{"id":5385405,"date":"2025-09-30T13:44:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T13:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.life.com\/?p=5385405"},"modified":"2025-09-30T13:44:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T13:44:32","slug":"lifes-favorite-photos-of-americas-harvesters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.life.com\/history\/lifes-favorite-photos-of-americas-harvesters\/","title":{"rendered":"LIFE&#8217;s Favorite Photos of America&#8217;s Harvesters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>America has a lot going for it, and the ability to feed itself would be at the top of the list. The country is rich in arable farmland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This important truth is one that suffuses this collection of harvest-time photos taken during LIFE&#8217;s original run from 1936 to 1972. The crops being harvested in these photos include corn, wheat, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, celery, grapes, peaches, squash and watermelon. It&#8217;s a veritable cornucopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(The photographers at work here are a bumper crop too, including LIFE staffers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/photographer\/margaret-bourke-white\/\">Margaret Bourke-White<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/photographer\/alfred-eisenstaedt\/\">Alfred Eisenstaedt<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/photographer\/joe-scherschel\/\">Joe Scherschel<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/photographer\/wallace-kirkland\/\">Wallace Kirkland<\/a> and many others). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s worth noting that much has changed about America&#8217;s farms since these photos were taken, with the family farm giving way to large-scale <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Agribusiness\">agribusiness<\/a>. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ers.usda.gov\/data-products\/chart-gallery\/chart-detail?chartId=58268\">data from the U.S Department of Agriculture<\/a>, the number of farms in the United States reached their peak in 1935, at around 7 million. Then came a period of rapid decline, with the total hitting 2 million by the 1970s before leveling off some. The total acreage of farmland didn&#8217;t change that much, though, because while the number of farms decreased, their size multiplied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LIFE was very much aware of this change as it was happening, and worried that it was bad for the country. The magazine fretted in 1948 that the decline of the family farm might also signal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/lifestyle\/an-unexpected-tribute-to-family-life\/\">the decline of the American family<\/a>, as families stopped focussing on joint enterprises and its members pursued their individual interests instead. Some of the warmest and most nostalgic images in this collection are those of community, showing people working in unison or taking a break to enjoy a communal meal\u2014with members of a found family, if not an actual one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not much is known about the particular farms or farmers in most of these images, though some of the photos, by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/arts-entertainment\/photographer-spotlight-michael-rougier\/\"> Michael Rougier<\/a>, were taken for a story about <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/3722532\/bitter-harvest-life-with-americas-migrant-workers-1959\/\">migrant workers<\/a>. In all cases, through, there is a connection to the land, and reminder of what it takes for Americans to get their fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_e80b5e9a998fcf14425fb883aed250d8\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3517362 desc=\"Not published in LIFE. Harvesters hitchhike to a wheat harvesting, Oklahoma, 1942.\" caption=\"Alfred Eisenstaedt\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Harvesters hitchhiked to a wheat harvesting, Oklahoma, 1942.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/10\/dust-bowl-07-1024x817.jpg\" alt=\"Harvesters hitchhike to a wheat harvesting, Oklahoma, 1942.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Harvesters hitchhiked to a wheat harvesting, Oklahoma, 1942.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Alfred Eisenstaedt\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_75e66b444d7efb69dc17e3a895830674\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3873037 desc=\"Farm workers harvesting onions, Burbank, California, photographed from a helicopter, 1952.\" caption=\"Margaret Bourke-White\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Farm workers harvested onions, Burbank, California, 1952.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/06\/19_00735879.jpg\" alt=\"Farm workers harvesting onions, Burbank, California, photographed from a helicopter, 1952.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Farm workers harvested onions, Burbank, California, 1952.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Margaret Bourke-White\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_8206a49ba2793f87b3be5a3c9d738320\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5385411 desc=\"\" caption=\"Joe Scherschel\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Wheat harvest, Texas, 1949.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/24163832\/116147786-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Wheat harvest, Texas, 1949.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Joe Scherschel\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_e4427e06443d18f76400f0ff89ac065c\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5385408 desc=\"\" caption=\"Joe Scherschel\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Wheat harvest, Texas, 1949.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/24163425\/00713321-1024x998.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Wheat harvest, Texas, 1949.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Joe Scherschel\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_9b6089103e83bf77512b890743fbc00a\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5385410 desc=\"\" caption=\"Joe Scherschel\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Wheat harvest, Texas, 1949.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/24163828\/116147679-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Wheat harvest, Texas, 1949.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Joe Scherschel\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_389ec5c8436cea05435667e5323fb817\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5385409 desc=\"\" caption=\"Joe Scherschel\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Wheat harvest, Texas, 1949.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/24163825\/00713317-827x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Wheat harvest, Texas, 1949.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Joe Scherschel\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_601bd7e618a6a70143c9fdd888867e32\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5385406 desc=\"\" caption=\"Leonard McCombe\/Life Picture Collection\/Shiutterstock\" title=\"Scene from a New Hampshire apple harvest, 1963.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/24162534\/01000761-1024x757.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Scene from a New Hampshire apple harvest, 1963.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Leonard McCombe\/Life Picture Collection\/Shiutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_88489ef47a2ece02838d5193e5bbec95\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5370769 desc=\"\" caption=\"Wallace Kirkland\/LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"An Illinois watermelon harvest, 1946.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/28132222\/00665686-1024x833.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">An Illinois watermelon harvest, 1946.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Wallace Kirkland\/LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_136194f47960883657bd8d4e58af134b\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5351838 desc=\"Asset ID: 19906754. \" caption=\"Photo by Wallace Kirkland\" title=\"Nebraska corn harvesters, 1944.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/07201703\/116735500-e1570479423168.jpg\" alt=\"Nebraska Corn Harvest\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nebraska corn harvesters, 1944.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Photo by Wallace Kirkland<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_8467e8e0fad7e56d4cfbf60a0dfe76d1\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5365841 desc=\"\" caption=\"Wallace Kirkland\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Child playing with corn on the farm, Nebraska, 1944.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/05191947\/116735199-e1620242399448-1024x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Child playing with corn on the farm, Nebraska, 1944.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Wallace Kirkland\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_f02622dcbe933538007215ec2d0edce5\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5351848 desc=\"Asset ID: 19906122. \" caption=\"Wallace Kirkland\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"The Nebraska corn harvest, 1944.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/07201441\/116735285-e1570479281625.jpg\" alt=\"Nebraska Corn Harvest\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">The Nebraska corn harvest, 1944.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Wallace Kirkland\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_073acf6fec42b4d96a3206f0fe6f58fe\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3722586 desc=\"Migrant workers harvesting potatoes, USA, 1959.\" caption=\"Michael Rougier The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Migrant workers harvesting potatoes, 1959.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/03\/150225-migrant-workers-27-678x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Migrant workers harvesting potatoes, 1959.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Michael Rougier The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_2024747f5b91eff1f7ae0af31f5a79ec\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3722587 desc=\"Migrant workers harvesting potatoes, USA, 1959.\" caption=\"Michael Rougier The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Migrant workers harvesting potatoes, 1959.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/03\/150225-migrant-workers-28-678x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Migrant workers harvesting potatoes, USA, 1959.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Migrant workers harvesting potatoes, 1959.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Michael Rougier The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_e0b2c84a4eae929c3e423bd555acfd22\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3722575 desc=\"Migrant farm workers harvest celery, California, 1959.\" caption=\"Michael Rougier The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Migrant farm workers harvested celery in California, 1959.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2013\/03\/150225-migrant-workers-17-1024x665.jpg\" alt=\"Migrant farm workers harvest celery, California, 1959.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Migrant farm workers harvested celery in California, 1959.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Michael Rougier The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_bda7c0e9899e8b040078d0a7c0009bfc\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5370751 desc=\"\" caption=\" Loomis Dean\/LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\n\" title=\"Workers harvesting watermelons in the Imperial Valley, California, 1947.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/26202538\/116267604-1024x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Workers harvesting watermelons in the Imperial Valley, California, 1947.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"> Loomis Dean\/LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\n<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_58de55dffc98b09a48629f5707345269\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5370752 desc=\"\" caption=\" Loomis Dean\/LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Migrant workers harvesting watermelons in the Imperial Valley, California, 1947.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/26202542\/00683008-765x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Migrant workers harvesting watermelons in the Imperial Valley, California, 1947.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"> Loomis Dean\/LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_5721cd20d02e5b33aae981071cc614ed\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5385407 desc=\"\" caption=\"Howard Sochurek\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Celery harvesting in Florida, 1951.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/24163049\/00799278-1024x725.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Celery harvesting in Florida, 1951.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Howard Sochurek\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_6e041e0e7ee36849080059df18f82c72\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5385412 desc=\"\" caption=\"Wallace Kirkland\/LIfe Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Peach harvest, 1946.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/24164510\/00665682-794x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Peach harvest, 1946.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Wallace Kirkland\/LIfe Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_7279b1b2c6edd038fc170538c85c1e8a\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5385417 desc=\"\" caption=\"Wallace Kirkland\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"A view of a man unloading bushels of freshly-harvested tomatoes at a produce market in Michigan, 1946\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/24174140\/00665723-1-1024x863.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">A view of a man unloading bushels of freshly-harvested tomatoes at a produce market in Michigan, 1946<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Wallace Kirkland\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_95400eb25d3caf71037ef5dfbdb2b585\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5385416 desc=\"\" caption=\"Yale Joel\/Life Picture Collectioh\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Harvesting Boston marrow squash at Seabrook Farms in New Jersey, 1954.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/24173439\/00973081-1024x716.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Harvesting Boston marrow squash at Seabrook Farms in New Jersey, 1954.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Yale Joel\/Life Picture Collectioh\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_f6a524f36df00205db7772c0ace5aaee\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5385415 desc=\"\" caption=\"Yale Joel\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Women inspecting and checking beans at the Seabrook Farms in New Jersey, 1954.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/24173435\/00973079-824x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Women inspecting and checking beans at the Seabrook Farms in New Jersey, 1954.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Yale Joel\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_292b441060dada97e179ccd31ca3890b\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5385414 desc=\"\" caption=\"Yale Joel\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Seabrook Farms in New Jersey, 1954.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/24173432\/00973071-692x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Seabrook Farms in New Jersey, 1954.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Yale Joel\/Life Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_65d5c24c72bfae91f52504e6ec21d4ce\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5363599 desc=\"\" caption=\"Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt\/The LIFE Picture Collection &copy; Meredith Corporation\" title=\"Harvest farm hands ate lunch served by their wives in kitchen of a farmhouse, Wichita, Kansas, 1954.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/10201751\/05580603-e1605039543397-1024x744.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Harvest farm hands ate lunch served by their wives in kitchen of a farmhouse, Wichita, Kansas, 1954.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt\/The LIFE Picture Collection \u00a9 Meredith Corporation<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_f2c8753d6f13bf8c806598ee2b0dff81\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=5385425 desc=\"\" caption=\"Gordon Coster\/Life PIcture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Farmers had lunch brought and served by their wives as they paused briefly during harvest of Springer wheat, Minnesota, 1943\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/24174730\/00813285-1-1024x813.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Farmers had lunch brought and served by their wives as they paused briefly during harvest of Springer wheat, Minnesota, 1943<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Gordon Coster\/Life PIcture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>America has a lot going for it, and the ability to feed itself would be at the top of the list. The country is rich in arable farmland. This important truth is one that suffuses this collection of harvest-time photos taken during LIFE&#8217;s original run from 1936 to 1972. The crops being harvested in these &#8230; <a title=\"LIFE&#8217;s Favorite Photos of America&#8217;s Harvesters\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/history\/lifes-favorite-photos-of-americas-harvesters\/\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":3517362,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[2625,2624,946,1084,1129,1711],"class_list":["post-5385405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history","tag-agriculture","tag-farming","tag-joe-scherschel","tag-margaret-bourke-white","tag-michael-rougier","tag-wallace-kirkland"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>LIFE&#039;s Favorite Photos of America&#039;s Harvesters - LIFE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.life.com\/history\/lifes-favorite-photos-of-americas-harvesters\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"LIFE&#039;s Favorite Photos of America&#039;s Harvesters - LIFE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"America has a lot going for it, and the ability to feed itself would be at the top of the list. The country is rich in arable farmland. This important truth is one that suffuses this collection of harvest-time photos taken during LIFE&#8217;s original run from 1936 to 1972. The crops being harvested in these ... 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