January 2021 - 28

NOTES FROM THE FARM
Machines, conventions and other farm tidbits
JERRY MILLS
Mills Apple Farm
jerry@millsapplefarm.com
wondered how much money was gone.
As a gag, one of our employees gave
me a truck driver's wallet, a big one with a
chain and belt loop. I wasn't too impressed.
Recently, I ran across it and decided to
Editor's note: Jerry Mills has written
Notes from the Farm for Fruit Growers
News for the past 17 years. This column
is a look back at one of his first columns,
written in March 2004. To appreciate more
of Jerry's chronicalization of the industry
from his unique perspective, purchase a copy
of his book, " Notes from the Farm, " by going
online to bit.ly/fgn-farm.
Have you noticed that most successful
farmers are good with machinery? It must
have gotten into the farmer gene pool
sometime in the early 1800s.
One hundred-fifty years ago, farmers
were big exhibitors at agricultural
expositions in Illinois. They liked to show
their prized cattle and inventions. The
tradition has evolved but we still see an
occasional farmer pitching his invention.
(As a side note, as soon as railroads
came in, in the 1850s, they began offering
free transportation to exhibitors who
wanted to show at the fairs. The catch was
that exhibitors only had free transport
during the fair. To get there early, or stay
late, they had to pay.)
It probably is no accident that the farm
machinery industry developed in the
northern states. The North did not have
a ready supply of workers, and I suspect
women folks got tired or wore out trying
to produce the work force. Mechanical
help was the answer.
Here in the Midwest it is not unusual
to see one man and his wife farming
thousands of acres. I know a couple that
farm 1,500 to 2,000 acres by themselves. In
the spring, she tills and he plants, then later
she combines and he hauls the grain. The
women would probably say that this is a
better way to get the job done.
New age machines
Technology now exists to send a tractor
use it since my old wallet was worn out. By
golly, I haven't lost my wallet since! It may
look silly with a suit, but I haven't lost it!
Car keys are a different matter. I used to
lose them several times a day. One day I
saw a double-ended harness thingy in the
store. A light came on. Now it hangs from
the wallet loop most of the time with the
keys on it. Besides giving comfort knowing
they aren't lost, they free up my mind for
more serious matters - like lunch.
Jerry Mills has been sharing his farm experiences with readers since 2004. Photo: Diane
Cannon Piwowarczyk
to the field and let it work without a
human on board. Think of the advantages!
Spraying at optimum times regardless of
day or night, working around the clock
and when it is inconvenient for humans.
One automated tractor could take the
place of one or more regular tractors - and
their drivers. The possibilities are endless.
My tractor would have a cab, however,
and I would ride in it. In fact my cab
would be so big I could stretch out and
relax, have a workstation with a computer,
a library shelf and maybe even a hotplate,
refrigerator and toilet, and of course, a
plasma TV. The neighbor says his would
just have a bed and a wet bar.
It would be fun just riding along without
having to actually drive anything. Such
a machine would be worth a lot of extra
money just because of the efficiencies
and convenience it would provide the
opportunity to get out of the house
without really working.
If the wife complained that I never
took her any place I'd let her ride in the
jump seat.
I hope somebody builds one before I am
too old to crawl into the cab.
Conventions
I love 'em! They provide a chance
to learn new things, see old friends,
make new ones and get away from the
humdrum routine.
This year at the Illinois Specialty
Growers Conference, I met a bright young
fruit grower from Michigan who also
publishes three trade newspapers. He
didn't appear to be much over 30 years old
and already he is making an impact on
agriculture. It gives me hope for the future.
His name is Matt McCallum.
Some people say they cannot be
bothered with going to meetings. Too
much trouble. Too expensive. Waste
of time. I don't agree. I never went to a
meeting of any kind that I didn't pick up a
useful idea. The only problem is I forget it
by the time we get home. This year I took
the kids so they can remember for me.
One of the great things about our
industry is people's willingness to share
information. Sometimes fellow growers
can teach as much as the university
people, with fewer words. We need more
of this information exchange to counter
overseas competition.
Two cures for forgetfulness
About once a year, I used to lose my
wallet. Not permanently, but for a week
or two until someone stumbled onto
it. In the meantime, I drove without
a license, without credit cards and
Speaking of lunch
We always offer lunch to anyone who
was working at the farm during mealtime.
We first did it because I couldn't eat
comfortably in the presence of helpers who
had no lunch. Then I learned that feeding
at the farm kept workers closer when we
needed them to work.
Good lunches during a busy market
day are neat. Since we seldom have time
for everyone to eat together, it adds to the
drama of the day if people are rushing in to
gulp down a few bites before going back to
the trenches.
A " good " lunch would be a big pan of
lasagna. A more ordinary one is spaghetti
or pizza. In a pinch, we'll dig out some
brats and buns, and if all else fails, there is
a loaf of bread in the freezer and peanut
butter and jelly on the back shelf.
For dessert, there are usually homemade
cookies on hand and, with any
kind of luck, a pie that needs to go away.
Don't get any ideas and stop by during the
offseason, though, you'll go hungry.
Virus alert
Comments via email are welcome.
However, mention The Fruit Growers
News in the subject line or I may not open
it. We are plagued with spam and viruses,
and are picky about our email. If you use
your name and no subject, you won't have
a chance. FGN
Seventy-Five Years: Three Generations: World-Wide Distribution
Propagating Trusted Nursery Stock of Superior Quality
Employing laboratory-controlled TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES
Assuring our customers that our plants are free of viruses and other diseases
Blueberry, Raspberry, Kiwi, Lingonberry and other small fruits.
SPECIAL EXPERTISE:
FEATURED for 2018: THREE NEW HASKAP (hybrid honeyberry) CULTIVARS
CONTACT DANNY, TERI OR BOB FOR ORDERING, CULTURAL ADVICE, AND
PLANNING YOUR INVESTMENT
P.O. Box 100 LACOTA, MI 49063 * ph. 269-253-4281 * fax: 269-253-4457
email: info@hartmannsplantcompany.com * web: www.hartmannsplantcompany.com
28 | FruitGrowersNews.com
http://www.bit.ly/fgn-farm http://www.hartmannsplantcompany.com http://www.FruitGrowersNews.com
January 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2021
