U.S. Farmer Biotech Crops Adoption continues to rise

[ducks4you]

I don't think $20k for a tractor is bad for a small farm...

I know that you CAN'T farm with a small tractor!! The tractor I'm referring to starts NEW at 11K. The Total PACKAGE of what I need,
a) the tractor
b) the front shovel
c) mower
d) engine plug
c) small trailer
http://www.mediacampingctr.com/pict...3-4821A54BA5E3}_Trailer_1_-_Down_to_Earth.jpg
Totals just under $20K.
One of my neighbors plowed the inside of my north pasture (which was heavily rutted) with his very large tractor which had 25 foot wide discs.
THIS is what I'm talking about saving up to buy.
http://www.classicfarmequipment.com/images/products/JohnDeere_UtilityTractor.jpg
HIS would be way too large for my purposes. If somebody gave me that size tractor, I'd probably rent it out to pay for the gas!!

 

[hoodat]

Truck patch is a term I haven't heard anyone use in years. The whole fresh vegetable market was based on it only a couple of generations ago. Truck patches were found ringing every large and many small cities. They were something between a very large garden and a small farm. Fresh veggies were grown on them by single families and most of the work was done by hand or what could be drawn by a small horse. The veggies were packed fresh at night and trucked into the city before daylight, then sold off the back of the truck or in a small booth. There were large open warehouse like buildings in every city divided into booths which were rented out to the farmers. They sold to housewives but their biggest customers were restaurants.
Back when horse drawn wagons were more common than trucks in the city the gutters were always full of horse manure. The same wagons or trucks that carried vegetables into the city in the morning carried a load of horse manure back to the truck patch in the evening, thus doing double duty for the city.
Truck patches for the New York City market is what gave New Jersey the name of Garden State.

 

[ducks4you]

Wow, thanks for sharing--I am a history buff, but I didn't know that.

 

[vfem]

Thanks Hoodat! That was a wealth of knowledge right there that I am now proud to know!

To think what gets lost in 1 to 2 generations!!???

 

[hoodat]

The oldest farmers market building in the US is the beautiful brick building in Lancaster PA. It's still in continuous use. If you can find one of their cook books anywhere grab it. Fabulous recipes. I wouldn't part with mine.

http://www.centralmarketlancaster.com/about/