Like any other industry, the technology of farming is constantly changing. Each new piece of equipment holds out the promise of preforming a task quicker, more efficiently and/or more environmentally friendly than what has gone before. Just keeping abreast of what's on the market and how it could be used to fit the circumstances of an individual's farm is almost a full-time job in itself.
John MacDonald has always considered himself as an innovator. A wild blueberry grower in Souris Line Road, he modified a harvester that has been used on his farm for a number of years. John said his machine is one of the few bi-directional harvesters used on Prince Edward Island. The harvester, which can harvest berries both forward and in reverse, currently has about 4,300 hours of use. In addition to harvesting his own crop, John also goes down to Maine each year to hire out his services.
With funding help from the Prince Edward Island ADAPT Council, which administers funding from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada CARD Program, John travelled to Bologna, Italy, last year to attend an international exhibition of agricultural machinery. This show didn't just feature big tractors and harvesters -- it sold all the parts and kits that can be assembled on site, cutting down the shipping costs.
"They sold every conceivable part that would be needed," John said. Right now, he is looking at the best way of shipping one of the bi-directional harvesters back to Prince Edward Island. In fact, he is not ruling out another trip back to Italy this year, and this time he wants to take some other industry people with him.
While there are some bi-directional harvesters on the market, John said none of them are well suited for harvesting wild blueberries. The veteran grower is a strong believer in his industry, adding that support from both government and the industry through the Prince Edward Island Wild Blueberry Growers Association has led to a large increase in acreage over the past several years.
"Blueberry growers are becoming knowledgeable in land preparation and crop management and, as a result, larger crops are being produced," he said. "Harvesting units must be developed that have the technology and adaptability that will allow the producer to harvest their crop in an effective and profitable manner."
John said he would eventually like to have two or three bi-directional harvesters on his own farm, and he is hoping other blueberry growers will also begin to use the technology. During peak harvesting time, he said he can put up to 300 hours a month on the harvester, and he jokes, "It certainly beats picking them by hand."
This is one of a series of articles prepared for the Prince Edward Island Agricultural Awareness Committee on new innovations within the Island agricultural industry.