Where did the time go…

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It seems like yesterday I posted about finishing up packing the last of the onions from last year and now it’s almost September.  As a farmer spring comes and the crops are planted and you start to pray for the perfect weather to grow the crops.  (I would say we almost wish the summer away to know that the crops have made it to the finish line)

Planting went well this year besides the rain that delayed some planting.

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We had a visitor on the Muck this year.

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The onions continued to grow and I am certain that we had extra help from above this year!

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Jeff is the man behind the sprayer.

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The Pump station pumped lots of water this year. It goes under the road and into Mud Lake.

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After one of the many rain storms – a sign of hope.

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and… pictures taken last night of the onions. We say prayers for a safe harvest and that the weather holds out!

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Thank you for any prayers sent our way!

Our Future Farmer!

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Meet Abigail! She’s our future farmer! She loves the tractors and dirt about as much as her dad did! She’ll ride in the tractor with Mark for hours! Even with a Cast on her foot!

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Cold & Snowy as the Eagle keeps watch.

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As the snow dances across the open fields, the Eagle sits in the tall trees around the muck waiting for any small creature to stir. With it’s wings wide open it glides along the fields in hopes of a meal.  It is a great reminder to me of the Freedoms we have and for the many servicemen and women who make that possible.

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Cheers to you- our employees.

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I say Cheers to  all the employees that help our operation run. We have Brian, Justin and Jacob that work full time and in the fall we have several drivers that help keep the trucks moving. Thank you for all your help!  We are looking forward to 2014!

2013 Crop

2013 Crop

Looking back at Elba.

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J. Edwin & Teresa Squires started the onion farm in Elba, NY. They lived in Barre Center and raised all 5 children in the white house on Route 98. Their  love for farming has been passed down generations. Mom and Dad are both gone now and I am certain that they are sitting on a small white bench with Bern watching the rest of us.

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I am not sure what year the next photo was taken but it a young passionate farmer trying to promote his business.

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Some photos from the farm in Elba, where it all began.

 

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The Harvestor was much small and very labor intense!

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Planting is still the same but instead of a crawler a tractor is now used.

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The Sprayer required several people and now one man does the job.

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Planting 1972

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Harvest in 1950 was all done by hand and put in crates.

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Harvesting in Elba 1986.  Mark learned young what the farm was all about.

 Mark’s son is named Ed after his great-grandfather and I think that some day he’ll will be the next onion farmer.

The Harvest is Done.

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It seems like this might have been the longest harvest in history. (they all seem that way) but it is done. The onions are all put away in the buildings, the bin in full of soybeans, the tractors are washed (yes- washed!) and put away, the trucks are all tucked away in corners of the building. You would think that is time to sit back, enjoy the snowfall,  look forward to the holidays and relax. Wrong!

I always say that I like the onions when they are green and I can start putting them in my pocket! It’s that time of year when all the labor has paid off and you can start to sell! First load is on the way to Florida, NY. We pack the onions in 50 lb bags and send them to a broker who re-packs them into smaller bags and sells them to stores up and down the east coast! This is a partial load put up.

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We will ship onions until spring. So no relaxing for these guys! Just different work on the farm. It never ends.

So on this Thanksgiving week I am thankful for a crop of onions, I am Thankful for the workers that help us on the farm, for three great guys, Greg, Jeff and Mark. I am Thankful that everyone is healthy and safe.   I am Thankful that we get to work the black dirt called Muck.

 


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Shuknechts Harvester at work!

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Undercutting the onions

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Onions roots grow just below the surface on the dirt and and before they are harvested they need to be undercut. That is the process of lifting the onions out of the dirt and laying them back down. This process is usually done when the onion tops have started to dry down and the growing process has stopped. The process happens at a very slow pace and can only be done with the perfect weather conditions so that the onions are not damaged.

Onions tops laying over

Onions tops laying over

Undercutting the onions

Undercutting the onions

After being lifted

After being lifted

 

What is Muck dirt?

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Muck is a soil made up of humus from drained swampland. In the fall of 1936, Barre Wood and Vincent DeZetter purchased the 600 acres from individual owners and started to clear the swamp at the end of Bean Station Road. After the swamp was partial cleared and drained, what remained was a rich, black soil called muck.

The Prattsburgh muck does not have wind breaks but other areas in the state use windbreaks. Because the dirt is very light and can be blown around easily the windbreaks are grown. Fences and small cover crops can also used as windbreaks.

Muck Blowing from the wind

Muck Blowing from the wind

As you can tell from the photo the muck can be blown around easily and it is a main concern of J&G Squires.  You can find Muck land all across New York State including Elba, Batavia, Orange County and  Oswego.

So, if you are ever driving around and see that rich black soil it is called Muck.