Our team is still working hard on our 2015 bog renovation plan, hitting all their targets and moving as fast as they can! New Bog Renovation Manager Steve Manning definitely has his hands full: “We should be putting in the irrigation at Black Rock next week. Jorge [Morales] is screening sand for Warehouse, and Junior [Colon] is at Turf leveling the ground to get ready for the sand over there.”
Other major overhauls to Turf include removing a dam and getting ready to build a new pump house. “We’re shifting the pump location to the other end, though we haven’t built the pad yet. We’re also rearranging dams so that only one canal will be up at the top of the system, which should make it easier to control the water,” Steve says. This time of year, between frost and re-planting, has made things a little challenging for him, but hiring subcontractor Wayne Sweet has been a big help as far as supplementing labor and equipment. The team has even gotten a head start on the 2016 renovation, with old vines being hauled out already.
The beautiful weather has been a help, but also a hindrance, Steve says. “The weather’s been good and we’ve been moving fast, but we really could use a little more rain.” The dams, which can fall apart in too much rain, can also start to crumble if they get too dry. So our equipment team put together a “water truck” in order to keep the moisture level just right: whatever it takes to keep the Hydremas happy!
GM Fred Torres is pleased with the progress. “I think reno’s going well. A lot’s getting done now. Weather’s been good, equipment’s running. We’re working on pump houses, installing the main line, all that’s falling into place, and we should be done in time to plant in September,” he says. “This time of year there’s a lot to do for reno, and a lot going on at the farm…we have frost, and planting, and all the other jobs, and sometimes we have to add or take away people. But Steve understands that. It’s a bit of a challenge, yeah, and there’s a lot to do. But you can get it all done. If you work together, if you communicate, if you manage the people, you can get it done and hit the targets. Everything falls in place.”