time consuming to unearth. The Bartlett’ s have now adjusted to the coming and going of different varieties and are always ready to adapt to new varieties as requested.
Since Bob started farming in 1958, he has seen many changes in the industry. Foremost, the reduction in the number of farmers in Maine has dropped from 2,500 potato growers down to around 300. Technology has made great strides as well. In 1966, Bob purchased his first harvester, capable of digging just 2 rows at a time. By 1991, Bartlett Farms were digging 6 rows concurrently and today with windrowers, as many as 16 rows of potatoes are harvested at once. Planters are now computerized, requiring no one to man them any longer, and tractors are equipped with GPS systems. Other changes include a massive reduction in the amount of table stock grown, replaced by processed potatoes such as chip stock and french fries. At one time, over 140,000 acres of spuds were grown in Maine, now it’ s around 50,000 acres with approximately 36,000 acres comprised of seed and processed potatoes.
Promoting Maine potatoes is one of Bob’ s passions and he has worked relentlessly over the years to do just that. Beginning in the 1990’ s, Bob served on the U. S. Potato Promotion Board travelling throughout the U. S., South America and Europe. He also served on the Maine Seed Potato Board and as president of the Maine Potato Board. In 2000, Bob was named seed potato grower of the year by the U. S. Potato Promotion Board.
Today, Bartlett Farms is no longer looking to expand but remaining content with their niche market in select seed potatoes. Bob continues to be cautious in regards to expanding into new technologies without extensive research. It can be extremely expensive to be“ efficient” and the technology has to fit in the trade off of cost and savings.
Bob is an extreme Massey Ferguson tractor fan and has become a collector of these vintage tractors. He is quick to credit Hillis Varney’ s service, beginning in 1969, which first sold him on the Massey’ s due to a break down while cultivating. Hillis repaired the tractor overnight and had Bob working the next day. Over the years, Bob has remained a steadfast Massey Ferguson( formerly Massey Harris) tractor fan and has 15 working Massey Ferguson and 32 restored Massey Harris tractors with 5 in the hopper. Bob’ s restoration hobby began in the mid 90’ s when he was considering restoring a Model 333 and found one in Canada. To his surprise he bought it and the rest is Massey Harris history. He has been restoring ever since that time, with the last restoration in 2015 and more on the way. +
BY: CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON, PRESIDENT, F. A. PEABODY INSURANCE