Large Leaf Tobacco Harvesting Operation in Enfield, CT
Sep 4, 2019 19:41:41 #
I spotted this and it reminded me of the old movie Parrish, which was actually filmed in Broad Brook, CT, pretty close to where this harvest was going on. Between the tractors in the field, those on the way to the drying barns full, those at the barns being emptied and those on their way back empty, there must have been 35 to 40 tractors involved in this effort.
Sep 4, 2019 19:45:39 #
Sep 4, 2019 19:48:55 #
Sep 4, 2019 19:57:52 #
lowkick wrote:
I spotted this and it reminded me of the old movie Parrish, which was actually filmed in Broad Brook, CT, pretty close to where this harvest was going on. Between the tractors in the field, those on the way to the drying barns full, those at the barns being emptied and those on their way back empty, there must have been 35 to 40 tractors involved in this effort.
Great images. The whole operation looks rather labor intensive!
Sep 4, 2019 20:01:52 #
canondave5 wrote:
Great images. The whole operation looks rather labor intensive!
It is labor intensive. Apparently, there is no way to automate the cutting of tobacco from the field, and getting it from the field to hanging it in the drying barns
Sep 5, 2019 05:51:49 #
Sep 5, 2019 06:04:14 #
Sep 5, 2019 06:29:05 #
lowkick wrote:
I spotted this and it reminded me of the old movie Parrish, which was actually filmed in Broad Brook, CT, pretty close to where this harvest was going on. Between the tractors in the field, those on the way to the drying barns full, those at the barns being emptied and those on their way back empty, there must have been 35 to 40 tractors involved in this effort.
Great set of images!!!!
The really love their Farmall's
Sep 5, 2019 06:47:17 #
Sep 5, 2019 06:58:45 #
Sep 5, 2019 07:09:02 #
They're harvesting broad leaf Maduro cigar wrappers, cigar binders and some machine-made all broadleaf (wrapper, binder and filler) cigars. Connecticut tobacco production started in Windsor, Connecticut before 1640. It was settled in 1633 and the Native Americans were already growing tobacco there.
Notice in the last pic that the exhaust pipe on the tractor has been re-routed downward. That's so it does not catch on the cables or netting used to cultivate "Shade" tobacco. Shade is one of the world's most valuable crops and Connecticut Shade commands top prices world wide from the best cigar makers.
Thanks for the series!
Notice in the last pic that the exhaust pipe on the tractor has been re-routed downward. That's so it does not catch on the cables or netting used to cultivate "Shade" tobacco. Shade is one of the world's most valuable crops and Connecticut Shade commands top prices world wide from the best cigar makers.
Thanks for the series!
Sep 5, 2019 08:17:16 #
Nice photos--that’s a lot of hand work. It sort of reminds me of the days when we made loose hay.
Side note: can you explain the reconfiguring of the mufflers to make them exhaust at the ground? I’ve been around farm machinery all my life, and I’ve never seen anything like that before.
Side note: can you explain the reconfiguring of the mufflers to make them exhaust at the ground? I’ve been around farm machinery all my life, and I’ve never seen anything like that before.
Sep 5, 2019 08:19:00 #
I was raised on a farm in East Tennessee and did this growing up. Tobacco money was often all that allowed us to have a Christmas many years in the 1950's and 1960's. Tobacco farming is almost a year around job with the seed beds being prepared and sown in FEB/MAR, followed by planting in APR and MAY. After that is tending and hoeing until topping in JUN and JUL. Harvest is usually in SEP, just like it is shown here in the photos. After curing in the barns, it is prepped for sale in NOV and DEC and sold soon after.
Usually sold at auction at huge warehouses for somewhere between $1 to $2 per pound. Our allotment was for around 1800-2000 pounds, so our check was usually around $2000-2500 for the year's work. With our family of 4 and 1 hired guy working it, we probably made less than a dollar an hour. But it paid the bills and put food on the table around the holidays.
Usually sold at auction at huge warehouses for somewhere between $1 to $2 per pound. Our allotment was for around 1800-2000 pounds, so our check was usually around $2000-2500 for the year's work. With our family of 4 and 1 hired guy working it, we probably made less than a dollar an hour. But it paid the bills and put food on the table around the holidays.
Sep 5, 2019 09:17:43 #
Hi group,
As soon as I saw the pictures, I recognized the tractor(s). They all look like an H model Farmall that I drove on a hay baler back in the 50's. Over the years, I have not kept up on Farmall models, etc. but those in the picture could very well have been in use for 60 or more years. Take care & ...
As soon as I saw the pictures, I recognized the tractor(s). They all look like an H model Farmall that I drove on a hay baler back in the 50's. Over the years, I have not kept up on Farmall models, etc. but those in the picture could very well have been in use for 60 or more years. Take care & ...
Sep 5, 2019 09:46:49 #
jaymatt,
See my explanation in the post just before yours.
Cheers,
Mr. B
See my explanation in the post just before yours.
Cheers,
Mr. B
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