Source: Michelle McGinnis, NCDA&CS, 8/7/14 Versatility, variety help Cleveland County farm stay profitable
growing new crops requires sound agronomic advice GROVER – First-generation farmer Jason Rhodes is not afraid to try something new.
Over the past 15 years, he has grown more than 12 crops
under five different production systems at Rhodesdale Farm. He
currently produces about 650 acres of mixed seasonal produce and row
crops.
Rhodes began farming part time in 1999 with an
ornamental plant nursery. He went full time in 2002, adding cattle and
soybeans to his operation. That same year, he planned ahead and planted
five acres of blueberries and an acre of asparagus, crops that take
several years before they start producing.
When the economic downturn in 2009 caused him to close
the nursery, Rhodes shifted his focus to growing produce for local
market. By 2012, he was selling an assortment of tomatoes, peppers
(cayenne, jalapeño, habañero), squash, crowder peas, cucumbers,
asparagus, garlic, cantaloupes, strawberries, blueberries, peaches and
muscadine grapes.
Rhodes says crop diversity is important from a business
perspective, even if that philosophy doesn’t always translate into
dollars.
“I’ve found that cucumbers are not an economical crop,”
he said, “but we grow them to meet the customer demand at our roadside
stand.”
'I like what I do'
Last year, Rhodes converted several greenhouses from his
nursery so he and his wife, Shelley, could produce tomatoes year
round. This was also his first year growing garlic. In the past two
years, Rhodes has added milo and canola to his field crop rotation. He
is already talking about wanting to try his hand at popcorn and cotton
and maybe even aquaculture trout production.
“When I wake up, farming is what I think about, and when
I go to sleep, farming is what I think about,” Rhodes said. “I like
what I do and that is priceless.”
Rhodes will tell you frankly that one of the reasons he
likes farming is because he does not like to be told what to do. Even
so, when it comes to making sure that his lime and fertilizer
applications are correct, he listens attentively to Steve Dillon,
regional agronomist with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services. It is not unusual for Rhodes to call Dillon three
times a week.
“Steve does the math for me to make sure I’m thinking right (with respect to fertilizer application rates),” Rhodes said.
Dillon said he is happy to double-check Rhodes’
fertilizer calculations. “A small error can mean too much fertilizer
and wasted money, or too little fertilizer and reduced crop yield,”
Dillon said. “No matter what crop you grow, it is imperative to get soil
pH and nutrient levels correct to prevent potential problems.
High-value crops like fruits and vegetables require intensive nutrient
management. Since fertilizer is applied daily or weekly, is it
important to sample the plant tissue to ensure that nutrient
applications are on target.
“I have been working with Jason for 12 to 14 years, and
he is always coming up with new ideas, which is a great challenge for
me,” Dillon said. “It’s exciting to hear his latest plan and then help
him carry it out.”
The Field Services Section of the Agronomic Services
Division has 13 regional agronomists throughout the state. They are
available to visit or consult with growers who need help taking
agronomic samples, adjusting fertilizer programs, pinpointing nutrient
deficiencies or toxicities, identifying nematode problems, or
interpreting agronomic reports. For more information or for the name of
the regional agronomist in your area, call Michelle McGinnis at 919-733-2655 or visit www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/rahome.htm. |