ag
/ag127
Welcoming everyone's casts and discussion about agriculture.
There’s lots of lemon acreage coming out in my area. 5+ years of bad returns and no end in sight has lots switching to avocados or other crops. This was about 40 acres of older lemons (50+ years old) a neighbor just pulled out. I’ve seen 4-5 similar blocks scattered around the county.
This isn’t as alarming as it may sound. East of us a ton of new lemon acreage has just come into full production. Those trees were planted 10-15 years ago before the market turned. The younger trees produce more fruit and are in their prime. Older trees like these just need to get rotated out when there’s a surplus like there is now.
It’s an expensive endeavor to redevelop blocks like this: excavator to pull trees and pile them, bucket grinder that can mulch whole trees, spreading the mulch, buy new trees, labor to plant the trees and run new irrigation lines. Then wait 5 years for the first crop to come in. During those years we still have to irrigate, weed, prune & fertilize all which cost money.
This isn’t as alarming as it may sound. East of us a ton of new lemon acreage has just come into full production. Those trees were planted 10-15 years ago before the market turned. The younger trees produce more fruit and are in their prime. Older trees like these just need to get rotated out when there’s a surplus like there is now.
It’s an expensive endeavor to redevelop blocks like this: excavator to pull trees and pile them, bucket grinder that can mulch whole trees, spreading the mulch, buy new trees, labor to plant the trees and run new irrigation lines. Then wait 5 years for the first crop to come in. During those years we still have to irrigate, weed, prune & fertilize all which cost money.
Some great programs getting additional funding https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2024/10/02/biden-harris-administration-makes-77-billion-available-climate
an announcement of a cast.
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Why food in America doesn’t compare to Europe or other parts of the world?
Missed the launch during a quiet ‘boost day’, debate took my attention yesterday.
Sulfur? Supply chains? Genetics? Craft or skill issue? Labor costs? Nitrate and Potassium overload?
How we choose to spend our dollars?
Tonight if all goes well.
cc @mazmhussain
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Why food in America doesn’t compare to Europe or other parts of the world?
Missed the launch during a quiet ‘boost day’, debate took my attention yesterday.
Sulfur? Supply chains? Genetics? Craft or skill issue? Labor costs? Nitrate and Potassium overload?
How we choose to spend our dollars?
Tonight if all goes well.
cc @mazmhussain
October lettuce heads slowly sizing up. We started harvesting these Saturday 9/28.
These were transplanted 8/21, caught a deluge on the 22nd and then went dry for a month. On the ridge, it was a bit dusty for most of their life. Probably should have given them a touch of zinc as a foliar to boost leaf size as it wasn’t in our pre-plant.
Will settle for somewhat undersized heads, which is fine for October. Panisse bright green on the left, Shirane Sky on the right.
These were transplanted 8/21, caught a deluge on the 22nd and then went dry for a month. On the ridge, it was a bit dusty for most of their life. Probably should have given them a touch of zinc as a foliar to boost leaf size as it wasn’t in our pre-plant.
Will settle for somewhat undersized heads, which is fine for October. Panisse bright green on the left, Shirane Sky on the right.
Starting this week for the next 3 weeks we are testing new automation of our irrigation. We will still manually inspect each row for leaks but the valves are being opened and closed by software made by Wiseconn. The first irrigation went off without a hitch!
We started using their system for just moisture monitoring & weather stations throughout our ranches several years ago. This year we applied for a grant that helped us pay for the automation upgrades. The idea is to maximize water usage and eliminate as much waste as possible.
We are part of a water co-op that my great-grandfather helped build over 100 years ago. The co-op predates the municipal water systems in the towns around us. They own 12 wells throughout the area and pump water to a series of reservoirs that hold it for us until it’s time to water. Because there’s a limited amount of water available at any one time we have to schedule our planned water usage 4-6 weeks ahead. We just have to plan as best we can.
We started using their system for just moisture monitoring & weather stations throughout our ranches several years ago. This year we applied for a grant that helped us pay for the automation upgrades. The idea is to maximize water usage and eliminate as much waste as possible.
We are part of a water co-op that my great-grandfather helped build over 100 years ago. The co-op predates the municipal water systems in the towns around us. They own 12 wells throughout the area and pump water to a series of reservoirs that hold it for us until it’s time to water. Because there’s a limited amount of water available at any one time we have to schedule our planned water usage 4-6 weeks ahead. We just have to plan as best we can.
At the farmers market… end of the month markets are typically busy as folks come to use up their “healthy incentives program - HIP” benefits which reimburse purchases made with their SNAP card before they reset on the first.
Among my list of ‘life’s comforts’ which is easy to take for granted if you’re financially secure is not thinking about the day of the month when you’re spending money, aka not living paycheck to paycheck. For a majority of our customers in New Bedford that is definitely not the case.
Among my list of ‘life’s comforts’ which is easy to take for granted if you’re financially secure is not thinking about the day of the month when you’re spending money, aka not living paycheck to paycheck. For a majority of our customers in New Bedford that is definitely not the case.
Machine harvesting peppers. These are a long skinny red pepper and they’re pulling the whole plant out, doing some separating and tossing waste out the back. Bell peppers are still manually picked here.
Don’t mess with farmers 😜
Chioggia Beets from this morning’s harvest. Been a few years since they’ve made their way into the crop plan, nice to see their beauty shining bright today.
We grow a solid beet crop every year.
Mostly red (boro, kestrel, merlin) and boldor golden beets.
Beets like all chenopods (chard, spinach) are calcium lovers, supply abundant calcium and you’re halfway home.
Add in the 1-2 punch of boron and potassium to size up sweet roots.
We grow a solid beet crop every year.
Mostly red (boro, kestrel, merlin) and boldor golden beets.
Beets like all chenopods (chard, spinach) are calcium lovers, supply abundant calcium and you’re halfway home.
Add in the 1-2 punch of boron and potassium to size up sweet roots.
About to start a quick evening tp session; checking in on the brassicas we set out Wednesday afternoon. These are Green River a komatsuna variety.
We are in a dry spell, been a couple weeks since our last rain, with low dew points to match. Today one of our customers said “you must be watering like crazy”.
Nope.
Maybe we put some water on this weekend’s transplants if they look too stressed on Monday or Tuesday, probably not.
Crops can handle a couple of weeks of dry at this time of year pretty easily when they’re properly nourished.
Checking on the roots of recent transplants tells the story. These have a nice block of roots growing well in less than 72 hours after planting, roots are coated with aggregates, which is a sign the plant is feeding the rhizosohere.
The white tips are the new root growth which will start feeding tonight or tomorrow and soon be covered with aggregates as well.
Need calcium available at the root tip to grow new cells, phosphorous to capture solar energy and ___
We are in a dry spell, been a couple weeks since our last rain, with low dew points to match. Today one of our customers said “you must be watering like crazy”.
Nope.
Maybe we put some water on this weekend’s transplants if they look too stressed on Monday or Tuesday, probably not.
Crops can handle a couple of weeks of dry at this time of year pretty easily when they’re properly nourished.
Checking on the roots of recent transplants tells the story. These have a nice block of roots growing well in less than 72 hours after planting, roots are coated with aggregates, which is a sign the plant is feeding the rhizosohere.
The white tips are the new root growth which will start feeding tonight or tomorrow and soon be covered with aggregates as well.
Need calcium available at the root tip to grow new cells, phosphorous to capture solar energy and ___
A thread on scale and automation in agriculture… I’ll add to this over the course of the Autumn.
Labor in agriculture on larger scale farms is already beginning a seismic shift.
Factors include the rising costs of labor, especially in California where new minimum wage and overtime rules have been put in place in recent years.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_lMLkzvL26/?igsh=MXBiZnpsbjhvZjh1bg==
Labor in agriculture on larger scale farms is already beginning a seismic shift.
Factors include the rising costs of labor, especially in California where new minimum wage and overtime rules have been put in place in recent years.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_lMLkzvL26/?igsh=MXBiZnpsbjhvZjh1bg==
Night falling earlier and earlier, finished an evening round of transplanting, just about wrapped up on field planting for the year. Swiss chard tucked in for the night.
3 sec exposure vs natural light at 7:30PM Sept 13 2024. We’ll row cover these late transplants to push them along for late October/early November harvests. Next chard germinating in the gh will be tp into a fieldhouse in a few weeks.
Should have a small yet delicious chard crop into December with the successions.
3 sec exposure vs natural light at 7:30PM Sept 13 2024. We’ll row cover these late transplants to push them along for late October/early November harvests. Next chard germinating in the gh will be tp into a fieldhouse in a few weeks.
Should have a small yet delicious chard crop into December with the successions.
Now that’s a lot of cilantro 🤩
“Can’t wait to get in my car” to start snacking… customer at our market just now.
“I’ll get two boxes, cause last week by the time I got home the box was empty.”
Cherry tomato season past peak here on the Southcoast, still good flavor for September with the dry spell to thank.
“I’ll get two boxes, cause last week by the time I got home the box was empty.”
Cherry tomato season past peak here on the Southcoast, still good flavor for September with the dry spell to thank.
Our current radish crop didn’t quite hit ‘23 marks, still plenty tasty, a bit sharp in the dry spell.
We seeded our October crop on Saturday evening.
Just breaking the soil in the fading light on Tuesday.
Throwback to my first cast
frame by @degenfans
We seeded our October crop on Saturday evening.
Just breaking the soil in the fading light on Tuesday.
Throwback to my first cast
frame by @degenfans
Warpcast was glitching today… removed it and reinstalled and we are… back.
We are in the midst of an absolute phenomenal stretch of September weather here on the Southcoast. Beautiful working conditions for harvests, fall plantings, or in this afternoon’s case - cultivation.
Late season chard starting to size up a few weeks post transplanting. Bright Lights always so photogenic.
Blue sky abundance.
We are in the midst of an absolute phenomenal stretch of September weather here on the Southcoast. Beautiful working conditions for harvests, fall plantings, or in this afternoon’s case - cultivation.
Late season chard starting to size up a few weeks post transplanting. Bright Lights always so photogenic.
Blue sky abundance.
Took the time to share a quick yet thorough review of our early fall head lettuce crop on the gram, including sone numbers on calcium nitrate applications at the end.
Shirane Sky holding strong, Ruby Sky bolting skyward…
https://www.instagram.com/p/C_qei-tJkaQ/?igsh=anN5eHM5dWVoOG4w
Shirane Sky holding strong, Ruby Sky bolting skyward…
https://www.instagram.com/p/C_qei-tJkaQ/?igsh=anN5eHM5dWVoOG4w
France dipping a toe into agrovolatics 👀 https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/09/06/french-authorities-approve-450-mw-agrivoltaic-project/
Starting to rain a bit as the workday comes to a close.
I front ran the Sunday tomato harvest so I could enjoy the afternoon with the kids.
Just a light harvest of greens and herbs on tap for the morning.
I front ran the Sunday tomato harvest so I could enjoy the afternoon with the kids.
Just a light harvest of greens and herbs on tap for the morning.
Afternoon’s canvas.
These 3 beds were summer cukes, arugula and pac choi. Were mowed a couple of week’s back and tilled.
Spread amendments and sprayed liquid fish & micros yesterday. You can spot a bit of the composted chicken manure we use as a base 5-4-3 fertilizer, it’s from OG hens (Kreher’s) and also supplies a touch of Calcium.
About to make a quick final pass with the tiller and then we’ll start transplanting fall greens.
These 3 beds were summer cukes, arugula and pac choi. Were mowed a couple of week’s back and tilled.
Spread amendments and sprayed liquid fish & micros yesterday. You can spot a bit of the composted chicken manure we use as a base 5-4-3 fertilizer, it’s from OG hens (Kreher’s) and also supplies a touch of Calcium.
About to make a quick final pass with the tiller and then we’ll start transplanting fall greens.
I think a majority of Americans are unaware of this statistic, relevant to a discussion on crop subsidies:
"In recent years, fresh fruit and vegetable production in the United States has been on the decline, U.S. production has decreased by 10 and 23.1 percent respectively since 2000. With declining domestic production, imports of fresh fruits and vegetables have grown substantially with some products only being available in the United States due to imports. Since 2020, a larger share of the total supply of fresh fruit in the United States was imported than grown domestically and has increased from 36.6 percent in 2000 to 54.8 percent in 2022. Vegetable imports in 2022 were 29.3 percent of the total supply up from 9.5% in 2000. The value of imported fresh fruits and vegetables for 2022 was $30.9 billion"
https://x.com/brix_farm/status/1831507573595328694
https://agecoext.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024.01.Outlook-of-Fresh-Fruits-and-Vegetables-in-the-U.S.pdf
"In recent years, fresh fruit and vegetable production in the United States has been on the decline, U.S. production has decreased by 10 and 23.1 percent respectively since 2000. With declining domestic production, imports of fresh fruits and vegetables have grown substantially with some products only being available in the United States due to imports. Since 2020, a larger share of the total supply of fresh fruit in the United States was imported than grown domestically and has increased from 36.6 percent in 2000 to 54.8 percent in 2022. Vegetable imports in 2022 were 29.3 percent of the total supply up from 9.5% in 2000. The value of imported fresh fruits and vegetables for 2022 was $30.9 billion"
https://x.com/brix_farm/status/1831507573595328694
https://agecoext.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024.01.Outlook-of-Fresh-Fruits-and-Vegetables-in-the-U.S.pdf
I’ve been blessed to work with my body for my entire adult career, been growing veg since 2002.
One aspect that troubles me about our modem economy is that so few jobs or careers allow you to use your body beyond grunt level physical labor and/or some service jobs, there are of course exceptions… especially difficult to find those jobs which allow physical work and are also well remunerated.
Firmly believe (obviously biased) that our bodies are designed for a level of physical activity that is very difficult to achieve in a post industrial service economy.
The first farm I worked at was a non profit, and the second season I was there I worked as a de facto director, 4 days in the office in the winter, and a day or two a week in the summer. It was a blessing to confirm I was not interested in ‘office work’ though it was perhaps a good match for my decades of schooling and organized mind.
Gave up potential for a more comfortable lifestyle to stubbornly enjoy the day to day physical work.
One aspect that troubles me about our modem economy is that so few jobs or careers allow you to use your body beyond grunt level physical labor and/or some service jobs, there are of course exceptions… especially difficult to find those jobs which allow physical work and are also well remunerated.
Firmly believe (obviously biased) that our bodies are designed for a level of physical activity that is very difficult to achieve in a post industrial service economy.
The first farm I worked at was a non profit, and the second season I was there I worked as a de facto director, 4 days in the office in the winter, and a day or two a week in the summer. It was a blessing to confirm I was not interested in ‘office work’ though it was perhaps a good match for my decades of schooling and organized mind.
Gave up potential for a more comfortable lifestyle to stubbornly enjoy the day to day physical work.
Farming memes of the feed…
Gotta feed.
Gotta feed.
Starting our second cut of early fall dill 901.
Hera dill from Johnnys, solid variety which is slow to bolt.
tp 717
gh 617
first cut 813
We’ll see if we get a third cut before our final field planting (tp 821) starts to mature toward the end of the month. Next dill round is penciled for the fieldhouse.
Dill demand slows a tick on the fall as pickle season wraps up, being coastal we still have solid demand from folks pairing it with seafood, and potato salad.
We often try to nudge longtime customers to try variations on Persian Dill Rice
Hera dill from Johnnys, solid variety which is slow to bolt.
tp 717
gh 617
first cut 813
We’ll see if we get a third cut before our final field planting (tp 821) starts to mature toward the end of the month. Next dill round is penciled for the fieldhouse.
Dill demand slows a tick on the fall as pickle season wraps up, being coastal we still have solid demand from folks pairing it with seafood, and potato salad.
We often try to nudge longtime customers to try variations on Persian Dill Rice
When I was first introduced to Panisse lettuce by a neighbor who was marketing to the Boston Restaurants I dismissed it as too Shi Shi for us.
Eventually a year or two later I slotted it into our trial plots… fast forward a decade plus and it’s easily our best selling lettuce variety and had been for a long while.
Texture of a soft buttery Bibb with the shape and contour of a rounded oakleaf, our customers rave about it all season. And it cleans up pretty well even after pounding rains.
It’s not my preferred sandwich lettuce as I like a more pronounced crunch to the bite, yet happy to feature it prominently every year.
Note: it’s red leaved counterparty Rouxai was and still is too Shi Shi for us however.
Eventually a year or two later I slotted it into our trial plots… fast forward a decade plus and it’s easily our best selling lettuce variety and had been for a long while.
Texture of a soft buttery Bibb with the shape and contour of a rounded oakleaf, our customers rave about it all season. And it cleans up pretty well even after pounding rains.
It’s not my preferred sandwich lettuce as I like a more pronounced crunch to the bite, yet happy to feature it prominently every year.
Note: it’s red leaved counterparty Rouxai was and still is too Shi Shi for us however.