Hey,
I recently stumbled upon some intriguing information regarding potato harvesting in North Carolina, and I wanted to get your thoughts on it. I heard whispers about unconventional methods that some farmers are using to harvest potatoes in the region.
Rumor has it that instead of the traditional digging and lifting process, these farmers have developed a unique method involving trained pigs to unearth the potatoes! Yes, you read that right - pigs! Allegedly, these highly skilled swine sniff out the tubers and carefully dig them up, leaving the farmers amazed and in awe.
Now, I'm not sure if this is just an urban legend or if there's any truth to it. Has anyone here heard about or witnessed this unconventional potato harvesting technique involving pigs in North Carolina? I'm incredibly curious to know if there's any factual basis to these claims or if it's simply a figment of someone's wild imagination.
Please share your thoughts, experiences, or any other unusual potato harvesting practices you may have come across. Let's delve into the world of peculiar spud gathering techniques!
Thanks

Are you certain that you were reading about taters?
Sounds more like truffles to me...
https://www.wideopeneats.com/n...

Sounds more like BS to me

While the idea of using trained pigs for potato harvesting may sound intriguing, it's important to approach such claims with skepticism. Unconventional practices can vary by region or individual experimentation, but there is no widely known or documented use of trained pigs for potato harvesting in North Carolina or other major potato-growing areas. It's possible that the story you heard may be more of a fictional tale than an actual agricultural practice.
https://foresttofood.com/2023/...

I can't imagine pigs not eating any potatoes that they might dig up!

Sandy, i too think the only reason pigs would dig for taters is if they want to eat them. But I don't know how the truffle hunters handle the pigs. Leash them? Pull them off, give them something else?
It just doesn't sound plasuible- the original question. I'm not putting any energy into googling for that.

Odd but kind of good movie
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1...

Well, pigs are certainly very intelligent; and of course dogs can be trained to retrieve birds that they would probably like to eat but they bring them back intact... so, maybe (about the potatoes) ?

sallyg said: But I don't know how the truffle hunters handle the pigs. Leash them? Pull them off, give them something else?

It just doesn't sound plasuible- the original question. I'm not putting any energy into googling for that.

Actually, I googled the original idea before posting...
I couldn't find any citations at all.

I've been aware of the efforts to grow truffles in North Carolina... I'd been reading about it since the 80s... And in Europe, they fight the hogs for the find... I think the hog gets real excited... kind of obvious what he's found...
I guess, maybe put a chain attached to a collar, wrapped around the saddle horn? Back the horse up, and the hog gets pulled away from it's prize?
Doesn't sound real easy... is why they're teaching dogs to hunt truffle.

I dont know why I return to this question
I think commercially, no way.
How about self sufficient scale? Pigs like to dig, can it be easier to follow a pig around and pickup what it turns up? I just think you'd miss a lot of taters.
I'm digging by hand and trying to find even the little bean size ones so they don't volunteer willy nilly.

I could see the Onion writing this up. Pigs are smart etc.

Maybe it's actually getting the pigs to plow up the ground where you want to plant potatoes...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Its so interesting, how livestock helps manage a farm.