Actually the term is ‘needle in a haystack’ not ‘hayfield’. Searching the hayfield would be pretty discouraging if the the hay has any growth. Right after cutting, then you just get out the metal detector. With the haystack, just burn it (if you don’t like the hay!); the needle might be worthless, but you’ll find it in the ashes.
Poignant.
Replace the word "hay" with "liberty" and that sums up our current state.