Date: March 24, 2009 @ 1:57 AM

Half-Track Takes on Vineyard

When I was a kid, I had a toy half-track.  It was a WWII truck with tires in the front and treads in the back.  (That’s why it is called a half-track.)  They were probably in a lot of those movies about D Day, A Bridge Too Far, Saving Private Ryan, Kelly’s Heroes…

I never expected to see a half track in our vineyards but we have one (It’s orange instead of green and comes without the armor.)

For those of us who like to ooohhhh and ahhhh over tractors, you can shake your heads but we enjoy them in some sort of bizarre, unexplainable way.  We get to compare horsepower, PTO’s (power take off, not paid time off), MPG, fuel flexibility, implements and now we can compare treads to tires!

Why treads you ask…

Actually, treads are better.  There is less compaction of the soils as it spreads the load.  There is less chance of creating erosion and they are more stable on hillsides.  Of course, it is also the “new car syndrome.”  You know, when everyone else comes over to look at your new toy with that bit of awe and jealousy.

Chances are, if you stop by Nickel & Nickel, the half-track won’t be in our tractor shed because it is out in the vineyards mowing and spading the cover crops in anticipation of the frost season.  However, if you see our half-track, point it out to the others…it’s cool!