Marijuana Harvester???

[shane]

Recent headlines such as "Mexican Authorities Seize 105 Tons of Marijuana" and CA trying legalize marijuana have me thinking. Are there such implements or machines made to harvest the "cash" crop? If it became legal even in just some states, Would JD and others start making balers?

By the way, I have zero personal interest in such. Just random wanderings.

 

[johnrex62]

I am certain that should legalization occur and the crop retains sufficient marketability to grow commercially in the US that equipment makers will quickly supply any specialized hardware desired. The big problem is that legalization aims to reduce the profit margin by removing barriers to market and increasing supply.

However, even if unit price remains relatively high, it is difficult for commercial growers in industrialized countries to afford to heavy equipment to do what low paid laborers will do in third world countries. The investment just doesn't justify the effort if you can buy it cheaper from slave labor farms.

 

[blueriver]

I'm all set ... cutter, rake, baler ... how much ya think a round bale of "grass" is worth??

 

[MicroPilot]

I'm all set ... cutter, rake, baler ... how much ya think a round bale of "grass" is worth??

$20.00

 

[TripleR]

From what I have seen, it would be really hard to design such equipment for a high quality product, but one should never underestimate the ingenuity of modern agriculture.

 

[jinman]

Do you suppose the day laborers would pay you to come pick marijuana? You'd probably find tons of candy bar and snack wrappers in your fields.:laughing:

 

[jlsmith]

Heres how they are hauling it now.:laughing:

 

[Dr_Zinj]

As I understand it, just a regular cutter bar and a round baler should work for harvesting hemp for commercial fiber. Too bad the knee-jerk government folks won't let farmers raise it since it's a good commerical crop, grows even on poor farmland, and should be competitive even against cheap foreign production.

As for the drug trade, marijuana almost has to be hand picked as the buds and new leaves are the ones with the most THC in them. Sure, you can use the whole plant, but then it's only about as effective as smoking a string of baling twine.

 

[blueriver]

Heres how they are hauling it now.:laughing:

Oh ... that will make for some happy livestock!! Wonder how a loaded goat reacts!!

 

[jlsmith]

Yea but after you feed your goats that they would realy eat everything in sight.:laughing::laughing: I came across a 30 acer field around the Houston area while installing fiber optics a few years back. (my guys actuly found it) when i got there i told them to hurry up and get the cable up and get out of there. Just as we finished 5 cop cars pulled up and asked what we were doing there and told us that "we didnt see anything and should leave and not come back". They escorted us straight to the gate and watched us leave. Guess we found their stass lol:laughing::laughing: