On the row again

Farmboy 81 · Apr 22, 2021

Got started the end of last week planting corn and setting out tobacco. I guess we'll experience all of the weather extremes before May comes in. Flood, drought, hot, then getting back down to low 30's tonight. Goes with the territory I guess. Been trying to play catch up lately from being so wet for so long.

wore out · Apr 22, 2021

What a GREAT post!

I always enjoy seeing farming techniques/what crop is grown in different areas of the country!

grandpa Love · Apr 23, 2021

How much hand work is involved in the tobacco setting? I see a couple people on that rig.

danofarming · Apr 23, 2021

LOTS, LOTS, LOTS........ LOTS I kinda miss it LOL!!

Farmboy 81 · Apr 23, 2021

Grandpa this is a 4 row transplanter. This style takes 1 person per row to drop the plants in the cups, so 4 people to actually set. I made the plant cart behind it to help minimize fill ups. Need all the help timewise can get for only being able to go 1.05 mph. Got 1 person on it keeping the trays of plants to each row. Have 2 more walking behind for catching any missed plants and quality control. Counting Dad as a driver, it needs 8 people.

Jim in NC · Apr 23, 2021

Do what you can when you can. I suspect those baccer plants have been clipped several times by now.

RJKeith · Apr 23, 2021

My grandfather raised tobacco and had a one row transplanter, one person on the tractor and two on the transplanter putting plants in the little cages. Big water tank on the front. Two of his neighbors would help him, then when they finished planting his tobacco, they would plant the two neighbor's crop.

Farmboy 81 · Apr 23, 2021

I've lost count on the number of times we've clipped. Probably wore out both the mowers in the greenhouses. Had to go to everyday to hold them back.

Phil-mar Farms · Apr 23, 2021

Theres an old saying..... No better way to make a 5 acre field look bigger than to plant it in tobacco!

MF#1 · Apr 23, 2021

What kind of tobacco are you planting? Around the former King of Burley(KY) you have to look long and hard to find anyone growing it anymore, the contracts have gone south, there's just no money to be had when the companies control the prices. Do you harvest by hand or have a machine? Best of Luck to you, I hope it does well!

Farmboy 81 · Apr 23, 2021

We have Flue Cured here in eastern N.C. We crop by hand on Long two story harvesters until it's time to tip it then switch over to automated primers. Just recently bought a Granville Stripper. Will be like a new toy for me. Lol. Looking forward to trying it out.

MF#1 · Apr 23, 2021

It will be a new 'toy' alright

I remember in '77 I built three baler boxes with car jacks for stripping. That season we thought we were in heaven compared to the old hand tying. Those boxes lasted until the early 2000's when my Dad stopped raising tobacco. We still have them not for use but for the good they did do. There's no telling how much money(tobacco)went through those things. I wish you well in your endeavor!

Jim in NC · Apr 24, 2021

We grew it until the buyout in 2004, and employed many old ways I learned from working it as growing up. We swapped help with another neighbor and his family who worked their crop similarly. Most of it was still cured in stick barns.

On the row again

Farmboy 81

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wore out

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grandpa Love

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danofarming

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Farmboy 81

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Jim in NC

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RJKeith

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Farmboy 81

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Phil-mar Farms

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MF#1

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Farmboy 81

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MF#1

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Jim in NC

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