Breaking down the specialty crops trial at RAREC

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On 1 November, the removal of the plastic mulch and drip lines at RAREC began. The day prior, the specialty crops were mowed down with a bushhog to allow the plastic mulch lifter to cut and pull the plastic and drip line out of the ground.

The presence of the panels and the width of the mulch lifter did not all us to pull the plastic mulch on each side of the panel row; where the removal of the plastic and drip line will be done by hand.

Because of the extremely dry soil conditions and the depth of the plastic mulch buried, the plastic mulch would often tear.

As soon as all the plastic mulch and drip are removed the ground will be worked so a fall cover crop of cereal rye can be sown in the field.

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