all know lead to decreased yields and quality, and increased storage issues. Irrigation timing is also key, and much easier to manage on the smaller scale. When it comes to harvest, on an average year, we can better monitor the crop coming out of the ground and going into process or storage, making sure tuber temperature and quality are where we want them. What other vegetables do you grow on the farm, how many acres of each and for what market? We plant, on average, 300 acres of sweet corn for Seneca Foods and Bonduelle Food Service. We also have up to 80 acres a year of peas for Seneca. We raise roughly 600 acres of field corn that we dry and store in our bins, and 600 acres of soybeans, which we also have the ability to store. In addition to growing our crops,
Curtis Gagas, who likes using the older Mack chassis, has been sandblasting and painting the Mack trucks on Gagas Farms as needed. He even designed and made a spring-loaded tarp system that fit the farm’s needs perfectly. Shown is one of the completed Mack trucks that Curtis and the employees recently put into service.
we do about 1,500 acres of custom harvesting for neighbors. Have there been advances in technology since you’ve been
working on the farm, and if so what? It’s not whether there have been advances, but when they’ll ever continued on pg. 12
Teaming with growers to make more money and take less risk
COVERAGE OPTIONS
Ray Grabanski
MULTI-PERIL • LIVESTOCK CROP HAIL/PRODUCTION HAIL WHOLE FARM REVENUE PROTECTION
Penney Hammer
At Progressive Ag, we understand your concerns. We are Risk Management Specialists focusing on potato and vegetable crops. Being prepared means not only avoiding and/or minimizing negative events, but also being able to take advantage of profit opportunities. You see, at Progressive Ag we make it our business to know your farm operation. We are committed to help you “Make more money and take less risk” To find out more, talk with one of our agents or call 1-800-450-1404 • www.progressiveag.com “This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”
BC�T February 11