max FACTS
New Record-Sized Tomato Takes Crown
Suffice it to say the largest tomato in the world could help make a lot of sandwiches . Grown by Americans Del and Julie Faust , their heaviest tomato weighed 5.284 kilograms as confirmed at the Stillwater Harvest Fest in Stillwater , Minn ., last October by representatives from the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth . The total circumference of the tomato was a hefty 82.55 centimetres . It was grown from a “ 9.06 Brown ” seed . Interestingly , also in October last year , social media reports of another gigantic tomato emerged . American Dan Sutherland produced a massive 7.64-kilogram tomato , but it was not assessed at an official competition or witnessed by an expert , so Guinness Book of World Records could not ratify the monster ‘ mato . Tomato varieties like Big Zac and Big Beef are noted for producing super-heavy fruit and have won records in competition over the years .
— Guinnesworldrecords . com
Foil Shown to Reduce Greenhouse Energy Demand
For many growers , glass has traditionally been the default choice for greenhouse construction . Yet , with today ’ s gas prices , growers are looking for alternatives to reduce heat loss within the greenhouse . “ Energy saving starts at this point ,” says Jelle Boeters from Filclair Nederland BV . Research done on behalf of the company shows that using foil can reduce energy demand by up to 28 percent . “ Foil is regarded as having a lower light transmission than glass . However , the structure of a foil greenhouse is much slimmer , so more light reaches the canopy . Greenhouses are amazing sunlight collectors , but as soon as there is no radiation , the accumulated heat is exhausted very quickly .” Computer simulations showed how a single-glass greenhouse without a screen would use 381 kWh / m 2 per year to heat the greenhouse at 20 ° C during the day . With a screen , that would go down to 290 kWh / m 2 . A double-inflated folio greenhouse would require only 252 kWh / m 2 . Adding a screen to it would result in just 207 kWh / m 2 used .
— hortidaily . com
Storms Highlight Aging California Water Infrastructure
No less than nine atmospheric rivers hit California since Dec . 26 last year , dropping an estimated 25.6 trillion gallons of water in three weeks . Even though many farmer fields flooded , some growers aren ’ t too worried . Derek Azevedo , Executive Vice President of Bowles Farming Company , says the rain won ’ t be problem for summer crops like nuts , tomatoes , and cotton . Water storage , however , is another issue . Officials estimate most of the rainfall ended up in the ocean , highlighting California ’ s aging water infrastructure . Some of the largest and most important components of the state ’ s framework for containing and transporting water were built almost 100 years ago . The Colorado Aqueduct , for instance , which moves water from the Colorado River to Southern California , was built in the 1930s . So it ’ s no surprise that “ aging , damaged , or increasingly riskprone ” infrastructure is an ongoing issue , according to California ’ s Water Supply Strategy . The state provides more than a third of the nation ’ s vegetables and two-thirds of America ’ s fruits and nuts .
— MYstaff
22 Maximum Yield