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Spanning A Generation
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By
Tommy Horton |
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An overstatement? Definitely not if you take a closer look at the family that manages Lindamood Planting Company and Phoenix Gin. In this part of the world, the cotton seasons are short, the soil is rich and life moves at a slower pace. And that suits John Lindamood and his father Bill just fine. This is a third generation cotton farming family that knows a thing or two about producing a crop and delivering high quality to the market. John runs the farm, which consists of 4,000 acres of cotton, 1,000 acres of soybeans and 350 acres of wheat. About 1,200 acres of the cotton is irrigated with center pivots, and the rest is dryland. His father Bill, now 76, runs the gin, which is across the street from the farm office. Located just a couple of blocks from the center of Tiptonville, the Lindamood operation dominates a big part of the town’s landscape. At one time, Bill ran both the ginning and farm operation, but he is content to run the gin these days, which last year processed 25,000 bales. Special Working Relationship This father-son combination is a scene repeated many times across the Belt, and the Lindamoods will be the first to say that it takes a special relationship to make such an arrangement work effectively. When young John was growing up, he had no intention of becoming a farmer. He had watched his father toil long hours in the field, and the idea never crossed his mind that he might follow in his footsteps. But time has a way of changing everything. After John graduated from Murray State University in Kentucky, he began pursuing a completely different career. He and his wife Cherry, whom he met in college, decided to go into the restaurant business. A year and a half later, they closed their restaurant in Murray (Ky.), and suddenly the idea of returning to Tiptonville began to sound even more appealing to them. Cherry has a demanding career of her own as a warden with the Correction Corps of America. Son John is in culinary school in West Palm Beach, Fla., and daughter Meleita will graduate this year from East Tennessee State University. Relying On Technology If there is one recurring theme at the Lindamood farm and gin these days, it is how technology has made all facets of this business work more efficiently and profitably. Prior to implementing aerial imagery into the operation three years ago, the Lindamoods had already begun using GPS, yield maps and precision soil sampling 10 years ago. Although numerous factors
contribute to high yields and superior quality, John believes that involvement
with variable rate plant growth regulator applications and defoliants
has paid off. The Lindamoods utilize InTime for aerial imagery in addition to Veris data, soil sampling by zones and yield maps. This helps in their variable rate plant growth regulator applications, nitrogen sidedress and defoliation. “We’ve seen an upward trend in our yields,” says John. “I attribute this to better genetics, boll weevil eradication, favorable weather and also our management practices.” Those innovative practices include planting a wide cross-section of varieties each year. For example, this year the Lindamoods planted DP 444 BG/RR, DP 445 BG/RR, ST 4554B2RF, ST 5242BR, BW-4630B2F and FM 960BR. “Suffice it to say, we don’t put all of our eggs into one basket,” says John in explaining the diversity of varieties planted on the farm. “Although many parts of the Belt are being affected by drought, we have received some very timely rains this summer, and our cotton looks as good as I’ve ever seen it. We still have a ways to go, but I’m optimistic about how this crop will turn out and the kind of quality we’ll have.” Geographical Benefits One of the benefits of farming so far north in the Belt is lighter cotton insect pressure. Still, there is a need for early season treatments of Trimax and Centric and a late-season pyrethroid application for control of plant bugs or stinkbugs. As for weed pressure, marestail continues to be the No. 1 priority for nearly every West Tennessee cotton producer. John has a triple-barreled approach for dealing with this weed. Early in the season, he likes to use 2-4D or Clarity along with a residual herbicide such as Valor or Caparol. Then he’ll come back with Ignite later in the season for additional control. If the marestail survives all of this, Envoke can be applied over the top, but, as John says, “at that point, all you’re doing is stunting the growth of the weed.” “This is the main weed problem we have, and we’ll have to be vigilant to control it,” he says. “We simply have to change our chemistries and be innovative in our strategy.” The innovative production practices employed by the Lindamoods also include flexibility in row spacing. For many years, they used 30-inch row patterns on no-till acreage. Then, when it came time to re-invest in new equipment, they switched back to 38-inch row spacing, so that they could have some of their colder, wetter ground back up on beds. No-till is the tillage option that most West Tennessee farmers employ. But the Lindamoods have the option of using either conventional or no-till because of the Delta-like conditions. John will be the first to say that it’s a team approach to making the Lindamood farm and gin efficient and profitable. He utilizes Daniel Arant, a gin employee, to help with data management for variable rate applications. Making Technology Work Greg Allen, the Lake County Extension agent, has worked with the Lindamoods for 17 years and makes specific recommendations throughout the crop season. “I’ve worked with the Lindamoods for a long time, and we’ve been through a lot of things together,” says Allen. “It’s been exciting to see them embrace technology and how that has benefited their farm.” Joe and Diane Jenkins of Dyersburg, Tenn., have done the farm’s soil sampling for the past 10 years. An office staff of three persons handles the day-to-day business of the farm, while a full-time crew of eight workers is employed year-round. At harvest, that list increases to 12. Like any farmer today, John Lindamood is concerned about how farm programs will be treated when the new Farm Bill is written. He’s hoping that Congress will understand the importance of a viable ag economy. “I think it’s critically important for farmers to become actively involved in farm policy by working with organizations like the National Cotton Council and Farm Bureau. That’s how we’ve developed fiscally responsible Farm Bills in the past.” The Lindamood family has
farmed some of the same ground for more than 70 years, and for that
reason they have pride in their history and the contribution they make
to the local economy. “You have to be an optimist to stay in the business,” says John. “Some people might say you have to be crazy to farm in today’s environment. But it’s a way of life for us up here, and we view the future with a lot of hope.” Bill Lindamood’s Memories Span Half A Century
Consider this for an interesting bit of perspective. Bill Lindamood, who runs the Phoenix Gin in Tiptonville, was honored as the Southern Cotton Ginners Association’s “Ginner of the Year” two years ago. More importantly, he was
honored as “Farmer of the Year” by Cotton Farming magazine
in 1970. “I’ve been involved in farming since 1954,” he says with a laugh. “And that definitely covers a few years. Back in those early days, we ginned four bales an hour, and the cotton was brought to the gin by mules and wagons.” Today, the gin in Tiptonville
can process 600 bales a day and is able to handle 35,000 bales during
a season. It uses all the latest technology for lint cleaning and moisture
restoration. “We don’t have the paper receipts anymore,” he recalls. “Computers rule the roost. From the HVI classing to the invoices to transferring the cotton to the warehouse and then putting the cotton into the loan, it’s all computer driven.” You name it, and Bill Lindamood has seen it happen in cotton. And he can recall important dates and places like a walking, talking encyclopedia. He doesn’t know how much longer he’ll continue to run the gin and help market the family’s cotton each year. But he does feel fortunate to be part of an industry that he loves – while living in a beautiful small town like Tiptonville. “It’s a lovely little town, and we’re proud of it,” he says. “We have wonderful cotton fields, plus the Reelfoot Lake nearby. What more could you ask for?”
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