Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/155925
MULTI-FUNCTION TRACTORS, MECHANICAL HARVESTING Merritt listed three factors driving WVM's latest move to vineyard mechanization: The economic recession; labor (availability, cost) and the future vision of agricultural labor; and the requirement that new technology meet or enhance quality expectations. WVM sent representatives to France to visit major growing regions such as Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley, and to trade shows such as Vinitech and SITEVI. "France represents a real-world test case for California," Merritt explained. "They haven't had adequate labor for the past 30 years, but they continue their pursuit of quality." He noted that 75% of the grapes in Bordeaux are mechanically harvested. WVM has owned five Nairn towbehind mechanical harvesters for years, but they accounted for only 5%-15% of total acreage harvested annually. WVM began looking at new harvesters and multi-function equipment in 2008. In 2009, WVM field-tested its first Pellenc 8590 multi-function tractor, manufactured in France, and now has a fleet of six. Each is used during harvest with a Pellenc Selectiv' Process onboard destemmer/berry sorter. The 8590 tractors operate in minimum row spacing of 5.5 feet and have automatic ground tracking/leveling correction systems to maintain picking heads at proper canopy level over variable terrain. Providing full-service vineyard operations to winery clients enables WVM to look at the entire production process, including winemaking. Merritt noted that mechanization in the premium fruit sorting, and concluded, said Merritt, "Not only does mechanization save money for our clients, it also enhances the quality of the grape and wine product." Now more than 50% of WVM's managed vineyards are mechanically picked with the Pellenc Selectiv', accounting for about 7,000 tons in 2012. OPTICAL SORTING EQUIPMENT In addition to onboard harvestersorters, WVM purchased mobile berry sorting machines to use at the winery, or near a vineyard block during harvest, to destem and sort hand-harvested or mechanically harvested fruit. These sorters virtually eliminate MOG, and separate and retain berries in good condition with uniform ripeness. www.agsafe.org www.wvmgmt.com alsh Vineyards Mgmt, Inc. is proud to be a part of the Benefactor Circle of the AgSafe Education Center Capital Campaign. The campaign has provided funding for the AgSafe Education Center. We appreciate AgSafe and all who participate in making our industry safer for its workers and encourage you to learn more about AgSafe's work to protect agricultural farm workers. w w w. v w m media.com WVM uses high-tech optical sorters, including the Bucher Vaslin Delta Vistalys, to efficiently reject unsuitable berries. North Coast wine business has challenges, because winemakers have a lot of influence over the production process. "To make changes in the vineyard, we need to have buy-in from the winemaker," he said. "We had to provide a higher quality of fruit sorting than the wineries could do on their own, or than we could do with hand labor." WVM compared night, hand-harvesting with mechanical harvesting and optical One is a Pellenc Selectiv' Process Vision optical sorter, which presorts and separates small waste across a conveyor, then uses lights and cameras to identify and locate jacks and green berries that are ejected with high-pressure air nozzles. WVM also has a Bucher Vaslin Delta Vistalys optical sorter that works similarly. These sorters proved their value during the cool, wet 2011 harvest by removing berries with Botrytis bunch rot. WVM S e p t - O c t 2 0 13 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 59