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Bronwyn Aly
University of Illinois Extension
Local Food Systems & Small Farms Educator
618-382-2662
Specialized Equipment for Vegetable Production
References made in this presentation to any specific commercial products by trade name, trademark,
manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by
the University of Illinois.
Benefits of Utilizing Specialized Equipment
Make already labor intensive tasks easier
Increase production
Increase efficiency, especially in production
systems that benefit from precision
Scaling up with Specialized Equipment
Plus side Down side
Increased efficiency Upfront cost
Increased production Finding equipment
Can modify/create your own Storage/maintenance
Time & Labor Savings & cost Need to increase tractor size/number?
Improved quality
Can be shared Can be shared
Goals, Priorities, and Decisions
• It is possible to get started with not much more than “a shovel, a rake, and a hoe”
• Ultimately, a wide range of tools and facilities are needed to grow and market effectively, profitably, and sustainably
• $10,000 per acre
Goals, Priorities, and Decisions
• Set goals for yourself and your business and use them to guide priorities and decisions – remember your business plan?
• Visit other farms and talk to other growers
• Consider carefully the purchase of all equipment, tools, and implements:
– Does it fit my scale? Does it fit the scale I want to reach?
– What does it cost? What does it cost to operate? What is its resale value?
– Is it durable? Can I repair it myself?
– Is it easy to use? Is it enjoyable to use? Can others use it?
– Is it sustainable?
– Do I need it, or want it?
– Does it fit within the context of my over-all farm plan?
• Emphasize the “back end” of your farm
Harvest Aides
Scaled Up Harvest Aides for Greens~$200
~$500
~$25
Mechanical Harvester
http://www.oxbodev.com/en-us/products/freshmarketvegetables/greenbeanharvesters/bh100.aspx
Washing and Packing Equipment
Barrel washers used for root crops. ~$2750
Packing Line ~$4500 +/-
Refurbished washing machine for greens ~$?
CoolBot
CoolBot enables you to use an off-the-shelf window air conditioner
to cool a well-insulated room downto 33-40 degrees.
$325 + cost of AC unit
www.storeitcold.com
• Cheaper up-front cost compared to standard walk-in cooler.
• Not optimal for farms needing to cool down significant volumes of
produce• Not ideal in terms of humidity
• Excellent option for the small grower or as a secondary, 40-55
degree cooler
Celli Articulated Spader
The “true” spading machine articulates and works like a hand spade shovel. The spade goes straight down into the ground and tips back on the up stroke, throwing the soil against the rear door to break it apart. Articulated spaders do not compact or smear the soil.
Common Primary Tillage Tools
Moldboard plowRototillers, RotovatorsChisel plowField Cultivators
The Cole Planet Jr. is a drill type seeder for planting small to large seed, spaced closely in the row. There is no spacing adjustment. This planter is used to plant crops like spinach, carrot, beet, peas and other crops spaced closely in the row. It operates like a funnel, spouting seeds in the row. The only adjustment is the size of the hole in the bottom of the seed hopper. It comes with 3 seed discs with 39 different hole sizes to choose from. This planter is available as a hand push planter, a one row or multi-row planter.
Drill Type Seeder
http://www.marketfarm.com/cfms/planet_jr_.cfm
~$750 hand push - ?
Clean SeedersJang Automation (Korea)mechanicaltransplanter.com
~$1000
~$975
Plate Type Seeders
The Cole 12MX also known as the Pumpkin Planter is a plate type planter for planting medium to large size seed such as corn, pumpkin, peas, beans, cucumber, squash and other similar size seed.
http://www.marketfarm.com/cfms/12mx.cfm
http://www.marketfarm.com/cfms/matermacc.cfm
The MaterMacc Precision Vacuum Seeder is a versatile seed planter, offering vacuum seeding technology to singulate all sizes of vegetable seed from the smallest carrot and lettuce seed to large lima bean size seed. It can change row spacing from 15" rows and up and add or remove planters to change the number of rows being planted. Optional stainless steel fertilizer and insecticide hoppers with an easy set application rate adjuster. One planter for all size seed, quickly adjustable for most row spacings.
Precision Planter
~$10,000 - ~$20,000 range
Pinpoint SeedersExcellent for salad green production~$250-~$600
www.johnnyseeds.com
Equipment for High Tunnels
Steamer
2-Wheel or Walk Behind Tractors
They make an excellent fit for work in high tunnels and small scale farms, as they have the power to perform well and the size to fit into the confined area. A wide range of implements are available with these tractors also.
As a caution, operations can quickly scale-up past the capacity of these tractors and often find the need to be purchasing full size tractors and equipment.
~$3000-~$10,000
Water Wheel Transplanter
~$1900 base price
www.marketfarm.com
A popular, “not too expensive” transplanter suitable to a varietyof farms. Works best with plastic mulch but also works on bare soil(the drier and lighter the better).Tractor must have creeper gear. Canbe set up for 1, 2 or 3 rows within a bed. It is somewhat cumbersome to change and adjust planting wheels.
http://www.mechanicaltransplanter.com/plastic.html
Mulch Transplanter
Remember to think about cost of operation as well as capacity of your labor force.
http://www.marketfarm.com/cfms/poly_planter.cfm
Precision PlanterThe Poly Planter is a plastic mulch seeder for seeding corn, beans, cucumbers, squash, melons and other similar size seed directly through plastic mulch. It uses a Monosem vacuum seed unit to meter seed into the spades. The spades punch through the plastic and plant the seed at the desired depth, spaced 6.5” apart and up. It is available with a plastic mulch layer to make mulch laying and seeding a one pass operation. This is especially important for planting early sweet corn because there are often only a few days during the early Spring to get the crop planted
while the soil is dry.
~$6500 - ~$21,000 range
http://www.mechanicaltransplanter.com/tunnel.html
Tunnel Layer
~$6000-~$7000 range
No-Till Production
Don’t Forget Your Hoe
Dutch Diamond
Gooseneck Half-moon HoeWheel Hoe
Collinear hoe
Cultivating Tractor
Excellent overview of tractor mounted tools: http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/cultivators.html
Targeted at small scale operations and organic systems, a wide range of cultivating implements can be utilized effectively.
Finger, Torsion, & Basket Weeders
Sprayers
Good coverage that penetrates the canopy
“Precision” Sprayershttp://cropcareequipment.com/vegetable_equip/shielded-boom-sprayers.php
http://www.zuwa.de/en/products/plant-protection-wick-wipers-56/wick-wipers/
Other Useful Stuff
• Computer programs: Excel,Quickbooks, AgSquared, Google Docs
• Duct tape
• Multi-tool or pocket knife
• Quality boots and wet gear!
• Ear protection
• Professionals:
– Accountant
– Tax preparer
– Consultants
