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Howdy Farmers,

I am looking for specific tractor models, old or new (manufacturer, model, and year) that veggie growers have really liked, so that I can search them used on TractorHouse. Our situation is this...

My partner and I are tooling up to break ground on a 6-8 acre, diverse vegetable CSA in Sebastopol. We are researching tractors, and deep into the classic "one tractor conundrum". With the ability to only afford one tractor, we would like to have a versatile one. We'd like it to be able to do primary tillage, as well as has have properly spaced and thin enough tires to get it into our shaped beds to help renovate beds for second-plantings (to undercut, disc, rototill, or spade), to weed the furrows and to possibly flame-weed (if we can find a 60" tractor mounted flame weeder). We will cultivate in-row manually the first years.

Our requirements are: ~50 horsepower, 4WD, 60" center-to-center tread

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Howdy Farmers,

I am looking for specific tractor models, old or new (manufacturer, model, and year) that veggie growers have really liked, so that I can search them used on TractorHouse. Our situation is this...

My partner and I are tooling up to break ground on a 6-8 acre, diverse vegetable CSA in Sebastopol. We are researching tractors, and deep into the classic "one tractor conundrum". With the ability to only afford one tractor, we would like to have a versatile one. We'd like it to be able to do primary tillage, as well as has have properly spaced and thin enough tires to get it into our shaped beds to help renovate beds for second-plantings (to undercut, disc, rototill, or spade), to weed the furrows and to possibly flame-weed (if we can find a 60" tractor mounted flame weeder). We will cultivate in-row manually the first years.

Our requirements are: ~50 horsepower, 4WD, 60" center-to-center tread spacing with thin <13" rear tires, a front end loader, and gearing or a transmission that can go slow enough to run a spader. We could pay ~$30k for the right machine.

This tractor does exist new. It is the Kubota M7060 outfitted with a creeper gear and thin 12.6" rear tires. Shone Farm in Santa Rosa and New Family Farm in Sebastopol have this tractor. But at $50k, this is outside of our budget, and is too much tractor for our site and scale.

I have looked at cheaper new Kubotas (L and MX series) and John Deeres (5E series), but while some of them meet many of the requirements, one key element is missed. For example, the John Deere 5055E is the right horsepower and size, 4wd, can have a loader, but it's lowest gear is a touch fast at .9mph, and right now our dealer is essentially saying "not possible" for thin rear tires.

I'm seeking advice, and if farmers could share specefic model numbers and years, of any "Goldilocks" tractors they have used and loved @60" spacing, with low gearing.

Thank you!

David

I have a small farm that is also a successful B&B. The lower acre is of interest to a very skilled and renowned woman I have known and trusted for years. She would like to create a series of display gardens, mostly using California natives, hold classes, utilize her army of [retired] volunteers and have weekend sales once per quarter. All of this works with my zoning, and I delight in the idea of the B&B guests getting to learn even more about permaculture than what they view in the 'community' areas of my farm (pick & eat veggies, fresh eggs from 20+ hens, interacting with our mini-pigs, seeing my fairly sophisticated 22-bed above-ground composting operation, etc.).

We've been trying to fashion a 10-year lease and divvy up the expenses. Not easy! The idea is that her rental will start small in the beginning while we invest in the structures (greenhouses, irrigation matrix using my well, grading, solar,

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I have a small farm that is also a successful B&B. The lower acre is of interest to a very skilled and renowned woman I have known and trusted for years. She would like to create a series of display gardens, mostly using California natives, hold classes, utilize her army of [retired] volunteers and have weekend sales once per quarter. All of this works with my zoning, and I delight in the idea of the B&B guests getting to learn even more about permaculture than what they view in the 'community' areas of my farm (pick & eat veggies, fresh eggs from 20+ hens, interacting with our mini-pigs, seeing my fairly sophisticated 22-bed above-ground composting operation, etc.).

We've been trying to fashion a 10-year lease and divvy up the expenses. Not easy! The idea is that her rental will start small in the beginning while we invest in the structures (greenhouses, irrigation matrix using my well, grading, solar, etc.), and grow into the full, and then continuous leasing cost to her after everything is installed and she can start bringing in revenue from classes and plant sales.

There are a lot of issues, such as utilities, access, the use of my rehabbed trailer for her office. To have my attorney do the legwork is too expensive. Just wondering if anyone has a sample lease for nursery operation on raw land, or any suggestions as to how to navigate this quandary fairly quickly.

If interested, she already has a fabulous site for her 'concept' (she has tried several venues before). http://www.homegroundhabitats.org - she is truly a visionary, and I would never be able to implement the kind of 'scene' she imagines - far too busy running the B&B part of my single-handed venture...!

Hello All!,

I am looking for some organic neem oil. My question is, what brand (is there any difference) and how much should i look to pay for it. thanks

Ben

an online outlet(http://goodeggs.com) says that i need 'gap certification' to sell my produce through them. i am an one acre farm and the cost of this would be prohibitive. not to mention that it would probably take time. i understand that they need to ensure that i am not growing vegetables in a toxic sludge before they sell my goods, but i honestly cannot take on anymore costs...and i wonder if gap certification is mandatory in california? if that's the case, i might as well give this up because i simply cannot afford this farming dream.   secondly, they require liability insurance and would be additional insured under my policy. i was also told that their drivers and vehicles would need to be added to my automobile insurance. i am doubtful if my insurance would be able to accomodate this. (maybe this question should come under insurance section?) because they provide warehousing and fulfillment... Read More

an online outlet(http://goodeggs.com) says that i need 'gap certification' to sell my produce through them. i am an one acre farm and the cost of this would be prohibitive. not to mention that it would probably take time. i understand that they need to ensure that i am not growing vegetables in a toxic sludge before they sell my goods, but i honestly cannot take on anymore costs...and i wonder if gap certification is mandatory in california? if that's the case, i might as well give this up because i simply cannot afford this farming dream.   secondly, they require liability insurance and would be additional insured under my policy. i was also told that their drivers and vehicles would need to be added to my automobile insurance. i am doubtful if my insurance would be able to accomodate this. (maybe this question should come under insurance section?) because they provide warehousing and fulfillment services, they take 25% of proceeds from sales. i have been asked to add goodeggs to my umbrella insurance. i am not entirely sure what that means..because i am pretty sure that i only have general liability and product liability insurance. is umbrella insurance something extra that i have to purchase?   so thoroughly confused and discouraged, but too exhausted from work today to even throw away my rose tinted glasses! - thanks, lalitha.

Does anyone know why seedlings seem to grow bigger and faster when planted in smaller-cell trays

The picture below are broccoli seedlings 4+ weeks old. Same seed packet, same date seeded, same mix, same fertilization, same watering.

Only difference is one tray is 162 Proptek (2.4 cu in) the other 338 Proptek (1.3 cu in).

I thought I could grow bigger seedlings using the larger cell sized tray. But just the opposite happened, the bigger seedlings are in the smaller cell-sized tray. This has happened to me several times and every time I tried doing this.

The only reason I can conjecture is the smaller tray has steeper cell walls, so maybe water flows faster down it, bringing more oxygen to the roots??? Doesn't seem plausible.

Does anyone know why this happens???

Hi I have a small market farm that I'm looking to expand out to a couple of acres ultimately and its painfully obvious that I can't do this all with hand labor. I've been looking at the walk behinds as an option...specifically the BCS models. Does anyone use these? If so, what are your opinions? They are a bit pricey so it would be a one shot deal...I wouldn't expect to have to replace it. I'm especially interested in durability, consistency with respect to reliability and versatility.

I was looking to invest in a vacuum seeder. Any input as to whether it is worth the 600 plus dollars as apposed to hand seeding 128 flats. I currently make .28/hr so my ROI would take awhile. Please provide reviews ( brand, price, ease of use, ect.). Thanks in advance to you all.

Ben

We are looking for certified organic producers in California, to participate in a multi-regional study to fully assess current management practices affecting the survival of pathogens and soil health, used by the organic industry related to adding raw or untreated manure to crop fields. The goal of our study is to provide organic farmers with science-based effective strategies that limit food safety risks when using valuable raw manure based soil amendments.

University of California-Davis researchers will visit enrolled farms 8 times over the growing season (2017- 2018). We will collect produce, water, soil and manure samples. All samples will be tested for bacterial indicators such as nonpathogenic E. coli & pathogens. Farmers will be asked to complete a short survey. The study is voluntary and all locations and names will be kept confidential.

Who are we looking for?

• NOP certified organic farms in

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We are looking for certified organic producers in California, to participate in a multi-regional study to fully assess current management practices affecting the survival of pathogens and soil health, used by the organic industry related to adding raw or untreated manure to crop fields. The goal of our study is to provide organic farmers with science-based effective strategies that limit food safety risks when using valuable raw manure based soil amendments.

University of California-Davis researchers will visit enrolled farms 8 times over the growing season (2017- 2018). We will collect produce, water, soil and manure samples. All samples will be tested for bacterial indicators such as nonpathogenic E. coli & pathogens. Farmers will be asked to complete a short survey. The study is voluntary and all locations and names will be kept confidential.

Who are we looking for?

• NOP certified organic farms in California:
• that fertilize with raw manure or untreated manure (dairy cattle, horse or poultry)
• and grow any of the following produce: leafy greens (lettuce, spinach), fruits (tomatoes, cucumbers), root vegetables (carrots, radish)
• Benefits: Participating farms will receive all test results for their farm for free, a summary report of the overall study, farm specific feedback to help minimize contamination of fresh produce and an incentive of $700 upon completion of the 2-year study.

For more information or to enroll, please contact Dr. Alda Pires (Urban Agriculture & Food Safety Specialist in Cooperative Extension): Phone: 530-754-9855, Email: apires@ucdavis.edu or Dr. Michele Jay-Russell (Research Microbiologist & Program Manager): Phone: 530-219-4628, Email: mjay@ucdavis.edu

Hi All,

I am looking for a reasonable price for wire hoops (or a roll of around 9-10 gauge wire) to use for row cover support. What do people out there use? I checked the Peaceful Valley site and found a pack of 100 hoops for about $90. Hoping to find a cheaper alternative. Any suggestions?

Thank you!

Alicia

We are going to plant blueberries soon and are looking for opinions from other blueberry farmers and nurseries on best varieties and any irrigation techniques. We are located in the Sacramento valley and are aware of the challenges. It just seems. Like there is a lack of information out there from both the UC and nurseries. Can anyone help with information newer than 2009? Calling all California blueberry farmers or nurseries ?