You mentioned recently that you are in Maine. I don't associate that state with prairie, and it's prairie country you're describing. Interestingly enough, more and more of our fields look "dry and barren" lately ... but that's because they've just been harvested! In waking life out here, those farmers would probably be talking about what fertilizers they were going to put down, and, believe me, they wouldn't be standing in those fields if they'd already done so! (We call it, "the smell of money.)
I've lived on or near prairie for over forty years now. It's a subtle beauty, one that grows on you. Where mountains, oceans tropic gardens and big city skylines are the Beauty Queens, prairie is the Plain Jane whose inner beauty and goodness take time to see, but are truly lasting. Wind, blizzard and drought can almost drive you insane but somehow, year after year, here we grow food to feed the world.
Years ago, a friend from a big city visited me; and on a country drive he described the landscape as "barren." I simply pointed to the standing wheat and said, "Paul, before this year is out you'll eat a loaf of bread from that field."
If any of this resonates with you, it might be a clue to your dream's meaning. It certainly suggests to me that you have an eye for beauties that others cannot or will not see. And, given the intelligence we see behind our dreams, it's also quite possible that, knowing you'd awaken to pain, your dreaming self wanted to give your day a beautiful beginning.

Hey BobW, how ya doing? I'm just now seeing this message. Thanks! Hope everything is well with you.