Delta’s Manteca farm campus was financially approved for a backhoe for the agricultural department. But what is a backhoe?
A backhoe is an attachment for a tractor. It’s attached to the back of the tractor, the component that’s equipped with a digging bucket, also known as a dipper stick. The component helps with collecting heavy loads like compost, manure, dirt, etc. It can also be used for trenching and backfilling. For example: it can dig out a huge and heavy tree and move it elsewhere. Not only are they used on farms but also on construction sites.
The Manteca farm has been part of Delta since the 1960’s. Drake explains that the backhoe they have was donated in the early ’70s by the grounds department.
“We need a new backhoe,” said Drake. “Getting parts or doing repairs for backhoes, especially outdated ones, are hard to maintain. The repairs at this point are costing how much a new backhoe would be. Also, there is a state cap on old equipment.”
Manteca’s farm lab manager, Donald Drake, submitted a Strong Workforce Program (SWP) purchase requisition on Feb. 14. However, on March 11, Drake received a price quote but the offer expired at the end of March.
At the Zoom board meeting on March 5, the dean of applied science, business and technology, presented a PowerPoint for the Horticulture/Viticulture Agriculture Update. The presentation displays the plans and goals at the campuses for the agriculture program.
Poised for growth into 2025-2026, the future for technology and facilities will continue to update lab facilities and equipment, according to the PowerPoint.
