MF1115 Farming a Few Acres of Vegetables

You don't have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

Please update your flash player.

Please login or register to make a comment!

...Description...... more. less.

........................................................................................................ 12 Weed Control .................................................................................................................. . 13 Insect Control ................................................................................................................ ... 14 Disease Control ............................................................................................................... . 15 Pest Control Equipment.................................................................................................. 17 Sources of Information on Vegetable Production ............................................................... 17 Disclaimer: Commercial suppliers are listed for information purposes only. In many cases, additional suppliers are available. Mention of commercial firms or products does not imply endorsement, nor is criticism of other sources intended. 4 Farming a Few Acres of Vegetables Vegetables can be grown in a farming operation for several reasons: To increase family cash income or supplement farm income. As a step to full-time farming. As an aid in times of unemployment. To supply some of the family 9s food supply. To give children a farming experience. As a hobby. To aid in developing a farming system. Growing vegetables probably fits into part-time farming better than most enterprises. It is relatively easy to enlarge a home vegetable garden to a small ccommercial d operation. Produce from the farm must be sold to repay cost of production and realize a profit. Existing farming operations may also consider growing a few acres of commercial vegetables to supplement family farm income and supply local needs. Many types of conventional equipment can be used, reducing the need for added investment. Marketing is usually a problem until an outlet is established. This may take several years. Fortu- nately, roadside selling and pick-your-own opera- tions offer good market opportunities for locally grown produce. Advantages 1. Little capital is required to grow a vegetable crop. Excluding land, labor and machinery costs, about $150 to $250 per acre will cover the out-of- pocket costs until harvest. 2. A profitable enterprise can be started with as little as an acre of land. 3. Machinery is available for most farm opera- tions such as plowing, discing, planting, cultivating and spraying. 4. Available herbicides, fungicides and insecti- cides can effectively control most pests of vegetable crops. 5. So many vegetable types exist that some crop or combination of crops is available to suit almost any land, labor, or market situation. Disadvantages 1. Finding a suitable market outlet can be a problem. Many producers have difficulty filling the role of both grower and seller. 2. Part-time farming is usually limited to crops that have a low labor requirement, especially if only family labor is available. Labor should not interfere with other operations in family farms. 3. Pest control can be a problem for some crops. Vegetables require careful attention and repeated pest control for optimum results. 4. Growers may not have time to attend to both production and marketing, and may have to avoid perishable crops. 5. Lack of experience may be insurmountable, especially with vegetable crops that are difficult to grow. Lack of experience in marketing is a disad- vantage when selling your produce. Often, growers have to accept a lower price because they lack either the experience or the time to market their produce. 6. A lack of management skills can be a disad- vantage since the decisions made on a few acres are just as important as those on a large commercial farm. The grower should learn to use all sources of information available to him/ her and to seek advice from reliable sources. 7. It is relatively easy to purchase too much equipment for a small, part-time farm and, thereby, increase production costs to the point where it is impossible to make a profit. Is Vegetable Farming for You? In determining what vegetable crop or combina- tion of crops to grow, factors such as labor, location, soil, climate, mulching, machinery and equipment, insect and disease control, weed control and market- ing must be carefully considered. Important Considerations 1. Time and labor: Will family members have adequate time to care for the crops on a regular basis throughout the growing season? 2. Desire: Do enough family members have the interest and commitment to grow vegetables in view of the sustained time and effort required? 3. Capital: Can an appropriate amount of money be invested in equipment, tools and supplies to grow quality vegetables? 4. Technical knowledge, experience: Do family members have the necessary knowledge of the culture of the specific vegetables to successfully grow the crop? Are they willing to learn from appropriate references? 5 5. Markets: Are there dependable markets for the vegetables, some of which are highly perish- able? Can you creatively sell vegetables in your or other local communities? 6. Adverse weather: Do family members under- stand that the weather during some seasons may result in crop damage or failure? Is the family able to accept this possibility and cweather the storm? d 7. Site: Does your farm provide a satisfactory soil and climate for successful crop production? 8. Time for business establishment: Does your family realize that few businesses become fully operational and successful in only 1 or 2 years? Is the family willing to work during a 3- to 5-year period to fully establish a business? 9. Quality products: Do family members realize that chances for successes are best when high- quality products are grown? 10. Cooperation: Are others in the area interested in growing vegetables so that some cooperative efforts are possible? For the greatest chance of success, the answer to these questions should be yes. Questions where some reluctance exists deserve careful consideration before proceeding. Inventorying and Analyzing Needed Resources Soil Must be well-drained: county research and extension and soil conservation service personnel can provide assistance with irriga- tion and conservation techniques. Must be of appropriate reaction: pH 6.0 36.8, or adjusted as needed. Must have proper fertility level: Sample the soil and have it tested. County research and extension offices can provide information on soil testing. Must be supplied with fertilizer based on test results and recommendations. Should contain some organic matter. Organic matter can be added by using green manure crops, livestock manure, compost, or other material. Where possible, rotate soil-building crops such as grasses or legumes. Climate Temperature: This factor can 9t be changed appreciably by the grower. The crop producer must settle for the temperature that prevails in the area. Early crops can be protected with hot caps, plant tents and sprinkler irrigation. Warm- and cool-season crops must be planted at appropriate times (see Table 1), and crop varieties selected according to season of maturity. Water: Ensure adequate soil drainage. Use irrigation where possible. Consider trickle irrigation as an alternative when water is not in plentiful supply. Light: Provide vegetable plants with as much daily light exposure as possible. Don 9t plant crops in the shade of buildings or trees. Labor Additional labor may be required at some time. Use care in selecting hired labor, making sure workers are able to complete the required tasks. Sources of labor include: Family labor, including a work cmanager. d Part-time high school students, retired adults, homemakers and vocational school students. One of the strengths of small-scale vegetable production is the opportunity to use family labor in a productive way. Capital Operating capital may be difficult to obtain for vegetable operations because the risk is greater and there are more variables in returns. One advantage is that fewer acres require a limited amount of total money. Potential sources of capital are: Family funds. Local banks. Other agricultural lending agencies. Deter- mine capital needs based on crop production budget. Equipment and Supplies Depending on the crops to be grown, some basic tools and equipment are required. Equipment may be new, used or leased, or even occasionally bor- rowed or exchanged with neighbors. Select from the following categories the items that best fit the scale of your operation. 6 Table 1. Some common vegetables grouped according to planting times and weather requirements. Cold-hardy plants for early Cold-tender or heat-hardy plants Hardy plants for late summer spring for late spring, early summer or fall Very hardy Hardy (plant Not cold- Require hot Medium tolerant Plant 6 to 8 (plant 4 to 6 2 to 4 weeks hardy (plant weather (plant (good for sum- weeks before weeks before before frost- on frost-free 1 week or more mer planting) first fall freeze frost-free date) free date) date) after frost-free date) Broccoli Beets Beans, snap Eggplant Squash Beets Cabbage Carrots Okra Peppers Sweet corn Broccoli Lettuce Chard Squash Sweet potato Pumpkin Cauliflower Onions Mustard Sweet corn Cucumber Cabbage Peas Parsnip Tomato Melons Lettuce Potato Radish Mustard Spinach Spinach Turnip Turnip Estimated equipment costs Equipment New price Used price Tractor, with 3-point $ 6,105 $ 2,000 hitch, PTO, toolbar Moldboard plow (12") 250 200 Disc 300 150 Planter 300 150 Cultivator 350 250 Rotary tiller (4 ft.) 1,410 750 Sprayer (20 gal.) 1,000 250 Miscellaneous 285 250 Total investment/ acre $10,000 $ 4,000 Investment/ 5 acres 2,000 800 Annual ownership costs per acre on 5 acres New price Used price Depr. (10 years, new) $200 ( 5 years, used) $160 Interest @ 12% 120 48 Taxes & insurance (2%) 40 16 Total annual cost $360 $224 Repairs (5% new) 100 (8% used) 64 You may have equipment already available for supporting a small-scale vegetable operation. In such cases, the equipment budget will need to include only those prices of equipment deemed necessary to purchase. Important: No single crop budget can be used without considering your individual equipment cost as it cfits d into your other farming operations. Remember this as you build a crop production budget to meet your own situation. Other Items An excellent listing of equipment and materials for vegetable production is found each year in the July issue of The American Vegetable Grower mag- azine (see Appendix). Also, managers of the local equipment dealers, hardware stores and garden centers can be helpful in providing essential pro- duction equipment and supplies. Determining the Cropping System Important considerations in selecting crops to be grown on a farm include the following: 1. Cultural requirements: Some crops are easier to grow than others. In general, tomatoes, cucum- bers, or muskmelons are very demanding in terms of cultural requirements. 2. Crop value: Some crops are valued more than others. Crops such as cabbage, radish and turnips tend to be low per unit value crops. Asparagus and tomatoes are examples of high-per-unit value crops. 3. Perishability and storage requirements: Crops such as asparagus, sweet corn, peas and muskmel- ons are highly perishable. Crops such as potatoes and onions are suited to longer-term storage; immediate marketing is not of great urgency. 4. Production costs: Some crops are more expensive to produce than others. For example, it costs much more to grow an acre of tomatoes than it does an acre of sweet corn. 5. Personal preference: The choice of crops depends to some extent on personal preference. Growers tend to do better with crops they like and have had some experience and success growing. 7 One important consideration is the number of crops to plant. Because of the cost of installing special production and handling procedures, the trend is for larger-scale producers supplying wholesale or district markets to specialize , producing larger amounts of fewer crops. On the other hand, small market gardeners selling to local markets, farmers markets and on-farm retail outlets may find an advantage in having a diversity of crops through- out the season. First, analyze the market 4determining what crops and how much of each might be sold and at what price. This will help determine a total gross return possible for the operation. Next, carefully evaluate each crop for its labor requirements, special growing requirements and compatibility with the existing farming operation. One especially important point to remember is that no two operations need to be done exactly the same. In fact, there may be an advantage in differ- ing operations in the same community. For ex- ample, if one local grower plans to grow tomatoes for the local market, then other growers in the area may be wise to consider other crops such as cucum- bers or melons, which will not compete directly, but will generate interest, in the local produce available to consumers. Crop Production Procedures Cultural practices used for growing various vegetables depend chiefly upon the nature of the plant and type of products desired. Because provid- ing specific technical information for growing particular vegetables is beyond the scope of this publication, the reader is referred to the publica- tions on page 16. Publications listed give specific details for producing and marketing the various commodities. Additional production guides will continue to be developed. To be successful in growing vegetables, the grower should be concerned with the following: Site selection Varieties Seed and plants Soil preparation, fertility maintenance and improvement Planting techniques Cultural practices Harvesting, handling and storage Table 2. Approximate number of days from planting to market maturity for veg- etables grown under optimum conditions. Early Late Vegetable variety variety Bean, broad 120 Bean, green 48 60 Bean, lima 65 78 Beet 56 70 Broccoli* 55 78 Brussels sprout* 90 100 Cabbage 62 120 Carrot 50 95 Cauliflower* 50 125 Chard, Swiss 50 60 Chinese cabbage 70 80 Collard 70 85 Corn, sweet 64 95 Cucumber, pickling 48 58 Cucumber, slicing 62 72 Eggplant* 50 80 Endive 85 100 Kale 55 Kohlrabi 50 60 Lettuce, butterhead 55 70 Lettuce, leaf 40 50 Melon, honeydew 110 Muskmelon 85 95 Mustard 35 55 Okra 50 60 Onion, dry 90 150 Onion, green 45 60 Parsley 70 80 Parsnip 120 Pea 56 75 Pea, edible pod 60 75 Pea, southern 65 85 Pepper* 65 80 Potato 90 120 Pumpkin 100 120 Radish 22 30 Rutabaga 90 Spinach 37 45 Squash, summer 40 50 Squash, winter 85 110 Sweet potato 120 150 Tomato* 60 90 Turnip 40 75 Watermelon 75 95 *Additional time for transplants 8 and paved or gravel walks for customers are also needed. Friendly and courteous attitudes in dealing with customers will pay big dividends. Be sure to clisten d to customers for ideas for crops you may be able to sell and suggest crops you will have later. 2. Pick-your-own: Many customers enjoy picking their own crops, especially for crops where labor costs increase the price of the products. You will need to direct pickers to the appropriate areas and discourage indiscriminate cwandering d through the field. Containers may need to be provided and sales by weight will eliminate ques- tions over volume measures. Beans, sweet corn, cole crops, tomatoes, cucumbers and root crops are all adapted to pick-your-own operations. 3. Community farmer 9s markets: Many Kansas communities are forming farmer 9s markets that provide an outlet for local growers (and additional customers for local businesses) on market day, usually Saturday. Small growers with only a few items to sell can cfit together d to make a successful market. Farmer 9s markets encourage local grower cooperation and good will. 4. Local stores or wholesale produce dealers: Small growers often have difficulty supplying local or wholesale dealers because uniform packaging, consistent quality and steady supply for a longer period are hard to guarantee. Also, do not attempt to supply local stores and sell to the public in direct competition unless the store understands what you are planning to do. Check with local stores or buyers long in advance, determine the requirements for supply, packaging, quality, delivery and be alert to correct any problems with quality. Information on wholesale prices may be ob- tained from the USDA Market News for Fruits and Vegetables , Fruit and Vegetable Division, Market News Branch, 610 S. Corral St., Rm. 1060, Chicago, IL 60607 or 208 N. Broadway, Room 1010, Federal Building, St. Louis, MO 63102. The national weekly newspaper, The Packer , 7950 College Blvd., Box 2939, Shawnee Mission, KS 66201, is available for insight into current crop, marketing and price situations. The Packer also has a computerized daily price information system, Pro Net, available on a subscription basis with a computer hookup. Advertising One problem in establishing a vegetable grow- ing operation that sells from the farm or roadside stand is letting people know you are there and have Table 3. Approximate number of days from pollination to market maturity for vegetables under warm growing conditions. Bean 7-10 Squash, summer Corn Crookneck 6-7 2 Market 1 18-23 Early Prolific Processing 21-27 Straightneck 5-6 2 Cucumber Scallop 4-5 2 Pickling ( 3 / 4 - Zucchini 3-4 2 1 / 8 " dia.) 4-5 Squash, winter Slicing 15-18 Acorn 55-60 Eggplant Banana 70-80 ( 2 / 3 max. size) 25-40 Boston Marrow 60-70 Muskmelon 42-46 Buttercup 60-70 Okra 4-6 Butternut 60-70 Pepper Golden Delicious 60-70 Green stage Hubbard 80-90 (max. size) 45-55 Tomato Red stage 60-70 Mature green 35-45 Pumpkin Red ripe stage 45-60 Connecticut 80-90 Watermelon 42-45 Dickinson 90-110 Small Sugar 65-75 1 From 50 percent silking 2 For a weight of 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 pound Source: Adapted from Knott 9s Handbook for Vegetable Growers Marketing the Crop Possibilities for marketing produce from the small farm, based on greatest opportunity for dollar return, include the following: Retailing from a roadside market. Community farmer 9s market. Combination pick-your-own roadside market. Pick-your-own operation. Selling to large area farm markets, local grocery stores or wholesale commission houses. Where you are going to sell your crop is an important question to answer. It is difficult to determine how well a crop may sell in any given year or what other crops may have potential. Some suggested outlets are described in more detail. 1. cRoadside d or direct sales: Quality, fresh produce at or near the farm is the keystone of a farm market. A market does not have to be elabo- rate, but it does need to be neat, clean and organ- ized. Prices need to be displayed and accurate weight provided. Parking, directional or road signs 9 Variable or direct costs will vary with the crop grown and can be adjusted depending on crop conditions and needs. Fixed or indirect costs are overhead costs that are often overlooked. Machinery, land and labor costs need to be calculated into a production budget. Be sure to calculate depreciation, taxes, insurance and interest costs and establish a modest return for labor. Use this cbottom line d production cost total of variable and fixed cost so you know that melons cost 4¢ per pound or asparagus 71¢ per pound, etc., so you will know what you must have to break even. Profit will come by keeping costs low and maximizing yield or price per unit. There is no single more important factor than quality that will influence your ability to charge a fair price. People will pay a fair price for good produce. Monitoring prices of other growers or stores will indicate if you are too far coff base. d However, growers need not be competitive in price with each other. Many growers stress quality and emphasize that their product is worth more 4 and it is. A Review of Some Important Production Practices Variety Selection Varieties perform according to their genetic potential and the environmental conditions and cultural practices to which they are exposed. Choosing the best varieties for an individual situation is difficult, partly because a large number of varieties exist, and also because environmental conditions can vary considerably. A variety that performs well during a year of adequate rainfall may perform poorly during an excessively wet or dry season. Good varieties perform well under a range of environmental conditions. Those recom- mended by K-State have been tested for several years at various locations or have been observed for their performance in commercial production. In selecting varieties, take into account the preference of your particular market, the times at which the varieties can be expected to mature, method of culture, possible disease problems and the adaptability of the varieties to the soil and climate. It is advisable to test new varieties and hybrids on a limited scale to judge their potential for the area, use and market. Some factors that influence the performance of a variety or hybrid are produce to sell. cWord of mouth d and personal contacts are excellent means of generating business, but this is a slow building process. Professional advertising is expensive, but it may be necessary in some cases. Allow some money in your crop production budget for advertising. Consider brief newspaper or cspot d radio announcements. They are much less expen- sive than block ads or longer commercials. Use bulletin boards in public places or any free sources such as radio call-in shows, trade publications, or merchant publications. Feature stories in local newspapers are excellent. Often, newspapers will be inter- ested in new services and products for the community. Check with your local editor. A Profit: The Bottom Line It is vitally important to accurately estimate a crop-production budget, adjusting it as changes occur, to determine how much a given crop costs to produce. A fair or accurate cprice d of the crop cannot be estimated until this amount is known. Items to include in a crop production budget include: COSTS YOUR COSTS Variable costs (supplies necessary to grow the crop) Seed or plants ___________ Fertilizer ___________ Chemicals, herbicides ___________ Insect, disease control ___________ Containers, other marketing costs ___________ Advertising ___________ Fuel, oil, repairs ___________ Hired labor ___________ Interest on operating capital ___________ Subtotal A ___________ Fixed costs (overhead costs) Machinery cost, depreciation, taxes ___________ Land cost, rent or interest, taxes ___________ Irrigation equipment costs, depreciation ___________ Labor (self or family members) ___________ Subtotal B ___________ Total production expenses A + B = ___________ Returns Expected yield _______ x Price/ unit ___________ Returns _____________________ Net returns = Returns - Total costs 10 climate (temperatures, rainfall, humidity); soil type, fertility, and drainage; cropping season (spring, summer or fall); culture (planting distances, train- ing methods, mulching and fertilizer treatment); method of harvest; and intended use (fresh, storage, processing, or marketing). These factors will vary in importance in different locations. Commercial growers often find hybrids superior to older, open-pollinated varieties because they have several desirable characteristics such as uniformity of plant and fruit type, uniform matu- rity, disease resistance, quality and vigor. A hybrid is the result of crossbreeding two parental lines (or varieties) that are different in one or more impor- tant characteristics. The resulting plant grows more vigorously and gives higher yields. Hybrid seed is usually more expensive than seed from an open- pollinated variety; however, seed labeled chybrid d does not make it superior to established varieties. Resistance to diseases and insects and other factors should be considered when planting any new variety. Do not depend entirely on a local garden center for varieties that are suitable for an area. Use the winter months to study variety trial results, recom- mendation lists and seed catalogs. No seed com- pany can provide all the best varieties for each individual operation, so check several sources. Sites and Soils Part-time farmers often have a limited selection of suitable sites. In some cases, it may be better not to grow a crop than to risk failure with a poor site. When alternative sites are available, consider the location relative to the market, topography, water supply and soil type of your area. 1. Location: Although a fertile, well-drained soil improves production, location near a market may be just as important a consideration. For a pick- your-own operation or roadside market, accessibil- ity is critical. Before you begin growing vegetables, determine how and where you will sell your produce. If you grow vegetables near a small city, you may draw enough buyers and also avoid the high price of land or taxes of a major metropolitan area. Road quality must also be considered. Hard- surfaced roads close to the farm are almost a necessity for either shipping or direct marketing. Unimproved roads may prevent deliveries during rainy periods and produce is more subject to injury when trucked on bumpy roads. 2. Topography: Southern or southeastern exposures on a gentle slope are preferred for early spring vegetables and fall crops. A sunny slope dries and warms earlier in the spring than a north- ern exposure. Because a sloped site generally has good air drainage, there is less likelihood of early autumn frost. Good air and water drainage will also help reduce disease problems. Sandy or sandy loam soils, found in several areas of Kansas, are excellent for vegetables. River valley soils are excellent except some low fields may serve as cfrost pockets. d Tractors and Tillage Implements Except when plowing, you may not need a large tractor for many vegetable operations. A small tractor with 25 to 45 horsepower can handle most routine farm tasks. It should have a high clearance of 20 inches or more to allow for spraying and cultivating. Plowing and initial discing can often be arranged with neighbors or contracted from another farmer. Final seedbed preparation can be accom- plished with a small (5- to 6-foot wide) disc or rototiller. A large tractor may also be required if vege- tables are planted on raised beds. A power bedder can make the bed in one operation; however, a set of disc tillers and a bed shaper does the job but requires less power. Direct Seeding Planting vegetable seeds in an environment suitable for proper germination and growth is more difficult than it sounds. Cold or crusted soils, improper depth or shallow seed placement and nonviable seeds can all result in poor germination and an uneven stand. A poor stand not only results in lower yields, it wastes fertilizer, pesticides and time. Using viable seed, preparing a good seedbed and placing seed at the proper depth will help eliminate uneven stands. Direct seeding may result in lower disease losses from seed-borne disease because it avoids the crowding of transplant beds. Commercial growers cannot afford to try to save money on seed 4buy it fresh each year. Although it may seem wasteful to dump unused seed, it is more economical in the long run. Seed storage can be tricky and is generally not worth the effort. It is not difficult to prepare a seedbed. Often what 9s not done to the soil is more important than what is. Do not plow, disc, or rototill wet ground. If possible, do not drive machinery or trucks across a wet field or even walk across it. Working wet soil 11 destroys the soil structure and promotes crusting after the first heavy rain. The soil should be moist enough to form a ball in the fist, but dry enough to crumble between two fingers. Several vegetable planters are available for use on small acreages, most of which can be divided into seed drills and precision planters. Seed drills open a small furrow, allow seed to flow through a hole to a specified depth and then close the furrow. The standard Plantet Jr. planter is an example of a drill that can be pushed by hand or mounted on a tractor tool bar. It can be fitted with a regular single-row shoe or mounted with a scatter shoe to spread seed within a narrow band. Plates with holes of various sizes for most vegetable seeds are available. Precision planters are generally more expensive than seed drills but may reduce or eliminate the need for thinning. They place the seed not only at the desired depth, but also at the specified spacing within the row. They are available in one-row, hand-push models, or they can be mounted on a tool bar. Old plate planters used for corn can often be adapted for vegetable seeds if the proper size plate can be obtained. Precision planters work well when the seedbed is properly prepared and can reduce or entirely eliminate the costly operation of thinning. Transplanting Vegetables are transplanted to ensure an earlier harvest and a good stand. As direct seeding tech- nology is improved, only the early crops of most vegetables may need to be transplanted. You can grow your own plants or obtain them from south- ern transplant growers or local greenhouses. Homegrown or locally produced plants are gener- ally superior but are also more expensive. Southern field-grown plants are usually shipped as bareroot stock and are more likely to carry disease organ- isms. You can minimize the risk of disease by purchasing certified plants that have been inspected for diseases and that have been grown under conditions that minimize disease potential. You may have to grow your own plants or make local arrangements to obtain the variety you want. For information on how to grow plants, see the Com- mercial Production Guide, Vegetable Transplants . Moderately expensive single- and multiple-row mechanical transplanters that set bareroot plants, rooted plants, or plants in peat pots are available. The single-row unit can be drawn behind most small tractors. Two people and a tractor driver can plant several acres in a single day. Transplanters that punch holes through plastic mulch and set plants are also available. Because timeliness is an important concern of fresh market growers, a transplanter may be a worthwhile investment. Another of its advantages is that starter solution is applied to each plant immediately after setting. Plastic Mulch and Row Covers Mulch traps heat from the sun 9s rays and warms the soil earlier than usual, increasing the chances of an early harvest. Although mulch is expensive, it is sometimes worth the cost because early vegetables command the highest prices. In northern Kansas, mulching can improve muskmelon or watermelon crops. Mulching with black plastic is also an effec- tive method of weed control, especially on crops for which no good herbicides are available. Generally, plastic mulch will benefit muskmelons, watermel- ons and early crops of cucumbers, summer squash, peppers, tomatoes and sweet corn. If laying more than one acre of plastic mulch, purchasing a me- chanical mulch layer would be wise. Mulching can be done with either black or clear plastic. Clear plastic warms the soil best but also allows weed growth, thus necessitating the add- itional use of herbicides. Because some herbicides are dangerous under these altered environmental conditions, black or opaque plastic is usually preferred. Keep the area under the plastic free of weeds with labeled herbicides or cultivation. Clear plastic row tunnels not only warm the soil, but protect the plant from hail or wind injury. Although expensive, they can be used on limited acreage for a very early harvest, with or without black plastic on the ground. The tunnel is supported by oval hoops made of 9- to 16-gauge wire. Two separate sheets of clear plastic are laid on either side of the plant rows and clipped in the middle above the plants. One side can be pulled down on sunny days for ventilation. Pre-ventilated single sheets that do not have to be opened during the day and closed at night are now available as well. A new type of floating cover is being used on cucurbits and seeded crops such as carrots, beans and lettuce. The material, a spun-bonded fabric that allows gas exchange and water percolation, does not require hoops because it lies directly on the plants. Mulches can significantly reduce weed popula- tions, especially of annual grasses and broadleaf 12 weeds, but cannot control perennial weeds. For most vegetable crops, with the definite exception of sweet corn, no sustained-action, broad-spectrum herbicide can be used to control weeds under clear plastic. Black polyethylene mulches keep sunlight from germinating weed seedlings and stop their growth. In general, however, it is usually most economical to use herbicides for weed control even when black plastic mulch is used. Irrigation Growing vegetables require a constant supply of soil moisture. Even brief periods of drought can reduce crop yield and quality. Dry periods early in the growing season can delay harvest and reduce yields. Shortages of moisture later in the season, especially during the maturation period, can severely impair quality. Irrigation may be needed to establish seedlings or ensure good germination and emergence. Critical water-use periods for vegetable crops Broccoli, cabbage, Head development cauliflower, lettuce Carrot, radish, beet, turnip Root enlargement Sweet corn Tasseling and ear development Cucumber, eggplant, Flowering, fruit set pepper, melon, tomato and fruit enlargement Bean, pea Flowering and pod development Onion Bulb development Potato Tuber initiation and development Shallow-rooted crops should not be without water for more than 7 to 10 continuous days. Other crops must receive adequate moisture, especially during critical periods in their development. Most vegetables require from l.0 to 1.5 inches of water per week during their peak growing period. Apply no more than 0.25 inch per hour to ensure good soak- ing and prevent runoff. Covering too much acreage in a certain time will result in poor uniformity. Although irrigation equipment and an adequate water source are expensive investments, they may pay for themselves in one year of low rainfall. Fresh market growers are encouraged to consider the investment. The type of equipment used will depend on the crop being grown and its potential value, as well as on soil drainage, topography, source water availability and financial resources. The most common irrigation system used on medium to small vegetable farms is a portable pipe system with risers and sprinkler heads. Recently, many producers have favored traveling guns with flexible or rigid hoses. Large operations may choose center-pivot systems, but smaller growers may prefer trickle systems. Consult a local irrigation distributor or manufacturer to design a suitable system. Refer to Commercial Production Guide 4 Drip Irrigation, MF-1090. Pest Management Successful vegetable production depends on the ability of the grower to minimize losses from diseases, insects and weeds. These pests can signifi- cantly affect yields and quality 4 and, therefore, profits 4 if not controlled. Economic returns can also be reduced by the unexpected expense of the extra labor involved in harvesting and grading weedy or pest-damaged fields. Agricultural scientists and growers generally agree that pests can cause excessive yield and quality losses, and large commercial growers can rarely rely exclusively upon nonpesticide methods of control. However, growers can improve the efficiency of pesticides by paying close attention to pest populations and by timing applications cor- rectly. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a system that uses all suitable pest control techniques to keep pest populations below economically injurious levels. With IPM, each pest management technique should be environmentally sound, compatible with other production practices and effective. Organic farmers have chosen not to use manu- factured pesticides in their pest management plans. They often sell their vegetables at markets specializ- ing in produce that is grown without pesticides. The higher per-unit price these vegetables receive often compensates for the normally reduced yields. As long as a market exists and prices are high, organic farmers may be able to afford nonchemical means of pest suppression. Organic farming will probably be possible only in small plantings and where markets exist for visually blemished or imperfect produce. Pesticide Legislation Growers have nothing to fear from the law as long as they use pesticides according to the current label only on the crops specified, in the amount specified and at the times specified. Keep a record 13 of the products and trade names used, the percent- age of active ingredients, the dilutions, the rates of application per acre and the dates of application. By following label directions, you can be sure that your vegetables will have no excessive pesticide residues. Vegetables marketed with residues exceeding the Federal Drug Administration tolerances may be injurious to consumers and may be confiscated. Growers who misuse chemicals may also face legal action. Chemical manufacturers are hesitant to recom- mend and sell a pesticide for a vegetable unless humans have a high tolerance to it. Lawsuits have forced manufacturers to withdraw pesticides for some crops from the market. Never use a pesticide on a crop for which it is not labeled. It can injure the crop, or worse, the consumer. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies pesticides as GEN- ERAL USE or RESTRICTED USE. A grower wishing to apply a pesticide classified for restricted use must be certified as a private or commercial pesti- cide applicator by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Contact a county Extension agent for details. Pesticides should be locked in dry, well-venti- lated areas to deny access to children, animals and irresponsible people. Protection and application precautions printed on container labels should be followed. Empty containers should be disposed of according to label instructions. Never put them into a sewage disposal system. Pesticides are classified as having high, moder- ate, low, or slight toxicity. Highly toxic pesticides display a drawing of a skull and crossbones and the words cDanger-Poison, d moderately toxic pesti- cides have the word cWarning, d and pesticides with low and slight toxicity display the word cCaution. d Weed Control Whether to use herbicides or other means of weed control depends on the severity of past infestations. In some instances, mechanical control is sufficient or may be needed to supplement herbicide use. Some crops may need several herbi- cides. The most commonly used herbicide application methods are broadcast soil application (uniform application over an entire specific area), foliar application (application to the leaves and stems) and preplant soil incorporation (using tillage equipment or irrigation to mix the herbicide with the surface soil). Less commonly used methods are band application (application to a strip or band of soil parallel to crop row) and directed application (aiming the herbicide at a portion of the plant). Most herbicides are applied preemergence or are preplant-incorporated. Preemergence refers to the use of a herbicide before the crop or weeds emerge, or after the crop emerges but before the weeds appear. Preplant incorporated refers to the use of a herbicide before the crop is planted. The advantage of preplant-incorporated herbicides is that they are in contact with soil moisture and usually do not require immediate rain or irrigation water to become activated. Preemergence applications usually need at least a small amount of moisture for weed kill. There are usually several herbicides for preplant incorporation or preemergence application, depend- ing on the crop species, soil type, climate and weed species. Most herbicides have selective action and control only certain weeds, but in some situations herbicide combinations can increase the control spectrum. Growers must make the final choice on the basis of soil type, the crop and the weed history of the specific field. Toxicity Label Oral LD 50 Dermal LD 50 Inhalation LD 50 Lethal oral dose rating signal words (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/liter or ppm) for 150 lb person High Danger- 0-50 0-200 0-2,000 Few drops to Poison 1 teaspoon Moderate Warning 50-500 200-2,000 2,000- 1 teaspoon to 20,000 1 tablespoon Low Caution 500-5,000 2,000- 20,000+ 1 tablespoon 20,000 to 1 pint Slight Caution 5,000+ 20,000+ 20,000+ Over 1 pint 14 in vegetable crops. Plowing to eliminate or reduce crop residues in the field after harvest is an effective sanitation method that will reduce populations of: Stalk borers such as European corn borers whose larvae overwinter by boring into stalks. Cucumber, bean and flea beetles that often overwinter as adults in crop residue. Defoliating caterpillars, such as tomato hornworms and cabbage worms, that over- winter as pupae on or near the soil surface. Squash bugs and other plant bugs that overwinter as adults in crop residue. Alternating vegetable crops in one field or alternating vegetables with unrelated crops can reduce insect populations the following season. For example, the corn rootworm, a root-feeding insect, can seriously attack sweet corn roots and reduce yields. Growing sweet corn one year and an unre- lated crop the following year will help solve this problem. In general, a vegetable should be grown in a certain field only once every three years. Insects can also be controlled biologically. There are two recognized forms of control: that which occurs naturally and that which is applied. Non- applied, or naturally occurring, biological insect controls that limit insect pest populations include: Parasites, including the larvae of certain wasps and flies. Predator insects, including ladybird beetles, aphid lions and stinkbugs. Birds and other predatory animals. Naturally occurring viruses, bacteria and fungi. Some of these controls are applied to field vegetables on a small scale and can be quite effec- tive on a greenhouse crop. The bacterial agent, Bacillus thuringiensis (BT), is currently applied to control caterpillars in cabbage and related crops and in tomatoes. When ingested, BT spores effec- tively kill susceptible caterpillars by destroying their gut. Additional applications are made every 5 to 7 days. Predator and parasitic insects are available from biological supply firms and may be purchased to control other insects. However, the success of this practice is questionable. Introduced parasites and predators always require a dependable source of food, and some predators and most parasites are specific to certain insect species. It is not easy to meet all these needs in field situations. To apply preemergence and postemergence herbicides safely, it is important to select the right equipment and nozzles and to adjust the spray pressure correctly. Carefully monitor the pattern and amount delivered by the sprayer before and during application. Cultivation is an accepted weed control practice, and its benefits are well known. Some generally accepted advantages are that it physically destroys weeds and increases soil aeration. Shallow cultiva- tion is the ideal practice because deep cultivation causes root pruning and injures the crop. Several crolling d types of cultivators are available besides the standard shovel-type cultivator that is mounted on or pulled by a tractor. Insect Control Commercial vegetable growers find it impos- sible to produce vegetables profitably unless they control insects with maximum effectiveness and minimum cost. Today 9s consumer will not accept unsightly, wormy vegetables. The vegetables are unappetizing, and the waste from trimming in- creases food costs. Commercial vegetable growers must produce a quality product that is acceptable as well as safe. Careful use of the right insecticides can make this possible. Vegetable insect pests can be divided into the following groups: Caterpillars or worms that feed on foliage and sometimes on fruit. Aphids, or plant lice, in large numbers that suck plant juices from new foliage. Beetles that chew holes in plant foliage. Adult and immature plant bugs that suck plant juices from foliage and fruit. Cutworms, earworms and borers that tunnel into corn ear tips, tomato fruit and bean pods. Seed and soil maggots that feed inside newly- planted seed and plant roots. Insect pests can completely destroy a vegetable crop, damage its edible parts and render the crop unsalable, or contaminate the vegetables as they are being processed. They can reduce plant vigor by sucking juices from the leaves, stems and fruit. Some insects carry diseases to specific vegetables or from plant to plant, resulting in crop losses. Cultural practices that reduce pest populations should be combined with an appropriate chemical means for effectively controlling plant-damaging insects. Sanitation and crop rotation are among the most effective means of reducing insect populations 15 Disease Control To control diseases economically, the farm must have an overall management system. Records should be kept on what crops have been planted, what problems have occurred and what pesticides have been applied. The use of resistant varieties is the simplest and most effective method of controlling diseases. A variety may be completely immune to a disease or able to tolerate it while suffering only reduced damage. The immunity type of resistance exists for the control of many vegetable diseases and is often present in new hybrids and horticulturally superior varieties. Because varieties are resistant only to specific races or biotypes of pathogens, they should be carefully observed for the presence of new races of biotypes. Tolerant cultivars are not immune to disease. It is important to minimize disease development by carefully choosing the planting time and site and by taking equal care with other cultural decisions. Tolerant cultivars that have some resistance may be used in combination with a fungicide program. It is important to remember that tolerant culti- vars can carry disease. Under certain environmental conditions, yield losses are very low and above- ground symptoms do not develop; however, the disease is moved through seed tubers to other areas, infesting previously uninfested soil and damaging susceptible varieties. Disease-free planting materials (seed, tubers, transplants, bulbs) have been widely used to control vegetable diseases and are perhaps the most funda- mental part of an integrated disease management program. One approach is to produce one 9s own transplants or to buy healthy, certified, disease-free transplants. This is the cheapest insurance for the vegetable grower and is an important initial step that will often prevent serious epidemics. Another approach is to treat seeds to remove infected or infested units or to free them of pathogenic organ- isms. Hot water soaks have been used on crucifer seed to eradicate seedborne diseases such as black rot and blackleg. Recently, systemic fungicide soaks have been used to disinfect seed of cole crops and celery. Fermentation and bleach or acid soaking of tomato and pepper seed help eliminate or reduce bacterial spot and bacterial canker infestations. Most commercial seed dealers supply seed that has been properly treated and is free of disease. For pathogens that have become established in production fields, eliminating crop residues is one effective method of control. Other methods include eradicating alternate host plants such as weeds, eliminating cull piles, removing individual diseased plants, maintaining sanitary equipment and storage facilities, and rotating crops. The advantages of rotation have been recognized since ancient times. Many plant pathogens cannot survive in the soil in the absence of their host, and most plant pathogens attach to members of only one plant family. For this reason, members of different plant families should be used in rotation schemes. Growers can protect plants by using fungicides, nematicides and bactericides to prevent infection, eradicate soilborne organisms and seedborne fungi or bacteria, protect seeds and seedlings from decay or seedling blight organisms, and disinfect storage areas and packing cases. Foliar applications of fungicides or bactericides break down and must be repeated regularly to protect new plant growth. Vegetable crops by family Solanaceae Tomato, potato, pepper, eggplant, cherry tomato Cruciferae Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, rutabaga, turnip, radish, kale, mustard, watercress, brussels sprout, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage Cucurbitaceae Cantaloupe, muskmelon, water- melon, honeydew melon, cassaba melon, squash, pumpkin, cucumber Umbelliferae Carrot, parsnip Liliaceae Onion, shallot, garlic, chives Gramineae Sweet corn Insecticides are often used to control insects that transmit disease-causing organisms, such as cucum- ber beetles, which carry the bacterium that causes wilt disease of vine crops. Insecticides are also used to kill aphids that carry virus diseases of pepper and potatoes. In greenhouse situations, the environment (temperature, relative humidity, light and other factors) can be modified to prevent infections. In the field, knowledge of environmental factors such as soil temperature, drainage, prevailing winds and blowing soil can help the grower avoid certain disease problems. Following proper cultural tech- niques (planting at the proper time, handling plants carefully and using biological controls) further helps prevent disease. 16 Table 5 Yield potential of vegetable crops Vegetable Average yield per acre Vegetable Average yield per acre Asparagus 3,000 lbs Peas 140 bu Beans, green or wax 150 3200 bu Peppers 350 bu Beets, topped 275 bu Potatoes 200 100-lb bags Beets, bunches 1,100 doz Radish 600 bu Broccoli 10,000 lbs Rhubarb 475 bu Cabbage 475 bu Spinach 300 bu Sweet corn 1,000 doz Squash, summer 475 bu Cucumbers, pickling 400 bu Squash, winter 16,000 lbs Cucumber, slicing 300 bu Sweet potato 250 bu Eggplant 500 bu Tomatoes, staked or caged 600 bu Lettuce 1,200 doz bunches Tomatoes, field or flat 400 bu Muskmelon 20,000 lbs Turnip 400 bu Onions 600 50-lb bags Watermelon 20,000 lbs Parsnips 300 bu Table 4. Vegetable crops for farming a few acres. Climate Serious unsuitable insect Labor Equipment or hard and disease Crop Marketing requirements requirement to grow problems Comments Asparagus RS or WS Medium Little No No Perennial Beans, snap RS or WS High Little No No Beets RS Medium Little No No Carrots RS High Sprayer Yes Yes Cabbage RS or WS Medium Sprayer No Yes Cauliflower RS or WS High Sprayer Yes Yes Broccoli RS Medium Sprayer No Yes Perishable Eggplant RS Low Little No Yes Lettuce RS Low Little No No Muskmelon RS or WS Low Little No Yes Onions RS High Sprayer No Yes Peas RS High Little Yes No Peppers RS Medium Little No Yes Potatoes RS or WS High or Digger No Yes mechanize Sprayer Parsnip RS High Little No Yes Little demand Radish RS High Little No Yes Little demand Turnip RS High Little No Yes Spinach RS High Little No Yes Sweet corn RS or WS Low Sprayer No Yes Sweetpotato RS or WS Low Little No No Watermelon RS Low Little No No Tomatoes RS or WS High Sprayer No Yes Summer squash RS Medium Little No Yes Winter squash RS or WS Medium Storage No No RS 4 Retail sales, direct farm or pick-your-own WS 4 Wholesale, supply to other retail outlets 17 Insect problems Bob Bauernfeind Entomologist Waters Hall, K-State Manhattan, KS 66506 Publications The following publications are available through your local county office or from K-State Research & Extension Horticulture, Waters Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506: Commercial Production of Asparagus Commercial Production of Cole Crops (Cabbage, Broccoli, and Cauliflower) Commercial Production of Snap Beans Commercial Production of Sweet Corn Commercial Production of Watermelons Commercial Production of Muskmelons Commercial Production of Tomatoes Commercial Production of Sweet Potatoes Commercial Production of Vegetable Transplants Commercial Production of Greenhouse Cucumbers Commercial Production of Greenhouse Tomatoes Drip Irrigation Plastic Mulches Fertigation Hydroponics Vegetable Investigations - current year 9s results of tests and trials with vegetable crops statewide. Magazines and Periodicals American Vegetable Growers , available subscriptions from Meister Publishing Co., 37841 Euclid Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094. The July issue is a buyer 9s guide, with useful information on equip- ment, products and supplies. The Packer: National Weekly Business Newspaper of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry, available subscrip- tions from 1019 W. 84th Terrace, Lenexa, KS 66214 Books Knotts Handbook for Vegetable Growers by O.A. Lorenz and D.N. Maynard. John Wiley & Co., 605 Third Ave., New York, NY 10016 Producing Vegetable Crops, Interstate Publishing Co., Danville, IL 61832 Vegetable Growing Handbook, AVI Publishing Co., Westport, CT 06880 Pest Control Equipment Vegetable growers generally need two sprayers, one to apply herbicides and the other to apply insecticides and fungicides. If only one is used, clean the sprayer and tank thoroughly between applications. Even with specialized cleaning solu- tions, there is always a risk of contamination and damage to crops. Herbicides may be applied with sprayers capable of producing pressures of 30 to 40 pounds per square inch. Fungicides and insecticides must be thoroughly applied and require a positive displacement pump that can produce pressures of up to 200 pounds per square inch. Although piston pumps are often more expensive than roller pumps of similar size, they can be used for both liquid formulations and wettable powders. All pumps and sprayers should be fitted with mechanical agitators to keep formulations in suspension. Sources of Information on Vegetable Production K-State Research & Extension Personnel 1. Contact an agent at your county research and extension office. 2. Additional help is available from specialists in K-State Research & Extension, Horticulture, Manhattan, Kansas. Vegetable production Charles Marr and culture Horticulturalist Throckmorton, K-State Manhattan, KS 66506 Handling and Karen Gast marketing Horticulture Specialist Throckmorton, K-State Manhattan, KS 66506 Vegetable disease Ned Tisserat, problems Plant Pathologist Throckmorton Hall, K-State Manhattan, KS 66506 Irrigation and Danny Rogers engineering Ag Engineer, Seaton Hall, K-State Manhattan, KS 66506 18 Organizations Kansas Vegetable Growers Association, Charles Marr (Secretary), Division of Horticulture, Throckmorton Hall, K-State, Manhattan, KS 66506. The KVGA sponsors an annual meeting in December for Kansas vegetable growers. Marketing/Product Promotion Marketing Division, Kansas State Board of Agricul- ture, 109 Ninth Street, SW, Topeka, KS 66612 Vegetable Seed Companies Abbott and Cobb, Box 307, Feasterville, PA 19047 Agway Seeds, Rt. 4, Zeager Rd., Elizabethtown, PA 17022 Asgrow Seed Co, Box 48503, Doraville, GA 30340 Burpee Seed Co., 622 Town Road, West Chicago, IL 60185 Burrell Seed Growers, Box 150, 405 N Main, Rocky Ford, CO 81067 Chesmore Seed Co., Box 8368, St. Joseph, MO 64508 Comstock and Ferre, 363 Main St., Wethersfield, CT 06109 Ferry Morse, Box 4938, Modesto, CA 95352 Harris Moran Seed Co., 4511 Willow Rd.-Suite 3, Pleasanton, CA 94588 Harris Seed Co., 60 Saginaw Dr., Rochester, NY 14692 Herbst Bros., 1000 N. Main, Brewster, NY 10509 Hollar Seed Co., Box 106, Rocky Ford, CO 81067 Johnnys Select Seeds, Foss Hill Rd., Albion, ME 05901 Liberty Seed Co., Box 806, New Philadelphia, OH 44663 Midwest Seeds, 10550 Lackman Rd., Lenexa, KS 66219 Musser Seed Co., 301 4th Ave. S., Twin Falls, ID 83303 Park Seed Co., Greenwood, SC 29647 Peto Seed, Box 4206, Saticoy, CA 93003 Reed 9s Seeds, 3334 NYS Rt. 215, Corland, NY 13045 Robson Co., 1 Seneca Circle, P.O. Box 270, Hall, NY 14463 Rogers-NK Seeds, P.O. Box 4188, Boise, ID 83711 Royal Sluis Seed Co., 627 Brunken Ave., Salina, CA 93901 Sakata Seed American, P.O. Box 880, Morgan Hill, CA 95038 Stokes Seeds, Box 548, Buffalo, NY 14240 Sun Seeds, 18460 Sutter Blvd., Morgan Hill, CA 95037 Takii Seed Co., 301 Natividad Rd., Salina, CA 93906 Thompson and Morgan, Box 1308, Jackson, NJ Twilley Seed Co., Box 65, Trevose, PA 19047 Vermont Bean Seed Co., Garden Lane, Bomoseen, VT 05732 Vilmorin Inc., P.O. Box 707, Empire, CA 95319 Willhite Seeds, P.O. Box 23, Poolville, TX 76487 Plants Berry Patch, Rt. 1, Box B, Cleveland, MO 64734 Dixie Plant Farms, P.O. Box 86, Tifton, GA 31793 (912) 382-9390 H.C. Dodson Plant Farms, Inc., Rt. 1, Tifton, GA 31794 (912) 382-3872 Mobley Plant Co., Rt. 8, Box 634, Moultrie, GA 31768 (912) 985-5544 Nourse Farms, 41 River Road, South Deerfield, MA 01373 Piedmont Plant Co., P.O. Box 224, Albany, GA 31703 (912) 435-0766 Plants of Ruskin, Inc., Box 994, Ruskin, FL 33570 (813) 645-2528 Speedling Inc., Box 98, Sun City, FL 33586 Irrigation Equipment American Plant Products, 9200 NW 10th, Oklahoma City, OK 73127 1-800-654-4583 (Drip-trickle) Chesmore Seed Co., Box 8368, St. Joseph, MO 64508 (816) 279-0865 NETAFIM Irrigation, 311 Nautilus Avenue, Austin, TX 78738 (515) 261-3007 Good Earth Gardens, Rt. 1, Box 139, Clearwater, KS 67026 (316) 773-1494 (Drip-trickle) Schumacher Irrigation, P.O. Box 218, Main Street, Platte Center, NE 68653 Smith Irrigation, Box 232, N. Main St., Kensington, KS 66951 (785) 476-3270 Sons Drip Irrigation, 1102 Summit View Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524 (303) 667-1961 Tillage Equipment and Bedders AMTI, 1015A S. San Gabriel Blvd., San Gabriel, CA 91776 (213) 285-7287 Befco, Inc., Box 6036, Rocky Mount, NC 27801 (919) 977-9920 George F. Ackerman Co., Box 157, Curtice, OH 43412 (419) 836-7735 Guy Farm Equip. Co., 15219 Hwy. 14, Woodstock, IL 60098 (815) 338-0600 Howard Rotavator Co., 102 Howard Ave., Muscoda, WI 63573 (608) 739-3106 19 Kennco Mfg., Inc., Box 1158, Ruskin, FL 33570 (813) 645-2591 Larchmont Eng. & Irig., 11 Larchmont Ln., Lexington, MA 02173 (617) 862-2550 Lely Corporation, Box 1060, Wilson, NC 27893 (919) 261-7050 Transplanting Equipment Ellis Manufacturing Co., Box 246, Verona, WI 53593 Holland Transplanter Co., 510 E. 16th St. Holland, MI 49423 Mechanical Transplanter Co., Box 1008B, Holland, MI 49423 Powell Manufacturing Co., P.O. Drawer 707, Bennettsville, SC 29512 Speedling Mfg. Co., Box 283, Sun City, FL 33586 Seeding Equipment Cnockaert Farming Entp., St. Thomas, Rt. 7, Ontario, N5P 3T2 (Webb Precision Seeder) Cole Mfg. Co., Box 9216, Charlotte, NC 28299 (Planet Jr. Seed Drill) Earthway Products, Box 547, Briston, IN 46507 (Garden planter) George F. Ackerman Co., Box 157, 300 Mill St., Curtice, OH 43412 (419) 836-7735 K-C Tool Co., Inc., Rt. 4, Box 0-36, Delphi, IN 46923 (317) 268-2362 Laporte - U.S., 411 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack, NY 07601 (Fluid drill) Triangle M Tractors, Old 41 N., Morocco, IN 47963 (219) 285-2377 (Mahan System planter, Stanhay precision seed drill) Winslow Pacific Co., 6100 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbed, CA 92008 (Centra-Flo Precision Planter) Containers and Packaging Adelman-Fisher Packaging, 207 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106 Aargus Poly Bag Co., 1415 Redeker Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016 (312) 356-3341 Agri-Pack Div., Liberty Carton Co., 870 Louisiana Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55425 (612) 540-9615 Allied Fastener Corp., 133 N. 25th Ave., Melrose Park, IL 60521 (312) 345-0063 Alton Packaging Corp., 401 Alton St., Alton, IL 62002 (618) 466-6552 Anderson Box Co., Park Fletcher Station, Box 41264, Indianapolis, IN 46241 (317) 248-8086 Chesmore Seed Co., Box 8368, St. Joseph, MO 64508 (816) 279-0865 Cordage Packaging, 8112 W. Thomas St., Apt. 3, Justice, IL 60458 (312) 496-3152 International Paper Co., 635 Northwest Ave., Northlake, IL 60164 (312) 562-6900 Package Research Laboratory, 2406 Shooting Park Rd., Peru, IL 61354 (815) 223-7700 Packaging Corp. of America, 1603 Orrington, Evanston, IL 60204 (312) 492-6956 Specialized Sprayer Equipment Ag Tec Crop Sprayer, 4900 Viking Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55435 Agrotec, Inc., Box 215, Salisbury, MD 21801 Broyhill Co., North Market Square, Dakota City, NE 68731 Chemtrol, Box 2343, Kansas City, KS Chesmore Seed Co., Box 8368, St. Joseph, MO 64508 (816) 279-0865 Electro-Spray Mfg., 6500 NW 42nd, Lincoln, NE 68524 (402) 470-2685 Grower Equipment and Supply Co., Rt. 1, Box 7, Grayslake, IL 60030 Mann Orchard Supply, 1210 Normal St., Woodbine, TX 51571 RHS Fertilizer/ Sprayer Systems, Rt. 4, W. Oregon St., Hiawatha, KS 66434 Westheffer, Inc., Box 363, Lawrence, KS 66044 General Supplies In addition to the following sources, you can contact local dealers. The July issue of the American Vegetable Grower is a valuable buyer 9s guide that lists major supply companies and manufacturers. Also check the classified section of AmericanVegetable Grower (periodical), The Great Lakes Vegetable Growers News (periodical) and your local paper for used equipment. ADI Distributors, Inc., Box 643, 430 West Carmel Dr., Carmel, IN 46032 (317) 844-8221 Ball Seed Co., Box 335, West Chicago, IL 60185 (312) 231-3500 P.A. Bonvallet 9s Sons, Inc., Rt. 3, Box 481, St. Anne, IL 60964 (815) 4

less