon seems to rock up right around harvesting season to try and thwart the plans of our local farmers to get their rice harvested. The timing is extra frustrating because the rice has spent months growing in the fields, and there's a fairly narrow window to get it out before the weather turns.

That made this past weekend a busy one for many of the farmers around us. With rain on the way today, there was a real sense of urgency as tractors and harvesting machinery made their way through the rice fields, with farmers trying to get as much done as possible while the weather was still cooperating.

Living in a rice-growing area, harvest time is one of those things you really notice. The fields that have been green for much of the summer gradually turn that lovely golden color, and then the machinery starts appearing. It can make for some pretty busy days out on the roads and around the fields, but it's also a nice reminder of just how much work goes into producing it. I've certainly gained an increased appreciation of all things food production-related since living here!

In this case, the old saying "make hay while the sun shines" is very much "make rice while the sun shines"!