[AT] Potato planting time again...

[Grant Brians]

Well, yesterday was the start of potato planter operating for the season 
again, after manual planting (dropped by hand, but furrowed and covered by 
tractor) early last week. Getting back on the tractor and pulling the 1950's 
vintage two row planter with virtually no skips, putting in the red, purple 
and yellow potatoes sure felt good. This was especially true because I was 
pleased at how nicely the silty clay/silt loam worked up in almost all parts 
of the field. Also, it was listed with my 1930's/1940's John Deere Killefer 
pull type iron wheel lister pulled by our 1953 Allis-Chalmers HD-5. On the 
other hand we ripped with my 1997 New Holland four wheel drive NH6610. The 
moisture content of the soil and the soil temperature were PERFECT for rapid 
emergence.
    We have had about 50% of normal rainfall for the season. Can you say 
lots of irrigation will be needed this season???? Oh well, farming is always 
a new challenge. But hope springs eternal especially in the spring. So far 
this season we have had the worst frost damage in the winter in well over 30 
years and the hottest March on record. Hmm.
        Grant Brians
        Hollister, California