How We Add A New Seed Lot to Our Potato Planter Mid-Row.

Last month Caleb & Justin welded this U-shaped lip-extension to our new skidsteer-quick-mount hopper.  We've been using this tilt-hopper this Spring to ferry cut Seed Potatoes mid-field to our 'new' 40-year-old Kverneland 4-row Potato planter. 

Because we grow a lot of different varieties of Organic Seed Potatoes, handling around seventy seed lots annually, it's impossible to avoid sometimes needing to re-fill the planter mid-field.   As specialty Organic seed farmers, our Potato varieties tend to be unique.  For several of our varieties - like Prairie Blush, Sarpo Mira, Sarpo Shona, Sarpo Una and Butte Russet - we are likely the only farmers in the USA growing that variety as Certified Seed. 

Here, just last Thursday, Caleb was driving the New Holland skidsteer.  Hunter (standing), and our neighbor Dave, were helping slide a new seed lot into the most distant seed hopper compartment.  After growing Organic Maine Certified Seed Potatoes for 40 years, we have developed a pretty good handle on what the demand will be from our retail customers.  So, we plant accordingly to meet their needs.

Caleb, Peter, Megan & Jim