Transparent documentation of our estate's agricultural cycle, soil metrics, fermentation logs, and seasonal observations from the Delacroix family farm.
Implementing selective branch reduction in Sectors 4 and 7 to optimize air circulation and reduce fungal pressure ahead of the short rains. Removed 12% of secondary growth, focusing on vertical stratification.
Experimented with 7-day fermentation using modified box stacking. Peak temp reached 52.1°C on day 4. Flavor precursors show enhanced fruity esters, though astringency markers remain slightly elevated on day 6.
Soil cores from the northern elevation showed pH dropping to 5.4. Applied dolomitic lime at 1.2 tons/hectare across 40 acres. Target buffer pH 5.8-6.2 to improve calcium uptake and reduce aluminum toxicity risk.
Upgraded primary blower motors and recalibrated sieve gaps. Kernel-to-shell ratio improved to 3:1 with 98.4% clean bean yield. Residual husk contamination reduced by 0.15% compared to Q4 2023 metrics.
First yield data from grafted TR1/TCH6 hybrids shows 22% higher pod count per tree compared to open-pollinated controls. Pod wall thickness indicates strong resistance to swollen shoot virus. Rootstock vigor remains consistent.
Heavy rainfall from Nov 15-28 reduced midge pollinator activity by an estimated 35%. Compensatory hand-pollination trials in Sector 2 showed marginal improvement. Waiting for dry window to resume natural cycles.