September/October 2022 - 8

Sizzling
BUSINESS
Life lessons help Bailey Farms succeed with hot peppers
A field of Mini Sweet peppers at Bailey Farms. Growing peppers is expensive, with many diseases and other things challenging the crop. Photos: Bailey Farms
By Doug Ohlemeier
Assistant Editor
Specialty peppers are a hot business for
Bailey Farms in Oxford, North Carolina.
We offer a
full line of
fruit &
vegetable
equipment
Cross Action Forks
Double Forks
Box/Bin Nester
Brush Pusher
Conveyors
Mechanical Bulk Loader
Universal Dump All
Weed Spray Tank
3 Pt. Forks
3 Pt. Hi Lift
Sprayers
Freight-Mate
Lift, rotate and dump up to 3,000 lbs. on
24-inch load center
Dependable, low-cost hydraulically
Operated 180˚ or 130˚ rotator
Automatic box clamp also available
* Less than half the cost of most rotators.
* Smooth hydraulic operation - no gears or ratchets
* One man can attach and disconnect the rotator
* Can be used on conventional and rough terrain
forklifts
AUTHORIZED
DURANDWAYLAND
DEALER
PROVIDING
PARTS
&
SERVICE TO ALL
OF MICHIGAN
PHIL BROWN
WELDING CORP.
4750 8 Mile Rd.
Conklin, MI 49403
8 | VegetableGrowersNews.com
* Right to left rotation easily changed by operator in
the field
* Accepts standard forks on Class II fork mount
* Allows nesting and stacking from the driver's seat
while forks are at 180˚
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
HYDRAULIC CONTROL VALVE
HOSE REEL
HOSE PULLEY BRACKETS
PALLET GRIP
Phone: (616) 784-3046
Fax (616) 784-5852
www.philbrownwelding.com
Bailey Farms grows 17 varieties of
hot peppers at Oxford, as well as in
Georgia and Florida on 1,200 of its
own and contracted acreage.
Business has grown so fast during
the COVID years that Bailey Farms
had to keep a lid on things to avoid
producing more than it could
handle, said Randy Bailey, owner
and president. At times, the farm
couldn't keep up with demand, which
has since moderated.
" With the way costs are, it's too
Equipment that makes dollars & 'sense'
expensive to take on new business, "
Bailey said. " We're trying to keep going
with what we can and are trying to
get pricing up from our customers.
It seems like every time we ask for a
price increase from our customers, we
need another one. "
Growing peppers is expensive,
requiring vigilance against pests and
diseases. Being thrifty with inputs and
expenses - even before inflation and
skyrocketing costs of inputs - it's even
more important today.
" We have always tried to utilize
less fertilizer and the least fuel as
we can, " said Bailey. " It's driving
the costs per-acre to grow. There's
nothing you can do about it, so your
risk is also increasing. "
Conserving inputs
To save on pesticides, Bailey Farms
uses Integrated Pest Management to
control pepper weevils and thrips.
Bacteria leaf spot and phytophthora
root rot issues can bedevil peppers.
" These fungicides and pesticides,
you never want to use more than you
need and will want to go lightly, if you
can, " Bailey said. " The more of those
kinds of things you use, especially
pesticides, the more you will need to
attain, because they will knock out
your beneficial insects. "
The farm applies even amounts
of crop protectants under plastic
mulch and nurses plants by applying
nutrients through water. Tissue
analysis shows fertilizer volumes the
Randy Bailey, owner and president of Bailey
Farms, in a field of Mini Sweet peppers.
While business was favorable during the
pandemic, increasing costs discourage
growers from taking on new business.
plants require, including deficiencies
and overabundances. Some crop
protectants removed from growers'
arsenals makes growing a little more
challenging, Bailey said.
To conserve water use, Bailey
in 2019 invested in computerized
irrigation. The fertigation system
distributes water more efficiently. The
technology has reduced expenses by
saving fuel and water and potentially
fertilizer, and increased yields.
Bailey's next planned investment
is mechanical harvesting equipment
to counter labor costs. The company
is eyeing different systems, one of
which shows promise but requires
adjustment. " We are a long ways
from automation, but it will become
incrementally better through
mechanical methods, " Bailey said.
Extension assist
Bailey works closely with NC State

http://www.philbrownwelding.com http://www.VegetableGrowersNews.com

September/October 2022

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