Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/401644
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER NOVEMBER 2014 43 Growers: Attract and maintain a steady labor force by offering on-farm housing that sleeps up to 20 workers in high quality, low maintenance structures. We have several floor plans approved by the Washington State Department of Health– fully self-contained units, and dormitory only. They include: • showers • eating area • toilets/sinks • sleeping area • kitchen with appliances - GE • social area • plumbed for washer/dryer Experienced in building H-2A Housing . Our homes are built to perform under the conditions required. We use these quality components: • James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding • Jeld-Wen windows with double-strength glass • Copper water lines • Large capacity water heaters We have over 25 years' experience in building quality farm housing. OVER 235 units already SOLD! * .*%$*&$ . $)% .%&' .)#+.,+.)+!((+..)#(.*.--,, &."!."#(.-'-'-,- PHIL BROWN WELDING CORP. PHIL BROWN WELDING CORP. PHIL BROWN WELDING CORP. +/64:22: 51(012 • 3:22: 51(5 • 125-5:%7)4:#:$:/6)76:%7,+76:1-10 888*+7) /8684)76*,/& '&'%"%'$ '&%%! '!& '$ $'#&' $'%& "# '#'&% '#%& '$ '#%&&% '# !'$ $!% "%! $"#&""#&$"!$ 9:339#::3!..:.'$9:3:3#!'"::99".9:9!'%9$" Contact Vine Tech Equipment your Northwest Phil Brown Dealer 0-( 55(0-00:::::888*7644,+4 7&46*,/& TREE PLANTER Self-Propelled Work Platform Hydraulic Work Platform (sold separately) can be mounted on any available running gear. Semios provides the service to 50 growers in Canada, while Wilbur-Ellis Co. makes it available in the United States, where about 20 farms have signed on. More than 2,000 acres in Washington, Idaho, and Michigan subscribe to the service, at a cost of $150 an acre. "This thing is operational out in the middle of an orchard in the middle of nowhere, with no infrastruc- ture," said Greg Pickel, manager of the Yakima branch of Wilbur-Ellis. "You can basically build the system and it's operational. That's what intrigued us. That's a leap over the systems that are available. We look at a lot of different systems, but this one truly gives a farmer the ability to get a micro look at his orchard." The value to growers lies in the finer grain of infor- mation that emerges, and the promise of savings as pest management costs—both for labor and materials— drop. Pickel said this in turn promises to boost orchard productivity. "You don't have to run out there to make your deci- sions," he said. "You could literally get up and start your day downloading information to help you make those key management decision before you even head out the door in the morning." And make no mistake—growers will still have to head into the orchard, but Pickel said Semios's system gives them a better idea of where to focus their efforts rather than having them spend time looking for trouble. "This system does not replace eyes in the field, but it would definitely give you direction," he said. "It removes the guesswork." • PHOTOS COURTESY OF SEMIOSBIO TECHNOLOGIES INC. SemiosBio's wireless network enables growers to remotely control pheromone puffers to fine tune insect control.