Fall is definitely arrived, and with it the annual harvest of hay to ensure that livestock of all kind are well fed over winter.

Hay rolls are dotting the landscape across Polk County and the surrounding area as fields dedicated to just growing for the future are being cut in preparation for winter. Corn fields are turning brown, cotton is bowling out, and before one knows it the cold will return and all across Polk the farming will go fallow for a few months.

Its worth noting that these round bales are created mechanically after cutting when balers roll across a field and collect the loose hay into the larger bales commonly seen. Smaller square bales are usually more decorative in nature (at least in this area) compared to the rounds, but square bales are easier to manage by hand.

The other night while following a load of hay rolls down Friendship Road, a pair came off the back of the trailer when they turned north onto Highway 100. They might look innocuous, but these are heavily, tight-packed hay can be dangerous.

Do take caution when behind bales of hay since they will roll backward and into vehicles if drivers are unprepared.

Editor’s note: This Hometown Photo pair was mainly an excuse to take pictures of the scenery and provide a place to put this additional photo captured on Sept. 5.