Zeno Swijtink
07-31-2008, 10:23 PM
Small farmers in the Valley focus on conservation (https://www.fresnobee.com/business/story/762096.html)
Growers, equipment dealers look to combine efficiency, productivity.
By Dennis Pollock / The Fresno Bee
07/29/08 21:30:53
Small-farm operators and farm-equipment dealers gathered at a field day Tuesday in Del Rey to bridge the divide between labor-intensive farming methods and state-of-the-art machinery that can help maximize profits while keeping the air clean.
"With the cost of everything going up, we need to do less and make more," said Will Scott Jr., president of the Fresno-based African-American Farmers of California. "With the cost of labor being what it is, we need the right equipment."
And Tzexa Lee, an owner of Cherta Farms, where the Small Farm Conservation Day was held, added: "We have to save the air here."
Sponsors of the event included the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Hmong American Community, Lao Family Community Inc. of Fresno and Cherta Farms.
Lee stood beside a piece of equipment designed to keep farmers from having to make a half-dozen trips across a field -- burning costly fuel, eating up time and kicking up dust.
With a single pass across a field, the equipment -- which is pulled by a tractor -- discs the ground, shapes a seed bed, lays down plastic and covers the sides of the plastic with dirt and strings out drip tape.
Lee said it took him three years "to come up with this, to put the concept together" for the equipment that is made by Domries Enterprises in Madera.
Several equipment dealers showcased implements and tractors, including Kuckenbecker Tractor Co., which has sales offices in Madera and Fresno.
Richard Kuckenbecker, the company's president and general manager, said he is trying to reach out to operators of smaller farms at the same time that sales in some quarters have lagged because of a sagging economy and drought.
"You see all these truck farms around here?" he asked. "It has gotten to be a large economy. But it can be tough to connect with them."
For one thing, there are language differences. Much of Tuesday's meeting was translated to Hmong to accommodate some of the 35 participants. In addition, a portion was aired over KBIF, 900 AM, thanks to a sound van bearing the words "The Central Valley's Asian Voice" on its side.
"We're thinking of advertising through that station to reach more people," Kuckenbecker said. The station reaches about 50,000 people from Bakersfield to Stockton.
Kuckenbecker said his equipment sales dipped about 20% last year, a decline of nearly $4 million in gross sales.
And this year, largely due to a slump in the second quarter, could mirror that decline, he said.
But Kuckenbecker said he hopes that a federal economic stimulus package, which will enable farmers to write off purchases of new assets totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, could boost year-end sales.
Those at the field day also learned of some beneficial changes in the new Farm Bill, including an increase in maximum direct operating loans from the Farm Service Agency from $200,000 to $300,000, as well as lower down payment percentages.
Edd Russell, a scientist with the conservation service, talked of the need to time fertilizers correctly to be sure nutrients reach plant roots.
He also pointed out how watering can leach nutrients from the soil, notably with deep furrow irrigation as opposed to drip irrigation.
Sam Vang, a soil conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, talked of a two-year study being done at Cherta Farms on use of a V-shaped metal trellis system.
It supports crops like long beans and allows the planting of shorter-season, higher-dollar crops between rows -- crops like bok choy and Napa cabbage.
"This will help farmers comply with the law [against burning of crop waste] and sustain the type of farming they brought to this beautiful valley," Vang said.
Vang said many small farm operations may number only 10 acres or so. For that reason, he said, it's best for several farmers to pool their money for the purchase of tractors, farm implements and chipper-shredders.
"You may need to come together and share," he said.
The reporter can be reached at [email protected] (559) 441-6364.
Growers, equipment dealers look to combine efficiency, productivity.
By Dennis Pollock / The Fresno Bee
07/29/08 21:30:53
Small-farm operators and farm-equipment dealers gathered at a field day Tuesday in Del Rey to bridge the divide between labor-intensive farming methods and state-of-the-art machinery that can help maximize profits while keeping the air clean.
"With the cost of everything going up, we need to do less and make more," said Will Scott Jr., president of the Fresno-based African-American Farmers of California. "With the cost of labor being what it is, we need the right equipment."
And Tzexa Lee, an owner of Cherta Farms, where the Small Farm Conservation Day was held, added: "We have to save the air here."
Sponsors of the event included the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Hmong American Community, Lao Family Community Inc. of Fresno and Cherta Farms.
Lee stood beside a piece of equipment designed to keep farmers from having to make a half-dozen trips across a field -- burning costly fuel, eating up time and kicking up dust.
With a single pass across a field, the equipment -- which is pulled by a tractor -- discs the ground, shapes a seed bed, lays down plastic and covers the sides of the plastic with dirt and strings out drip tape.
Lee said it took him three years "to come up with this, to put the concept together" for the equipment that is made by Domries Enterprises in Madera.
Several equipment dealers showcased implements and tractors, including Kuckenbecker Tractor Co., which has sales offices in Madera and Fresno.
Richard Kuckenbecker, the company's president and general manager, said he is trying to reach out to operators of smaller farms at the same time that sales in some quarters have lagged because of a sagging economy and drought.
"You see all these truck farms around here?" he asked. "It has gotten to be a large economy. But it can be tough to connect with them."
For one thing, there are language differences. Much of Tuesday's meeting was translated to Hmong to accommodate some of the 35 participants. In addition, a portion was aired over KBIF, 900 AM, thanks to a sound van bearing the words "The Central Valley's Asian Voice" on its side.
"We're thinking of advertising through that station to reach more people," Kuckenbecker said. The station reaches about 50,000 people from Bakersfield to Stockton.
Kuckenbecker said his equipment sales dipped about 20% last year, a decline of nearly $4 million in gross sales.
And this year, largely due to a slump in the second quarter, could mirror that decline, he said.
But Kuckenbecker said he hopes that a federal economic stimulus package, which will enable farmers to write off purchases of new assets totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, could boost year-end sales.
Those at the field day also learned of some beneficial changes in the new Farm Bill, including an increase in maximum direct operating loans from the Farm Service Agency from $200,000 to $300,000, as well as lower down payment percentages.
Edd Russell, a scientist with the conservation service, talked of the need to time fertilizers correctly to be sure nutrients reach plant roots.
He also pointed out how watering can leach nutrients from the soil, notably with deep furrow irrigation as opposed to drip irrigation.
Sam Vang, a soil conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, talked of a two-year study being done at Cherta Farms on use of a V-shaped metal trellis system.
It supports crops like long beans and allows the planting of shorter-season, higher-dollar crops between rows -- crops like bok choy and Napa cabbage.
"This will help farmers comply with the law [against burning of crop waste] and sustain the type of farming they brought to this beautiful valley," Vang said.
Vang said many small farm operations may number only 10 acres or so. For that reason, he said, it's best for several farmers to pool their money for the purchase of tractors, farm implements and chipper-shredders.
"You may need to come together and share," he said.
The reporter can be reached at [email protected] (559) 441-6364.