Elliott Family Farm

Happy Thanksgiving! All is well and quiet on the farm this winter. The cover crop is growing the machines are being maintained. We took delivery of a 1991 Pixall Big Jack for Sil Meier, keeping it to demonstrate to potential buyers. For our efforts, we get to use it next year.

We own, operate and love our one row bean picker and despite some claims, it does not damage the beans. The Big Jack is much bigger than we are used to, but if we expand to larger acreage it may become necessary to acquire one of our own. The one row is essentially a 10 acre machine. It’s a 10 acre machine because that’s about what one can harvest before the crop starts to go bad. It picks one row at a time at 3.5 mph, maximum. The Big Jack will handle much more, with its 120” picking head and 9 ton dump capacity.

We hope the next growing season will be favorable. Starting next year, we intend to extend out growing season deep into winter, growing crops that are tolerant to cooler weather. East Texas is somewhat warm in the winter, rarely seeing temperatures below 15 ° F. Our average rain fall in the fall is much better than late summer, and rain has been a problem the last couple of years.

We have much to be thankful for here, in the heart of the Piney Woods. We pray for our brethren who are less fortunate. Have a most excellent Thanksgiving, and we look forward to seeing you all at the Dallas Farmers Market next spring!