The Top Equipment Choices for West Coast Specialty Crops
Specialty crops are those that are intensively cultivated, such as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. In the United States, the West Coast, particularly California, is the leading producer of specialty crops. Many essentials, including almonds, oranges, hazelnuts and more, are primarily grown on the West Coast and hardly anywhere else in the country.
These crops are vital for food, medicinal use, horticulture and even lifestyle purposes, such as being aesthetically or culturally significant. In the U.S., a diverse selection of plants and crops fall under the category of specialty crops, but since West Coast agriculture is especially diverse, farmers in these regions are able to grow specialty crops that other states cannot. In addition to growing conditions, specialty crops require special equipment designed to fit in orchards and navigate vineyards with enough versatility to move between fields.
Though specialty crops provide us with crucial resources, farmers face unique challenges when growing them. Weather, climate change, soil health and farming techniques can easily impact specialty crops. Thankfully, choosing the right equipment for your specialty crops can yield better results when growing and harvesting them.
Understanding Challenges and Requirements for Specialty Crops
While growing any type of crop is a significant undertaking, sowing specialty crops comes with unique challenges that make these crops more high-risk to grow compared to traditional crops:
Temperature and growing conditions: Specialty crops are generally more susceptible to climate change and adverse weather conditions like hail, frost or excessive rain, so the West Coast’s lack of extreme temperatures makes it an ideal region for growing these crops.
Unique soil conditions: All crops have unique soil requirements, but getting the right soil for specialty crops may involve more trial and error. Too much compost and manure can negatively impact your soil and crops, as can too much or too little an amount of specific nutrients or the incorrect pH. For vegetable crops, reducing tillage intensity can have a positive effect on your soil and vegetable crops.
Higher financial risks: Because specialty crops face unique challenges, including requiring specialty equipment and extra labor for growing and harvesting them, it can be more financially risky to grow them. Despite these challenges, investing in specialty crops can also be highly rewarding.
Less automation: Farming specialty crops can be a largely manual, labor-intensive process that is not nearly as automated as sowing and harvesting traditional crops. As U.S. farms face labor shortages, labor costs are rising, further intensifying these challenges.
More preparation: You can plant some crops yearly, but for many specialty crops, you need to plant in advance and can only harvest them a few years later.
Considerations When Choosing Equipment for Specialty Crops
Because people rely on specialty crops for daily essentials, finding ways to overcome the challenges you face growing these crops is crucial, and having the right equipment is critical. The key is choosing crop-specific equipment that will suit your crop type, the size of your farm and variables like soil health and weather.
You’ll also want to consider whether the equipment fits your budget. Buying new is usually a good bet — you get the most out of your machinery for the longest possible time. Though a good investment, your budget may not always allow for brand-new equipment. In this case, shopping for quality used equipment from a trusted company is an excellent option. Another option is to apply for government-funded specialty crop programs.
Essential Equipment for West Coast Specialty Crops
Whether you need orchard farming equipment, vineyard equipment or other implements to suit specialty crop operations, these are some of the essentials:
Harvesting systems/harvesters: Choosing a harvester that suits your crops and the size of your operations is essential. For example, a manual grape harvesting machine will be gentler on vines and allow for selective picking. However, because it is more labor-intensive, selecting a manual over a mechanical harvester wouldn’t make sense for large operations.
Low-profile tractors: Low-profile, compact tractors help avoid damage as you move around crop rows. Other features like adjustable track widths and narrow tires can also increase ease of navigation.
Spreaders and sprayers: Look for quality sprayers and spreaders that allow you more control over spread width and the number of products you can apply. At Holt Ag Solutions, we have a range of Willmar fertilizer spreaders, including compact and narrow-track models that suit orchards.
Shredders: Shredders or rotary mowers are vital for removing post-harvest residue and other unwanted vegetation. For various specialty crop farming operations, you can choose a shredder designed for removing inter-row branches and residues of fruit crops.
Cultivators: There are specially designed vegetable cultivators that allow for depth control and are suitable for inter-row and on-row cultivation.
Sustainable Farming Practices for Specialty Crops
The right equipment is vital for successfully farming specialty crops, but even with the best implements, your operations can only be effective with good farming practices. Sustainable farming lies at the heart of these practices. Through sustainable farming, you can help maintain soil fertility, preserve the Earth’s natural resources and demonstrate your commitment to environmental protection — ultimately retaining a loyal consumer base and farm profitability.
Ways to make your specialty crop operations more environmentally friendly include:
Sustainable pest control methods: The aim of sustainable pest control methods is to use pesticides as a last resort or drastically decrease your use of pesticides. You can accomplish this through cultural controls such as crop rotations and planting cover crops, biological controls like benefiting from organisms like arthropods and fungi, and chemical controls by using only organic pesticides.
Sustainable soil and fertility management: Sustainable practices include a more holistic approach to oil and fertility management. You could build your soil structure and health using composts and follow strict sanitation practices for your tools and implements before and after plowing and harvesting.
Browse Agricultural Equipment From Holt Ag Solutions
If you are looking for new or used farm equipment to suit your requirements for growing specialty crops, Holt Ag Solutions has the inventory you need. Whether you’re browsing for vineyard or orchard equipment, we offer a range of high-quality farm machinery, including combine harvesters, tractors, spreaders, sprayers and various other implements.
Our professional team is ready to provide you with personalized services, from maintenance to emergency repairs and any other assistance you may need in between. Browse our selection of new and used farm equipment or contact us today for more information on how we can serve your agribusiness.
