At the Howell Farm plowing match -- this was several years ago -- I asked an old-timer with a team if there are times when it's better to have a horse than a tractor. He told me he could cultivate better with a horse than a tractor.
Today Farmer Jeremy cultivated the corn field, steering the horses (with the lines in his hands) and the cultivating blades (with the pedals under his feet.) This fine control, much finer than a tractor, allows the farmer to cultivate weeds very close to the corn plants without, if skillfully performed, killing the corn itself.
As a Howell Farm intern several years ago, I had the opportunity to cultivate a potato field. In my opinion there's no more fun to be had working with draft horses than cultivating.
Today Farmer Jeremy cultivated the corn field, steering the horses (with the lines in his hands) and the cultivating blades (with the pedals under his feet.) This fine control, much finer than a tractor, allows the farmer to cultivate weeds very close to the corn plants without, if skillfully performed, killing the corn itself.
As a Howell Farm intern several years ago, I had the opportunity to cultivate a potato field. In my opinion there's no more fun to be had working with draft horses than cultivating.
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