February 2021 - 26

NOTES FROM THE FARM
Machines, conventions and other farm tidbits
JERRY MILLS
Mills Apple Farm
jerry@millsapplefarm.com
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
Editor's note: Jerry Mills has written
Notes from the Farm for Vegetable
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
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
Jerry Mills has been sharing his farm experiences with readers since 2004. Photo: Diane
Cannon Piwowarczyk
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 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
A collection of more than 15 years of columns written by Illinois
grower and marketer Jerry Mills, experience wisdom, humor
and practical advice as Jerry shares details of what's worked
(and what hasn't) throughout his time in American agriculture.
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
26 | VegetableGrowersNews.com
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
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
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.
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. VGN
http://www.bit.ly/fgn-farm http://www.VegetableGrowersNews.com
February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2021
