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