Good Fruit Grower

April 1

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54 APRIL 1, 2014 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com Sprinkler with uniform flow T oro has introduced a pressure- compensating sprin- kler, the Micro-Sprinkler PC, specifically designed for orchards, vineyards, and nurseries with undulating terrain and long laterals. The sprinkler provides uni- form flows and diameters over a wide range of operating pressures and has a wider diameter of throw than Toro's previous microsprinklers. It is suitable for undertree or overhead irrigation. The new sprinkler has a diameter of throw from 16 feet to 31 feet, depending on the model; a low angle of throw to maximize irrigation under foliage; flow rates rang- ing from 9 to 40 gallons per minute; and an anti-insect and dustproof spinner that retracts to protect the nozzle when not in operation. For more information, visit www.toro.com.. Hybrid bins B in maker Macro Plastics has begun to manufacture a hybrid bin that's made of wood and plastic. An injection-molded plastic bin is fixed within a wood frame for struc- tural support. This offers growers who are using wooden bins an econom- ical alternative. The hybrid bins are designed to stack more securely than wooden bins. Only the plastic part comes into contact with the fruit, reducing the risk of damage or contamination by pathogens. The Hybrid 44 Series bins come in either fully vented or solid configurations. Delivery costs are reduced because the empty plas- tic bins can be nested when shipped, with the wooden frames shipped separately in flat kits. Growers can select from several wood configurations and order kits, which can be assembled on site. The Hybrid 44 bins can be stacked ten high. For more information, go to www.macroplastics.com. Cold Train has new owners, expansion plans A major shipper of apples and other fruit is changing hands. Federated Railways, Inc., an affiliate of Federated Capital Corporation, Farmington Hills, Michigan, will acquire the assets of Rail Logistics, including its Cold Train Express Intermodal Service. The new subsidiary will be called Federated Cold Train and will conduct business as Cold Train. The company will maintain its current staff, including Steve Lawson as president, and its headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas. Federated Capital Corporation's holdings include a variety of service, leasing, and railroad assets, including the Great Lakes Central Railroad in Michigan and Fed- erated Railcar. Rail Logistics launched the Cold Train Express Inter- modal Service in partnership with BNSF Railway from the Port of Quincy Intermodal Terminal in Washington State in April of 2010, and then more recently began a similar service from Portland, Oregon. In 2013, it expanded its refrigerated container fleet to more than 400 Hyundai 53-foot containers and added new destinations on the East Coast. Cold Train now delivers refrigerated cargo from Washington and Oregon to 20 midwestern and eastern states and Ontario, Can- ada. Louis P. Ferris, president of Federated Capital Corpo- ration, said Federated Capital plans to add at least 1,000 more containers to the Cold Train fleet over the next five years. Scare birds B ird Gard has a series of electronic bird repellers designed to protect from 1.5 to 30 acres, which growers are using to pro- tect a range of crops such as cherries, blueberries, apples, and grapes. The Bird Gard units use solid-state microchip technology to digitally repro- duce bird distress calls and predator sounds. Recordings of more than a hundred of the most common nuisance birds are available. The units can be programmed to have delays between calls and to work day or night or 24 hours a day. Random modes cre- ate the illusion of several birds in distress in the protected area, and the settings can be changed so birds don't become accustomed to the sounds. Most units operate on either a 11/240-volt current or 12-volt battery and are mounted on a pole. The units stand up to extreme weather conditions, according to information from Bird Gard. The top-of-the-line model, the Super Pro Amp, has 20 speakers and comes with a solar panel. It is designed to protect 15 to 30 acres. For more information, check the Web site http://birdgard.com/ cherries- and-tree-fruits. A selection of the latest products and services for tree fruit and grape growers. GOOD STUFF The Bird Gard Super Pro Amp bird repeller installed in a Washington cherry orchard.

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