Soils generally need added nutrients and soil conditioning in anticipation of crop demands. A cover crop can be planted in the fall and disked in for fertility Subsoiling (above left)is done to open packed soils and allow water and nutrient penitration. Alfalfa is crowned (below left) prior to planting potatoes. Peas come up through

Cut crowned alfalfa is lying on the ground. (above, left) Crowned alfalfa is subsoiled to deeply loosen the soil. (above, right)

Compost piles stand ready to spread in a corn field.(above, left)
A field of Sudan grass cover crop (above, right)

Rotation does enhance many nutrients in the soil; but unless ideal rotations are realized, manure, compost and rock powders can be applied before the soil is cultivated (above, left). An air-powered side bander can place organic fertilizer next to the seed.

Disking, chiseling, & harrowing (above) break up the ground allowing water and nutrients to penetrate deep, feeding the roots of the new plants. Our farmers grow potatoes, corn, and onions. In each of these crops, their quality is unsurpassed!

Subsoiler and packer attached to a tractor in the field. The potatoes are just coming up(above)

  
Here they sweep away weeds and throw soils over the weeds between little spuds in the rows.

 
Their potato fields are perfect.          A bug's eye view of onion sets.

A Dammer-Diker is used to keep water evenly in the rows near plant roots by putting little dips in the soil.

Mike (below) grew spuds for WWOF in 1998. Here are his plants setting tubers in July. Organic? YES!

Fred (above) grew spuds for french fries, and wedges. His sheep enjoy the pasture rotation, and add that special something which improves the soil and hence the crop.