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- Beating Beetles Better: Mechanically Controlling Colorado Potato Beetle
Controlling Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) organically can be challenging as the bugs have developed resistance to the many pesticide options available on the market. Lack of control has persuaded some farms to stop growing potatoes altogether. This bug has been a challenge for centuries. As seen in the Prince Edward Island (PEI) historical museum, this …Continue reading “Beating Beetles Better: Mechanically Controlling Colorado Potato Beetle”
- A Guide to Preparing High Tunnels for Extreme Weather
Compiled from VVBGA farmer input by Becky Maden, Chris Callahan, Vern Grubinger, and Andy Chamberlin. Introduction High tunnels and greenhouses provide protection for crops, extend the growing season, and improve yield and quality. However, climate change brings both a higher frequency and increased intensity of extreme weather events. It is important to think about how …Continue reading “A Guide to Preparing High Tunnels for Extreme Weather”
- Shipping Container Delivers the Goods for Ascutney Harvest
Lauren Mucha and Oliver Owen own and operate Ascutney Harvest in Ascutney, Vermont. Their half-acre market garden consists mostly of mixed vegetables and herbs which require washing and packing before heading off to two different farmers markets and a few wholesale vendors. They are fairly new to this land, and needed to make a quick …Continue reading “Shipping Container Delivers the Goods for Ascutney Harvest”
- Planning Tames the Postharvest Beast at Wild Work Farm
Lissa Goldstein runs the farming operation at Wild Work Farm in Keene Valley, New York nestled in the Adirondack Mountains. Wild Work is a diversified vegetable farm with some blueberries and fruit trees. When Lissa heard we were building out examples of wash/pack areas she reached out to share details of her shipping container project, …Continue reading “Planning Tames the Postharvest Beast at Wild Work Farm”
- Reinventing the Wheel: Easing Movement and Adding Flexibility
Could wheels help you out in your pack shed? When do they make sense and when don’t they? Below are examples illustrating how growers are using wheels in different ways to ease the movement of product out of the field and around the wash/pack. Why Scale, Diversity, Markets and Bins Matter? At the heart of …Continue reading “Reinventing the Wheel: Easing Movement and Adding Flexibility”
- Farmer’s Favorites: The AZS Rinse Conveyor
Vegetable growers are seeking tools to improve flexibility and efficiency in the packshed. The AZS Rinse Conveyor is becoming a popular piece of equipment to meet the need to rinse off a variety of crops. Table of Contents OverviewCommon Uses Cost User Reviews Use as a Bin Washer Contact information This machine is designed and …Continue reading “Farmer’s Favorites: The AZS Rinse Conveyor”
- Farmer’s Favorite: Univerco Barrel Washer
Josh Carter is the manager of the market garden at Shelburne Farms. They grow three acres of certified organic fruit, vegetables and flowers while supporting an educational mission. They wanted to eliminate a bottleneck in their postharvest systems of hand washing roots with hoses and power washers, turning them around by hand or in crates. …Continue reading “Farmer’s Favorite: Univerco Barrel Washer”
- Farmer’s Favorites: Shipping Containers and Their Use on Vegetable Farms
Farming requires lots of space. Space to grow vegetables, conditioned space to store harvested produce, and a secure space to house tools out of the weather. Barns and tool sheds can be expensive, and building takes time. If you’re farming on rented land, it’s even harder to justify the investment in a permanent building. Shipping …Continue reading “Farmer’s Favorites: Shipping Containers and Their Use on Vegetable Farms”
- Expanding Infrastructure and Maximizing its Potential at Jericho Settlers Farm
Mark Fasching and Christa Alexander run Jericho Settlers Farm where they grow “good food year round” in Jericho, Vermont. Like many, they started out with a garden and roadside stand and continually expanded to growing over 30 acres of vegetables with 18 greenhouses. As their business expanded over the years, so did their infrastructure needs. …Continue reading “Expanding Infrastructure and Maximizing its Potential at Jericho Settlers Farm”
- Natural Light in the Packshed at High Meadows Farm
Howard Prussack of High Meadows Farm in Westminster West, Vermont grows 7 acres of vegetables and wanted to improve his vegetable washing space. He imagined a bright and warm space instead of the dark and cool dairy barn they were working out of. With a goal of creating a fun and happy place to work, …Continue reading “Natural Light in the Packshed at High Meadows Farm”
- A Three-Season Structure Keeps the Momentum at Flywheel Farm
Ansel Ploog and Justin Cote run Flywheel Farm in Woodbury, Vermont. They wholesale 2 acres of organic vegetables to local co-op stores and through a regional distributor. When starting their farm in 2012, they understood they needed a spot to wash and pack their produce, undercover and off the ground. They chose to go with …Continue reading “A Three-Season Structure Keeps the Momentum at Flywheel Farm”
- Top 5: Working with Contractors on a Postharvest Project
Key Takeaways Introduction Construction projects are both exciting and daunting. There’s great joy in dreaming about a new space or a renovated work area, but there can be a long windy path full of dread and stress between what you have now and what you hope to have in the future. Working with a contractor …Continue reading “Top 5: Working with Contractors on a Postharvest Project”
- Managing Humidity and Condensation in Coolers
Many winter storage crops love high humidity and low temperatures. Others like low humidity and warmer temperatures. It can be a real challenge to achieve the right balance. As we make air cooler, it holds less water vapor so the difference between high humidity and condensation (rain) becomes less and less. So, it is not …Continue reading “Managing Humidity and Condensation in Coolers”
- Duijndam Machines – Used Equipment from Europe
Way back in 2019, we visited Duijndam Machines in The Netherlands. We had heard from growers in the northeast about this fantastical place where used equipment from European growers goes, not to die, but to be reborn. We had to see it for ourselves. And to bring home some video of our tour. The video …Continue reading “Duijndam Machines – Used Equipment from Europe”
- Easy Breezy Three Season Packshed at Stout Oak Farm
Kate Donald began farming at Stout Oak Farm in Brentwood, NH in 2012. As the farm grew she quickly realized they could only handle one, or maybe two infrastructure projects at a time. Much of these improvements went into production practices, and greenhouses that clearly penciled out to be wise investments in the farm. Now, …Continue reading “Easy Breezy Three Season Packshed at Stout Oak Farm “
- New Metal Building from Scratch at Hall Brook Farm
Pheonix and Megan O’Brien of Hall Brook Farm purchased their farm in Thorndike, Maine in 2016, and are growing over 20 acres of vegetables with over ⅓ acre in high tunnels. They have experienced rapid growth of the business in the last few years. In 2020 they had gross sales over $250,000 which expanded in …Continue reading “New Metal Building from Scratch at Hall Brook Farm”
- The Next Chapter: Renovating a Barn to Sustain Indian Line Farm
Elizabeth Keen and her husband Al have been farming at Indian Line Farm in Great Barrington, MA for over 25 years. After taking a sabbatical in 2016, they had the realization that after 10-15 years “just running the farm” it was time that some things needed to change to make the farm more sustainable in …Continue reading “The Next Chapter: Renovating a Barn to Sustain Indian Line Farm “
- Detergents for Farm Food Contact Surfaces
Key Points Related posts: Cleaning Tools & Supplies for Produce Farms Farmer’s Favorites: Cleaning Tools “Dry Cleaning” on Produce Farms: Alternatives to Using Water & Detergents Repairing Cracks and Pitting in Concrete Floors Planning an Efficient and Safe Wash/Pack Area - “Dry Cleaning” on Produce Farms: Alternatives to Using Water & Detergents
Key points: Related posts: Sharpening the Edges: Wash/Pack Efficiencies in a New Farm Building at Small Axe Farm Washing Machine Greens Spinners: Shopping Advice Backflow Prevention for Produce Farms Farmer’s Favorites: Cleaning Tools Planning an Efficient and Safe Wash/Pack Area - Farmer’s Favorites: Cleaning Tools
As part of our SCRUB Project, we have been demonstrating a wide range of Cleaning Tools for Produce Farms, on-farm with growers. This has opened up the question, “Which one(s) should I buy for this specific cleaning task?” Based on our experience and feedback from partner farms, here are some of our favorites that we’d … - Exclusion Netting for Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)
If you grow berry crops you’ve most likely heard of spotted wing drosophila (SWD, Drosophila suzukii). This invasive pest has caused significant crop losses in the region since at least 2011. While there are chemical pesticides with varied efficacy, one practice that we’ve focused on is physical exclusion with netting. Pioneered in the region by …Continue reading “Exclusion Netting for Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)”
- Patient Pursuit of Packshed Happiness at Ananda Gardens
Patrick Sullivan and Melisa Oliva have been farming for 5 years at Ananda Gardens, a CSA Farm in Middlesex, Vermont. They have been working to grow their farm and improve their wash-pack area as they renovated the 1950s dairy barn that stood on the property. They have 150 CSA members between the fall and spring …Continue reading “Patient Pursuit of Packshed Happiness at Ananda Gardens”
- Washing Machine/Greens Spinner Conversion Guide
Greens spinners play a vital role making greens production profitable for the small farm. Some farms find themselves stuck in the middle, where inexpensive, small-scale spinners cause a bottleneck, but it is hard to justify a more expensive industrial, stainless steel, restaurant-style machine. If you are just getting started, we have a full overview of …Continue reading “Washing Machine/Greens Spinner Conversion Guide”
- Starting-up Heaters without Getting Burned – Greenhouse and High Tunnel Heater Safety Checks
As the days grow longer and warmer, we can’t help turning our attention to germination chambers, propagation houses, greenhouses, and high tunnels. It is an exciting time of year, but also a time to take some extra care with heating appliances. Before firing up the heaters in your heated growing spaces, take the time to … - Preventing Freezing in Produce Coolers
Occasionally, during longer cold snaps, we receive a lot of questions about storage crops freezing in coolers. This post summarizes some ideas for preventing freezing. Summary Seal up the Cooler Box The main culprit in freezing is most likely infiltration of cold, outside air into the cooler. If you’re seeing freezing in one area, there … - Root Washers for Produce Farms
There are many ways to wash root crops on produce farms. This guide covers a range of options from smaller farms washing by hand to larger operations with fully automated wash lines. Watch the Webinar Root Washing Systems with Hans Estrin | VVBGA Webinar Series Spray tables Spray tables are commonly used to rinse bunched … - Warm Rooms for Storage Crops & Freeze Protection for Coolers
Some crops like winter squash and sweet potatoes are ideally kept in “warm” rooms for long-term storage. It is also helpful to have some freeze protection even in cold storage rooms during the winter months when outside temperatures drop below the storage temperature. The information below should help accomplish both of these needs simply and …Continue reading “Warm Rooms for Storage Crops & Freeze Protection for Coolers”
- Building a Better Greens Bubbler
Introduction Leafy greens are a popular crop among consumers seeking a healthy and nutritious diet year-round. As a crop that is grown close to the ground in a variety of systems, often it is important to remove soil from the leaves before marketing. A relatively high volume dunk tank with several, typically lower volume, follow-on … - Repairing Cracks and Pitting in Concrete Floors
A video guide on this topic is available here. A printable PDF version of this guide is available here. Introduction Concrete slab floors, ramps, steps, and loading docks make it easier to move produce and produce handling equipment using wheels. The smooth surfaces also allow for easier clean up and wash down at the end …Continue reading “Repairing Cracks and Pitting in Concrete Floors”
- Cleaning Tools & Supplies for Produce Farms
Table of Contents Brushes BroomsScrapersSqueegeesMops, Sponges & ScrubbersBuckets & CaddiesAccompanying ToolsLabelingColor CodingPurchase LocationsVideo OverviewA PDF of this resources is available here. Farms of various sizes all have tools and equipment that need to be cleaned and sanitized. This equipment varies in how well it has been designed to be cleaned; its level of hygienic design. …Continue reading “Cleaning Tools & Supplies for Produce Farms”
- Sharpening the Edges: Wash/Pack Efficiencies in a New Farm Building at Small Axe Farm
A video version of this case study is available here and a printable PDF is available here. Evan Perkins & Heidi Choate own and operate Small Axe Farm in Barnet, Vermont. Together, they have been farming mixed vegetables for over 20 years and have been running Small Axe Farm since 2008. About Small Axe Farm … - Drying and Curing Herbs and Flowers (Hops, Hemp, and Everything Else!)
Many farms are exploring market diversification and season extension by drying or “curing” herbs and flowers. Whether the crop is culinary herbs (e.g. sage, rosemary, thyme), traditional herbal medicines, decorative flowers, hops for brewing, or CBD hemp the basic approach is the same. Drying boils down to removing water from plant matter by evaporating it …Continue reading “Drying and Curing Herbs and Flowers (Hops, Hemp, and Everything Else!)”
- AZS Rinse Conveyor User Guide
The AZS Rinse conveyor is a versatile machine as explained in Innovation in Small Scale Vegetable Washing Equipment which goes through its features and benefits. Now you’ve made the decision to purchase one, or already have one on your farm you don’t know where to start. Little paperwork comes with the machine so we’ve put … - Safely Dispensing Sanitizers
Sanitizers used for treating post-harvest agricultural water on produce farms often come in 2.5, 5, or 10 gallon totes. These totes can be cumbersome to pour from resulting in splashing and spilling. These chemicals are also shipped in concentrations that can cause injury. Here are some simple ways of increasing the safety and accuracy of … - Shedding Some Light in the Shed – Lighting for Indoor Work on the Farm
As the days shorten and we turn the clocks back, it may be a great time to think about installing or improving lights in some of our indoor spaces. Maybe you could use a bit more light to see the drill size marking in the workshop. Or, perhaps, you’d like to be able to sort …Continue reading “Shedding Some Light in the Shed – Lighting for Indoor Work on the Farm”
- Giving a Dairy Barn New Life at New Leaf Organics
A video version of this case study is available here and a printable PDF is available here. Jill Kopel owns and operates New Leaf Organics in Bristol, Vermont and has over 19 years of farming experience. After many years of growing crops and growing the business she made the decision to invest significantly in her …Continue reading “Giving a Dairy Barn New Life at New Leaf Organics”
- Project Planning for Postharvest Efficiency, Profitability & Food Safety (Free 8-Part Packshed Webinar)
The UVM Extension Produce Safety Team has developed a video series focused on postharvest upgrades for your farm. Whether your project is organizing a relatively simple outside wash station or building a full packshed from scratch, we share the principles and practice with examples to help you make the most of it. An outline of … - The Ag Engineering Podcast
Where we talk tools, tips and techniques to improve the sustainability of your farm Andy was awarded a 2019 Northeast SARE Grant to produce The Ag Engineering Podcast. In this podcast, we share tools, tips and techniques to improve sustainability on your farm. It was launched in December 2019. This podcast features short-format, easy to … - Safe and Efficient Drying and Curing of CBD Hemp
UVM Extension Agricultural Engineering, Resource Innovation Institute, Efficiency Vermont, and VT Division of Fire Safety recently teamed up to provide a webinar as part of the UVM Extension NW Crops and Soils Team Hemp and UVM Extension New Farmer Project series. This session focused on safely and efficiently drying and curing hemp to support customer …Continue reading “Safe and Efficient Drying and Curing of CBD Hemp”
- A Visit to Market Farm Implement
While in Pennsylvania for a conference, I made a side trip to Market Farm Implement in the south western part of the state. They are a popular manufacturer, importer and dealer for small scale vegetable crop machinery. Market Farm Implement have ads in publications like Vegetable Growers but their online presence is limited which poses … - Washing Machine Greens Spinners: Cleaning Tips
Washing machine greens spinners are often used for drying greens on small farms. They do require attention to cleaning and maintenance in order to keep them in sanitary working condition. This blog post highlights some tips to cleaning your greens spinner and provides links to six videos that focus on how to best clean these …Continue reading “Washing Machine Greens Spinners: Cleaning Tips”
- Necessity is the Mother of Invention: Across The Fence TV Segment on DIY Handwashing Stations
Across The Fence recently featured one of the latest projects we’ve been working on: “Improving Handwashing Stations“. This project focuses on a hands-free, mobile handwashing station for use on farms, at farmers’ markets, or in other public spaces. This work was also highlighted in the Bennington Banner on June 9, 2020. Related posts: Improving Handwashing … - Improving Handwashing Stations
A downloadable PDF of this blog post and assembly guide is available here. A video overview of a DIY Handwashing Station can be seen here. Handwashing has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of transmission of human pathogens between people. But, sometimes we are inconveniently far from … - Spray Tables for Produce Farms
If we apply the principles of hygienic design to a spray table it becomes clear that we should think about the cleanability of the materials and the assembly while also thinking about how the materials will hold up over time with repeated use. - Drains for Produce Farms
This guide provides background on planning for drains and drainage from produce wash and pack areas. Direct drains, floor and spot drains, and trench and gutter drains are discussed. A construction drawing for a trench drain is also provided. Related posts: Summer Twilight Series – Event Schedule Great Lakes EXPO Highlight Video Planning an Efficient … - Risks Posed by Cats on Produce FarmsAuthored by Phil Tocco, Michigan State University & Chris Callahan, University of Vermont View or download a PDF of this factsheet here. Many small farmers rely on cats to control rodents on farms. These “working animals” seem like a good way to limit crop loss and reduce other produce safety risks from rodents. Unfortunately, cats …
- A Guide to Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting for Produce Farms
This is a guide to understanding the differences between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. It is focused on produce farms and is motivated by current concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Related posts: Planning an Efficient and Safe Wash/Pack Area Considerations for Fruit and Vegetable Growers Related to Coronavirus & COVID-19 Last Resort Farm Not Stalled by …Continue reading “A Guide to Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting for Produce Farms”
- Considerations for Fruit and Vegetable Growers Related to Coronavirus & COVID-19Updated 3/18/2020 The current COVID-19 pandemic is a common concern and many are wondering what they can and should do. The information here is intended to help guide the fruit and vegetable farming community. If you have concerns or additional suggestions please contact the UVM Extension Produce Safety Team (producesafety@uvm.edu / (802) 257-7967) or the …
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- Planning an Efficient and Safe Wash/Pack Area
By Chris Callahan, Hans Estrin, and Andy Chamberlin Reading not your thing? We have a free, 8-Part webinar video series that goes into depth on all of the following topics discussed below. Project Planning for Postharvest Efficiency, Profitability & Food Safety Summary Efficiency and food safety are integral parts of running a profitable and viable …Continue reading “Planning an Efficient and Safe Wash/Pack Area”
- Across The Fence: Mean Green(s) Washing Machine (TV Segment on Greens Spinners)
UVM Extension’s own television program Across The Fence did a segment on a project we’ve been working on related to greens spinners. You can watch the video clip here explaining why small farms are making use of washing machines as greens spinners and what we are doing to help make them more feasible. Related posts: …Continue reading “Across The Fence: Mean Green(s) Washing Machine (TV Segment on Greens Spinners)”
- Washing Machine Greens Spinners: Shopping Advice
This blog post is for those using or considering a converted washing machine as greens spinner. Background For background information on several different types of greens spinners and general thoughts on using washing machine conversions see this blog post. If you’ve purchased a machine and are ready to convert it, see our Washing Machine/Greens Spinner …Continue reading “Washing Machine Greens Spinners: Shopping Advice”
- Ag Engineering Downloadable PDF Resources
All of our resources are available here on this blog. However, if you are looking for a printed handout, here is a list. These are all of the PDF documents that we share during workshops, meetings, and presentations. All links will open the PDF in a new tab. You may also want to check out …Continue reading “Ag Engineering Downloadable PDF Resources”
- Washing Machine Greens Spinner WorkshopHave a washing machine that you want to convert into a greens spinner? Have you already done the conversion, but want to improve it? Join us for one of two hands-on, intensive workshops this fall focused on getting the job done and doing it well. Related posts: Greens Spinners for Farm Use The BarnHouse: Optimized …
- Greens Washline from China
With innovative tools becoming more available for salad greens production from field prep through harvest, mixed greens are becoming more attractive for farmers. Postharvest handling and wash/pack still causes a bottleneck for many farms. Today we share some knowledge on a piece of equipment recently adopted at Jericho Settlers Farm in Jericho, VT. This Greens … - Ventilation in Greenhouses and High TunnelsI had the pleasure of facilitating a workshop at the 2019 NOFA-MA Summer Conference about Ventilation in Greenhouses and High Tunnels. It provided an opportunity to collect information from various sources, ground truth observations with growers, and to revisit some fundamentals. The big takeaway, for me, is that there are many, many ways to ventilate …
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- Wheels Keep Things Rolling at Root 5 Farm
A PDF of this case study is available for download here. Danielle Allen and Ben Dana own and operate Root 5 Farm in Fairlee, Vermont. This organic vegetable farm on the Connecticut River provides over 200 CSA members, farmers market, restaurant, and wholesale customers with local, healthy food. Over 100 different varieties of crops are …Continue reading “Wheels Keep Things Rolling at Root 5 Farm”
- All About Alliums – Twilight Meeting Video Recording
Last summer we had a twilight meeting all about Alliums at High Meadows Farm on July 12th, 2018. During this meeting, farmers joined Howard Prussack of High Meadows Farm, University of Vermont Agricultural Engineer Chris Callahan and Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Specialist Crystal Stewart for a field walk discussing garlic and onion production and postharvest …Continue reading “All About Alliums – Twilight Meeting Video Recording”
- Forced Air Cooling: Field Trial ResultsLast summer we performed a series of precooling trials using small-scale forced air coolers to cool eggplant, watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, zucchini, and roasting peppers. The forced air cooling was done in parallel with standard room cooling and was shown to result in cooling rates ranging from 1.2 to 2.2 times faster than room cooling. This …
- Hygienic and Sanitary Design for Produce Farms
Hygienic design intentionally creates or improves spaces and equipment so they can be cleaned and sanitized as appropriate. This post, associated PDF guide and checklist (PDF and Excel, instructions) are tools we developed to help apply hygienic and sanitary design practice on produce farms. We also collaborated on a video introduction to hygienic design with …Continue reading “Hygienic and Sanitary Design for Produce Farms”
- Backflow Prevention for Produce FarmsThe intentional, directional, and reliable flow of water is important to ensure agricultural water is “safe and of adequate sanitary quality”. This post provides information on the importance of backflow prevention and some common practices that help mitigate the risk of backflow. You can also view presentation slides and a recorded webinar on this topic …
- Last Resort Farm Not Stalled by Dairy Barn Conversion
A PDF of this case study is available for download here. Silas Doyle-Burr is managing Last Resort Farm in Monkton, VT, taking over the operations from his parents on the farm he grew up at. The farm was purchased in 1987 and transitioned from dairy farming to vegetable production in 1993. They now grow 26 …Continue reading “Last Resort Farm Not Stalled by Dairy Barn Conversion”
- Summer Twilight Series – Event ScheduleJoin us on our series of 2019 On-Farm Workshop for Commercial Vegetable and Berry Growers! Attendance at these events is free for members of the Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Association. The cost is $10 per-person for non-members, payable on-site. Refreshments will be served. Membership in the VVBGA costs $55 per farm, per calendar year. …
- Staying Ahead in the Packshed: Postharvest Topics, Sources of Information, and Ideas from GrowersLast Fall we surveyed growers in the region about postharvest topics in preparation for a USDA NE SARE proposal. That proposal has been funded! Growers who responded assigned a high level of importance to aggregated postharvest knowledge (4.5/5.0, n=56) while indicating poor availability of the information (3.3/5.0, n=57). Several ideas for research topics were provided …
- Getting Started with a Growth Chamber
We’ve received a number of inquiries about building germination chambers so we have decided to provide some consolidated resources and guidance. An important first step is to consider what the purpose of the chamber actually is. There are a number of horticultural practices that benefit from dedicated, environmentally controlled spaces. These include germination, starting, propagation/transplanting, … - Produce Safety for Consumers (Radio PSA)I recently had the opportunity to share a public service announcement for WDEV Radio and thought I’d take the three minutes to discuss what a consumer needs to know about Food Safety. The written transcription is below, or your can choose to listen to the segment yourself! Related posts: Greens Spinners for Farm Use FSMA …
- FSMA PSA Training – Middlebury, VT – 3/19UVM Extension in partnership with the VT Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is hosting a FSMA Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training in Middlebury on March 19, 2019. More information is available at https://www.regonline.com/producesafetyalliancemiddlebury and below. Related posts: Introducing UVM Extension’s New Ag Engineering Technician! Upcoming Produce Safety Training (November 6-7, 2017) Rats (and other …
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- Launching of The Ag Engineering Podcast?!
Hello friends and farmers! I am excited to share a new idea and am looking for your feedback and support! Today, I am releasing Episode 0 of the UVM Extension Ag Engineering Podcast! This is a short form audio segment on tools, tips, and techniques to improve the sustainability of your farm. This is a …Continue reading “Launching of The Ag Engineering Podcast?!”
- Vegetable Wash Sinks, Tanks, Tubs and Basins: Upgrades for Efficiency and Ergonomics
A pdf of this blog post can be downloaded here. Produce wash sinks and tanks on vegetable farms consist of several different styles, designs, sizes, and uses. The needs vary from farm to farm but some features to consider are highlighted here. Some common basins for washing vegetables could include the following. Commonly Used as … - Last Resort Farm: Post Harvest Case Study (Video Series)Silas Doyle-Burr is managing Last Resort Farm in Monkton, VT, taking over the operations from his parents on the farm he grew up at. The farm was purchased in 1987, and transitioned from dairy farming to vegetable production in 1993, and now grow 26 different crops split just about evenly retail vs. wholesale. The following …
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- Cooler Construction Options – Walls and Panels
There are many options when it comes to constructing a walk-in cooler, cold room, or warm room for on-farm storage. The main goals for construction of any temperature and humidity controlled space are: The resources below provide an overview of common cooler wall construction options. Related posts: Spring Cleaning – Farm Cooler Checklist Great Lakes …Continue reading “Cooler Construction Options – Walls and Panels”
- Mighty Clean and Comfortable (Video Series)Lisa MacDougall has led Mighty Food Farm through start-up, relocation from rented land to owned land, and now through the construction of a brand-new 60 ft x 90 ft wash and pack shed. She’s done this all while producing a diverse mix of organic vegetables, tree fruit and berries on fourteen acres, now, in Shaftsbury. …
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- The BarnHouse: Optimized for Modern Day Vegetable Farming at Footprint Farm
Download the PDF Fact Sheet of this Post Harvest Case Study Here! Taylor and Jake Mendel own and operate Footprint Farm in Starksboro, VT. Starting their own farm in 2013, they now produce pretty much everything except storage potatoes and storage squash with 66 different kinds of vegetables grown in both fields and high-tunnels. About …Continue reading “The BarnHouse: Optimized for Modern Day Vegetable Farming at Footprint Farm”
- Podcasts For Agricultural Education and InsightsPodcasts! A radio talk show that you can listen to when you want to. When you subscribe to them, they automatically downloaded to your phone and go with you in the car or to the field. Podcasts are a great way to keep your mind busy while doing daily tasks like making breakfast, stacking wood, …
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- Expanding Your Tunnel Vision, Manchester NHAndy ventured down to the high tunnel conference hosted in Manchester, NH on December 4th to expand his knowledge on protected culture. This program was co-sponsored by the Universities of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont and the Maine Organic Farmers’ and Gardeners’ Association, and was supported by Northeast SARE project LNE 15-343. His notes follow. …
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- Briquetting a Better, Burnable Cow PattyChris recently served as a technical advisor to Rose Marie Belforti on her recent NE-SARE funded project to demonstrate a hydraulic press used to make fuel briquettes from manure and bedding. The machine, dubbed the “Biomass Beast” by Rose, was built for $5,766 and Rose demonstrated production of briquettes at a rate of 90 dry …
- Footprint Farm: Post Harvest Case Study – Video SeriesLooking to upgrade your wash-pack space? Check out this interview with Taylor Hutchison from Footprint Farm talking about their motivations for building a new barn (house!) and including all the features they implemented to make it food safe and efficient. Stay tuned for a written case study, and a downloadable pdf coming soon. The playlist …
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- Hanging Hoses
Having water when and where you need it can make a big difference in vegetable wash station efficiency. Planning for multiple “drops” or spigots around the wash area can make it more convenient to access water where it is needed. Investing in a hose hanger, hose reel or a trolley can help keep the hose … - Bins, Buckets, Baskets & Totes
So you’re starting to farm, or scaling up your production. You hear talk about produce safety and cleanability. You are checking out what other farms are doing and are looking for harvest crates and storage bins. You probably noticed lots of people use many different things. Some use 5-gallon pails, milk crates, muck buckets, some … - Mighty Clean and Comfortable – A New Wash and Pack Shed at Mighty Food Farm
Download this Postharvest Case Study as a PDF Here! Lisa MacDougall has led Mighty Food Farm through start-up, relocation from rented land to owned land, and now through the construction of a brand-new 60 ft x 90 ft wash and pack shed. She’s done this all while producing a diverse mix of organic vegetables, tree …Continue reading “Mighty Clean and Comfortable – A New Wash and Pack Shed at Mighty Food Farm”
- Lessons in Ergonomics from My GrandmotherI recently had the opportunity to record a public service announcement (PSA) for WDEV. This is part of a series of PSA’s the UVM Extension colleagues contribute to. I decided to focus on ergonomics and shared some lessons from my grandmother and other sources. Click below to listen. The text and additional resources are available …
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- A Vegetable Farming “Must Have”: Harvest ToteEvery vegetable farm must have a harvest tote, and I don’t mean a basket for picking into. What I’m referring to is a box with the daily essentials in it so you’re never without, and don’t have to go back to the barn. This “Just-In-Time” kit is taken right out of the Lean principles and …
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- Postharvest Resource SurveyWe are seeking input regarding a research and education project with the goal of consolidating postharvest information in a single set of resources. Our proposed project aims to consolidate existing knowledge, best practices, and new developments in postharvest equipment, infrastructure, and buildings into a web-based handbook, workshop curriculum / educational materials and recorded videos. Click …
- Construction Details for a Counter-top Forced Air CoolerTo learn more about forced air cooling visit go.uvm.edu/forcedaircooling To download the PDF version of this plan click here! Farms that need to cool smaller volumes of produce can also benefit from forced air cooling. Whether cooling stacked pallets, pallet bins or individual cartons, the same principals apply. A smaller pallet cooler was noted on …
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- Construction Details for a Pallet Forced Air CoolerTo learn more about forced air cooling visit go.uvm.edu/forcedaircooling To download the PDF version of this guide click here! Framing: 2”x12” lumber to make a 43” wide x 74” tall x 11-1/4” deep plenum for suction air distribution. Plenum Panel: 3/8” CDX Plywood with an 11-1/4” circle cut out for the blower suction inlet. Position …
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- Forced Air Cooling On The FarmA downloadable/printable pdf of this article is available here. Introduction The preservation of quality in fresh market and storage crops on small and medium-sized farms in the Northeast depends on the rapid reduction of pulp temperature and maintenance of relatively low temperatures to slow metabolic respiration. There is strong foundational work showing that rapidly reducing …
- Simple Ergonomics and Lean Thinking at Chewonki FarmI recently visited Chewonki, a school, camp, and farm in Wisscasset, ME that had a recent visit from an ergonomics consultant at their beautiful new pack shed. Some insurance companies offer these visits for free as an injury (and claim) prevention measure. Several things that struck me: They were experimenting with different heights for wash …
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- Small Scale Forced Air Cooling Demo (Video)Here is a video shot during some field experimentation last week working in a cooler. No related posts.
- Finding a Better Way: Engineering on the Farm (Podcast)Check out episode 10 of this podcast with Chris Callahan, and Trevor Hardy from Brookdale Fruit Farm talking about engineering on the Farm! Full series available on iTunes. The Our Farms, Our Future podcast series brings together the sustainable agriculture community for thought-provoking conversations about the state of agriculture, how we got here, and where …
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- A Better Way to Pick StrawberriesTried and tested, the Picking Assistant by Crop Care works great for picking strawberries! Using both hands to “swim” through the plants helps you become efficient and thorough at picking. This machine is also great for weeding or planting other crops as well. More information about their new model can be found here: https://cropcareequipment.com/vegetable_equip/picking_assistant.phpI have experience …
- UVM Ag Engineering Highlight VideoA collation of clips from farm’s, conferences, and workshops from the previous year! A lot of fun adventures, and education opportunities in agriculture. Related posts: Introducing UVM Extension’s New Ag Engineering Technician! Great Lakes EXPO Highlight Video New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference Highlight Video
- Greens Spinners for Farm Use
Download the PDF Fact Sheet Here! Introduction An important factor in growing and selling high-quality salad greens is being able to efficiently wash, cool, and dry the product. The drying step is commonly done using centrifugal force in a spinner. The water is spun off of the greens through a filter basket or other porous … - All About Alliums – Twilight MeetingHigh Meadows Farm July 12, 2018 5 – 7 PM FREE Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1661423530613433/ Join Howard Prussack of High Meadows Farm, University of Vermont Agricultural Engineer Chris Callahan and Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Specialist Crystal Stewart for a field walk discussing garlic and onion production and postharvest handling. The event will include a focus on …
- Produce Safety in BroccoliChris recently teamed up with Dr. Elizabeth Bihn of Cornell University and the Produce Safety Alliance to provide a webinar on produce safety aspects of broccoli production. This work is part of a larger USDA SCRI project focused on Eastern Broccoli as a specialty crop with economic importance and potential in the region. This webinar …
- Floor Design for Vegetable Wash, Pack and Storage Areas
Download the PDF Fact Sheet Here! Introduction It is easy to ignore the thing beneath our feet, but floors are an important part of produce wash and pack areas that deserve special attention. They can impact efficiency, ergonomics, employee health, worker fatigue, personnel safety, and produce safety. There are also a number of design features …Continue reading “Floor Design for Vegetable Wash, Pack and Storage Areas”
- Great Lakes EXPO Highlight VideoThe Great Lakes Expo is a very large agriculture conference in Grand Rapids, MI. Here are some snippets from the trip and some vendors that were showcasing their products. Related posts: Checking out Vendors at the Great Lakes Expo New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference 2017 New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference Highlight Video …
- Produce Safety Record-keeping Requirements & Tools: PresentationThis presentation discusses several different options for record keeping and tracking of produce safety documents and farm logs on an online interface. This was recorded at the Great Lakes Expo in Grand Rapids Michigan December 2017 and given by Chris Callahan UVM Extension, Ag Engineering. Related posts: Post Harvest Handling & Storage for Small Farms …
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- Post Harvest Handling & Storage for Small FarmsThis presentation was given by Chris Callahan from at the Great Lakes Expo in Grand Rapids Michigan in December 2017. He discusses the differences between fruit and vegetable storage needs, finish surfaces for wash/pack areas or coolers as well as temperature and humidity controls. A frequently asked question we get is about vapor barrier …
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- New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference Highlight VideoCheck out this highlight video from the New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference! Related posts: New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference 2017 Checking out Vendors at the Great Lakes Expo Introducing UVM Extension’s New Ag Engineering Technician! 2013 VVBGA Annual Meeting Building a Hoop House in One Day!
- AboutThe Agricultural Engineering Program of UVM Extension is dedicated to enhancing Vermont’s food systems through analysis, design, evaluation and adoption of infrastructure, technology and equipment that meet the needs of food producers and processors. Vermont’s food systems are experiencing increased localization, value addition, diversification, extension of growing season and increased market demand. New crops and …
- Taking the PSR with YouThe FSMA Produce Safety Rule is an important reference for those helping growers understand requirements under the regulation. However, weighing in at 216 pages it can be a burdensome document to read, let alone carry around with you. But, there is hope. No related posts.