Mark's (sqkcrk) Blueberry Pollination in Maine

[Barry]

So how do they harvest these when it's a solid carpet of bushes?

[hpm08161947]

So how do they harvest these when it's a solid carpet of bushes?

Mark asked me the same question when he first saw the Barrens... I had no idea. Surely they are not hand picked. He must know the answer by now. believe he is loading his 5th semi today..

[Hawkster]

they use rakes or did when I was a kid up there

[Barry]

I wondered if it was hand picked seeing they have the migrant housing.

[Barry]

"Half the load on. And then off for more. We were able to work during the day due to cool rain. Sure we got wet, but getting to work more hours in a day is something to take advantage of."


"From one truck to another."


"Gathering"

[naturaledge]

Yes they use migrant labor with hand rakes and mechanical harvesters on tractors and some small harvesters that rake about a 3 foot swath. . My girlfriend raked 9000 lbs last year off 3 acres in about 2 weeks and she has raked with the migrants and she said they are twice as fast as her.

[naturaledge]

Google blue berry harvester

[Hawkster]

http://www.hubbardrakes.com/photo_album_one.gif a picture of some folks raking the old fashioned way !

[Barry]

"4th load being loaded. Cold wind makes use of smoke unnecessary and ineffective."


"Trucks like this one haul bees from ME to KS, ND and farther."


"A net to cover the back half of the load sits on the end pallet ready for use. The back net is put on first so the front net can overlap it. The net is topped with spreader boards."


"Spreader boards like these along with ratchet straps hold the load securely to the deck of the truck."


"Loaded and netted in about 2 hours."

[Mbeck]

Thanks for posting the photos for him, very interesting.

Maybe when Mark gets back he can give us a step by step tutorial titled ...How to go to Blueberries.

[HONEYDEW]

Yeah, and who are all your contacts...

[Barry]

"Dave Hackenberg's rig."


"Hackenberg moving hives from one truck to another to send them on their way."


"Bear defence."


"For some, the next crop they work on is cranberries right near the blueberries. A couple of miles down the road."


"These bees are getting a protein patty before going to cranberries."

[Mbeck]

Yeah, and who are all your contacts...

I'll only need the contact information for the growers that need 6 possibly 12 hives. I'll have to see if I can ride with Hackenburg, he lives close to me. I'll need to learn how to load, who wants to loan me thier loader to practice with. I'd like to try that one with the fifth wheel or one with a decent radio. I bet I can load really fast, how hard can it be???

[odfrank]

bet I can load really fast, how hard can it be???

I have been a Bobcater since 1982, and loading a double stack with a no mast forklift on a Bobcat looks hard to me. I wonder how often they spill a pile. A wheeled bobcat on bumpy ground with your forks elevated up high can be a wobbly ride. They must have them strapped well together.

[Mbeck]

I'm will to give it a try with someone else's machine and hives!

[Barry]

"Toolbox under trailer for straps, ratchets, and bungee cords."


"Load 6 ready for the road. Ten hours from now it will be unloaded in NY."


"Wymans is second biggest blueberry grower and may be second oldest company."


"Helping Tony Smith feed syrup to some of his bees before they go to cranberries because they don't gain much of anything when on the barrens or in the crans."


"Covers opened for feeding."

[Barry]

"7th and final semi load ready to go."


"Load on and netted. Spreader boards on and straps being placed."


"Nothing left to do but the clean up. Get the trailer tire fixed, grab up a load on Chucks truck and head for home, NY, where the adventure continues. Plenty of hives to go through and setting up for honey production."


"Land being prepared for blueberries to grow. Clearcut, remove rocks and stumps and a couple of years later you have blueberries growing."

[Barry]

It's June, where is the sunshine?!

[sqkcrk]

I have been a Bobcater since 1982, and loading a double stack with a no mast forklift on a Bobcat looks hard to me. I wonder how often they spill a pile. A wheeled bobcat on bumpy ground with your forks elevated up high can be a wobbly ride. They must have them strapped well together.

Chuck loaded some stacked three high. Hives are glued together by the bees, propolis, and strapped to the pallets. The fifthwheeled Bobcat is smoother, especially when one uses rubber treads like Hack does.

I don't know anyone who is going to let a novice move their bees when they are able to load/unload them themselves. I have loaded plenty of my own truck loads and I didn't even think to ask Chuck if I could load. He is responsible for his own hives and those of two other beekeeper buddys whose were there too.

[sqkcrk]

I am home now where time and internet access is available. Questions anyone?