This morning I made the 3rd week fertigation, 21 lbs/acre of ammonium nitrate and 15 lbs/acre epsom salts.  Mailed in the 3rd week tissue sample.  Some of the Camarosa berries are starting to get red and quite a few Chandler are turning red.

I am filtering the pond water with a pair of Netafim disk filters in parallel.  It is much cheaper than a sand filter and works fine, but the filters clog fairly rapidly and I have to clean them out often.  There is also too much pressure drop across them when they get a little dirty and I don't get enough pressure drop across the regulator to run the fertigation injector.  I have to run 1/2 acre at a time and clean the filters after each 1/2 acre.  

Last week I met with the head chef of Longview Country Club in Union County to discuss supplying his restaurant with fresh vegetables and strawberries.  We set up a great barter that benefits both of us.  He is going to give me his used fryer grease in exchange for fresh veggies.  I will use this steady source of grease in my biodiesel conversion operation.  I will be able to increase the use of my "home-brewed" biodiesel in the farm tractors, saving me $$$ and helping our enviroment a little bit in the process.  With fuel approaching $4/gallon, it will be a great savings opportunity for the farm.