Robinson: Crop Inputs - PEI Potatoes, Potato Produce Sales, Protected Varieties, Farming, and Inputs

Garden Isle Farms - Produce Sales (1K) -

Mary Robinson (Manager - Island Lime)
with son, John Roberts

In the spring of 1999, the Robinson family purchased Island Lime from Joan & Bill Macdonald. Island Lime, PEI's leading provider of lime, gypsum and hydra-lime spreading services, has a long history on PEI.

It has been a natural fit into the long-standing family of agricultural products and services provided by the Robinson Family. Joan & Bill continue to work along with us, helping to maintain Island Lime's high spreading standard.

Since 1999, we have added another TerraGator spreader to our fleet, now consisting of 3 self-propelled spreaders. We operate the only five-wheeler on the Island as well as a three and four-wheeler. Island Lime has also made significant investments in GPS Guidance Systems. The guidance systems we use ensure that our spreaders are giving the best coverage possible. After all, our customers go to great lengths to determine what product to use and at what rate. We follow up on that, doing the best job possible to make sure our customers are getting the job they want. Consider that a miss or overlap will result in no lime to some of the crop and twice the desired amount on other parts of the crop.

For the past couple of years we have been working with Harvey Stewart to develop a trailer that will allow us to haul from the quarry and to the field. We now have a 40' rear-lift tri-axle with a live bottom that will dump into our spreaders. We are always working to improve our safety and efficiency.

Foreman Glenn Working at Dawn

This spring and summer we have offered bulk lime deliveries and a tow lime spreader. We have had great interest in these services. Our Stoltzfus tow spreader, custom built with a longer, lower box for easier farm loading, has been getting enthusiastic reviews. It spreads 36' wide and does a beautiful job. It is ideal for those smaller or special jobs and for 'over the row' applications of gypsum or hydra-lime.

Stoltzfus Tow Spreader Rental

Fall is a great time to lime. On the Robinson Family Farm fall liming has been our long-time practice. We feel that the benefits of fall lime are significant. We put our lime on old potato land. Snow and rain help incorporate that lime down into the soil. When spring comes we can go ahead and put the barley crop in the ground when we're ready. Our liming is done and that is one less thing to be worrying about.

A lot of farmers are looking to apply lime on top of stubble. This is especially well suited to land that may be prone to erosion. The stubble holds the lime in place, protecting it from being moved by water or wind.

The best way to lime is consistently and by choosing your lime based on your soil sample results. Whatever schedule works on your farm is the best schedule to follow. Call Mary Robinson at 437-LIME (5463) or toll free at 866-414-5463 to talk about trying some fall liming. It could be a good fit for your farm.