Celebrating West Side Agriculture 2020

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020 HONORING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE | 3
GROEFSEMA
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
Decisions are made
from a long-term perspective,
he added.
“Every year we evolve
and try to make things
better,” Groefsema explained.
“Being a farmer,
you have to learn that
from something you do today
you may not see (benefits
from) for the next
year or two.”
Groefsema said he has
implemented a number of
changes since rejoining
the family operation.
Many are aimed at improving
water penetration
and boosting fertility.
Groefsema said the almond
industry has seen a
number of fundamental
changes.
Water management
practices have evolved
significantly through the
years, he said, resulting in
much more precise watering.
“All of our systems have
soil moisture probes so we
can see exactly what is
going on when we apply
water,” Groefsema told
Mattos Newspapers. “We
know what our demand
should be, based on the
weather, the age of the
trees and the soil.”
Irrigation management
practices are also a component
of the pest control
program in the Groefsema
orchards.
Materials used in orchards
have also evolved,
he noted, creating targeted
pest control as opposed
to a shotgun approach that
kills everything, he explained.
Through such management
practices, Groefsema
said, “we can keep
beneficial insects in our
orchards.”
Even with more tools to
draw from and advances
in the industry, management
techniques and attention
to detail remain
essential to success.
“You can spend a lot of
money applying fertilizer
at the wrong time, and the
tree won’t take it up,” he
said by way of example.
The company also regularly
samples soils.
“Our pH was a little off
balance when I got here,
so we had to build that and
build our calcium levels,”
Groefsema stated.
Those steps are investments
in success that
would not be possible
through cutting corners.
“We can always get better.
We put in more inputs,
and you get out what you
put in,” he emphasized.
The company’s commitment
to quality includes
attention to detail and
placing a premium on taking
the time required to be
effective - without taking
too much time.
Whether it is harvesting
almonds or spraying
orchards, Groefsema remarked,
trying to be too
quick results in damage to
nuts or a spray application
that is not as effective as
it could be.
He is also an advocate
for the almond industry.
“They are high maintenance
but you can only
grow them in California,”
he reflected. “I think we
take a lot of pride in it.
A custom spraying business is part of the operation overseen by Clay Groefsema.
They are pretty trees, and
a healthy product when all
is said and done.”
Advancements have
changed farming capabilities
and management
practices through the
years, but the lessons
of childhood remain as
strongly ingrained as ever
for Groefsema as he goes
about his work.
“Growing up, my dad
would throw me into pruning
crews for the summer.
At the time I wasn’t a fan
of it, but you realize how
much hard work there is
in these labor crews and
what they do day in and
day out,” Groefsema said.
“My grandfather always
said hard work builds
character. You look back
and appreciate those hot
summers.”
PROUDLY SERVING YOU
FOR 70 YEARS!
We are proud to have generations in our family furniture business
serving Turlock and the surrounding towns.
We appreciate your business!
From the entire Woods family to your family we thank you for keeping
our doors open for 70 years.
Darryl Woods with Grandpa Thurman Woods
Original store at 433 E. Main St. (shown with Foster Freeze building)
4918 Taylor Court, Turlock
(corner of W. Taylor & Hwy 99)
www.WoodsFurniture.com • (209) 656-2392
Mon. - Fri. 10am - 7pm • Sat. 10am - 6pm
Mon. Sun. 11am - Sat. 10am - 5pm- 6pm • Sun. Noon - 5pm