April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, but here in the Klamath Basin, those showers this April have been snow showers. Though spring has officially sprung, we still have snow in our forecast, and this morning a light, white layer of the stuff coated the Basin floor and fields as well as the surrounding hills. Despite the snow and the moisture (which we’re thankful for!), it’s time to get farming underway. However, the wet weather doesn’t make it easy to get out in the fields. If you’re perused past blog posts, spring is the season of sunk equipment, stuck tractors and the ground pretty much swallowing anything that passes over it. With the nice, white winter we had followed by a nice, wet spring, you can imagine our farm crews aren’t eager to start sacrificing equipment to the dirt gods.
Just because the mud and rain have kept us out of the fields doesn’t mean we’re not getting ready for spring farming. Around the shop, we’ve been getting our equipment prepped for when the fields dry out. We’re also making sure our irrigation equipment is ready, which is incredibly important this year as the Bureau of Reclamation has stated all irrigation districts in our area should expect full water deliveries. And while we’re not ready for our field crews to start laying out pipe in our potato fields, the very important process of hauling in chipping potato seed and cutting it began earlier this week. Once things dry out, we’ll be ready to plant our chipping potatoes and grain crops as well as harrow our alfalfa fields for the growing season.
The rain and mud doesn’t stop what happens in the shed. Trucks are still lined up to haul chipping potatoes to our customers, which means our potato processing plant is still running at full capacity. Upstairs in the office, budgeting and planning for the upcoming crop year is taking place alongside getting taxes wrapped up. Plus, we’ve been out in the community recruiting for the job opportunities we have open. When you combine what’s happening in the shed and the offices with preparing for spring farming, this is the beginning of one of the busiest times of year!
Eventually, we will be able to get out in the fields. But until then, as you can see, we still have plenty to do!
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