What implements do I need?

[tcrider33d]

I am going to be starting a small scale fruit farm next year, starting with raspberries and blueberries. I own a New Holland TC33D and a few attachments (box blade, rake, rear blade). What other attachments might I need to get things started? This would be for land prep, and maintenance during the growing season. There seems to be quite a variety of people on this board so I figure somebody must have done this already. Thanks in advance.

 

[_RaT_]

I am going to be starting a small scale fruit farm next year, starting with raspberries and blueberries. I own a New Holland TC33D and a few attachments (box blade, rake, rear blade). What other attachments might I need to get things started? This would be for land prep, and maintenance during the growing season. There seems to be quite a variety of people on this board so I figure somebody must have done this already. Thanks in advance.

I can tell you that I always wanted a tiller to prep and then use it to lightly till in the weeds periodically during the growing season and then finally till till in all the vines.

 

[MrJimi]

I am going to be starting a small scale fruit farm next year, starting with raspberries and blueberries. I own a New Holland TC33D and a few attachments (box blade, rake, rear blade). What other attachments might I need to get things started? This would be for land prep, and maintenance during the growing season. There seems to be quite a variety of people on this board so I figure somebody must have done this already. Thanks in advance.

How large is your shop/ barn/garage?
Jim

 

[EddieWalker]

A post hole digger is one of those tools that is about as handy as they get. I use mine for posts mosty, but it's also great for planting trees and shrubs!!!!

I have a 12 inch auger and would never own onw smaller.

Eddie

 

[Renze]

I dont know anything about berry farms, so i'll talk as far as i'm smart... The local tree growers around here, use a narrow track orchard tractor like a Fendt 270 VA and Claas

The new tree farm, which focuses on the garden shop markets, cultivates inbetween the rows, and hoes the remaining strips by hand.
The local christmas tree farm doesnt cultivate anymore, they just run a mower inbetween the rows ever 2 months (3 times a year) instead of cultivating every 2 weeks. Running a mower and a weedeater every 2 months is cheaper than cultivating and manually hoe the remaining weeds every 2 weeks.

I think in any orchard, you need a good batwing mower, a bit more sturdy than a finishing mower but cutting a bit cleaner than a bush hog, so you can see any fruit that has dropped.

A TC33 will be a fine orchard tractor.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I am going to be starting a small scale fruit farm next year, starting with raspberries and blueberries. I own a New Holland TC33D and a few attachments (box blade, rake, rear blade). What other attachments might I need to get things started? This would be for land prep, and maintenance during the growing season. There seems to be quite a variety of people on this board so I figure somebody must have done this already. Thanks in advance.

A tiller is a must. I'd want a good sprayer, 3-point mounted, PTO pump, and spray "wand". If you have a bumper crop, a front end loader with forks will be the handiest thing you can own. Beyond that, the sky is the limit!

Good luck from a guy who farmed on a small scale for most of his life. Hard work? You bet. Rewarding? DEFINATELY! Profitable? Well, don't quit your day job just yet.

(Best place on this or ANY planet to raise kids!)

 

[RalphVa]

You'll need a shredder to chop up those raspberry stalks as well as other miscellaneous prunings. I've a MacKissic.

A carryall is also useful, for carrying mulch and other stuff too big for the FEL. Here's a pic of mine. The bottom is a pallet bolted to one arm of the carryall, then 1 bys on the vertical arm then stanchions for 2 bys to hold up the removable sides. The back is hinged about half way up to make loading and unloading of it easier.

The "Manage attachments" isn't working. No pic.

 

[bloody_peasant]

I am going to be starting a small scale fruit farm next year, starting with raspberries and blueberries. I own a New Holland TC33D and a few attachments (box blade, rake, rear blade). What other attachments might I need to get things started? This would be for land prep, and maintenance during the growing season. There seems to be quite a variety of people on this board so I figure somebody must have done this already. Thanks in advance.

tcrider, I'm in the planning stages to do the exact same thing except with blackberries instead of raspberries. How many acres are you planning on working?

Here are some good online resources I have found:
http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/agrs97.pdf a good guide for the mid atlantic states. Should be pretty applicable for your area as well.

http://www.cas.psu.edu/GeneralPublic/FruitResources.html a list of online resources

http://www.attra.org/ for good info on sustainable practices including organic growing

http://www.attra.org/organic.html#fruits here is their list of fruit related pubs.

And of course your local extension agent is a great resource.

I'm planning on a year of green manure crops and soil prepration starting next spring before I plant. I'm still debating between a tiller or a plow/disk combo for the initial soil work. I then plan on keeping sod inbetween the rows while mulching the rows so a bush hog will be a must for me and I think adding a FEL will be really handy for all that mulch later on.

Also I'm thinking an auger will be handy when it comes time to install the trellis posts, although I might just rent one since I won't have a fulltime use for it.

Right now I've got a small massey fergurson 1010 with a bush hog, mid mount mower and rear blade so I've got some future implement expenses in my future

We should compare notes on our plans and see if we can help each other out.

 

[bloody_peasant]

You'll need a shredder to chop up those raspberry stalks as well as other miscellaneous prunings. I've a MacKissic.

A carryall is also useful, for carrying mulch and other stuff too big for the FEL. Here's a pic of mine. The bottom is a pallet bolted to one arm of the carryall, then 1 bys on the vertical arm then stanchions for 2 bys to hold up the removable sides. The back is hinged about half way up to make loading and unloading of it easier.

The "Manage attachments" isn't working. No pic.

Hmm that's a good point I haven't thought about getting rid of the canes yet LOL. However if you go this route you will want to do it somewhere away from the crop to reduce the risk of disease. If you chipped them, then composted them adequately they could be safely added back as compost later on or you could use them as a mulch somewhere away from the crop (but not around any tomato family plants!)

 

[tcrider33d]

Thanks for your suggestions. I appreciate any feedback that is shared. I am starting with about 1 acre of plantings. I think I need about a year to get the soil ammeded so I have the proper PH level for blueberries. Anyone have any suggestions on how to do that? I do plan on sodding between the rows because I think it makes it easier to take care of, and it is more customer friendly. I am pretty excited about getting started, but I know its going to be a ton of work, and stress.