Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/590163
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER NOVEMBER 2015 27 canes missed by the blades because they were located near trellis posts. "Workers were able to walk quickly down the rows and prune the one or two canes around posts that are every 20 to 30 feet. It was pretty minimal work." While Hoff says there is room for improvement for the pre-pruner, he was pleased with the first year's results. Because pruning represents such a big part of vineyard labor, he's working to eliminate the need for any hand pruning. He also has one season's experience with Pellenc's soft-touch leaf puller that uses a potentiometer as a position sensor to track the canopy and automatically manage tool pressure. Sensors help the leaf puller's drums follow the contours of the canopy to cut leaves whole. Most leafing devices rely on the operator to position the leaf-removal tool as it moves down the canopy row. PHOTO COURTESY VINE TECH EQUIPMENT A new grape leaf puller for vineyards uses pressure sensors to follow the contours of canopies during leaf removal. tools The leaf puller did a good job of following the canopy, according to Hoff. But he said that in some locations, it wasn't as aggressive in cutting leaves as a Clemens, a leaf removal attachment widely used in vineyards made by the German Clemens manufacturer. The cost of the Pellenc precision pre-pruner that can be attached to a standard tractor is around $45,000; a soft-touch leaf puller attachment for a standard tractor is $25,000. —M. Hansen 1-800-250-5024 • www.CertisUSA.com ©2015 Certis USA Recommendations: Cueva, Kocide Integrated copper solutions for season-long fi reblight and summer disease control Double Nickel Broad spectrum foliar powdery mildew and fi reblight disease control OSO FRAC 19 fungicide for summer diseases and post-harvest protection CYD-X HP, Madex HP Codling moth and Oriental fruit moth control PFR-97 Broad spectrum insecticide and miticide Neemix Insect growth regulator for psyllid control Deliver Bt for leafroller larvae control Screen Duo For sunburn protection and heat stress reduction Diseases and Pests: Fireblight Codling moth, Oriental fruit moth Powdery mildew Psyllids, aphids, mites, leafrollers Summer diseases and post-harvest rots The Biopesticide Company Biopesticides. Short REIs and zero days to harvest. Resistance and residue management. Application fl exibility. Better harvest management and timely shipping. Screen Duo is a registered trademark of Crop Microclimate Management Inc. Cueva is a registered trademark W. Neudorff GmbH KG. Kocide is a registered trademark of Kocide LLC. All others are registered trademarks of Certis USA LLC. A CM CM CM De De J PFR PFR CX CX G Ma Ma DX DX DX BNS BNS BNS Se Se Se SL SL SL Nx Nx DN DN O SG SG SG Cu Cu R K2 K2 K3 K3 MK MK MK Tr Tr Tr SM SM SM MC MC MC FSO FSO FSO SD SD