If you live in the Willamette Valley and hear far-off rumbling during the night, it might be men working. Or women. They are driving combines to get the grass seed harvested before the weather turns. Grass seed production is a big deal in the valley, though prices have been depressed in recent years. The crop’s farm gate value in 2010 was estimated at $228 million. But night work in the harvest is more likely a little later in the season. For now, the combining I’ve seen was during the day, as on this occasion off Meadow Road south of Albany on July 2. It’s noisy work, as you can hear on this video, and chances are the combine driver in the cab might have been listening to something more soothing through earbuds.