To help vineyard managers streamline operations and increase profitability, NP Seymour offers advanced machinery from Germany’s leading vineyard machinery manufacturer, ERO, that quickly transforms the pruning process.
The ERO mechanical pre-pruner and ERO VITECO cane puller work together to reduce labour demands and simplify vineyard operations.
As contractor Sam Barnes, of SJ Barnes Ltd explains, “The pre-pruner removes around 20%-30% of the wood, cutting down the time and effort needed for pulling out by eliminating those stubborn wispy ends and tendrils.”
The ERO mechanical pre-pruner is an ideal solution for established vines on single or double Guyot systems. It uses counter-rotating serrated shearing disks to trim back 40cm-105cm of canes and tendrils from the wires, allowing for faster and more precise pruning preparation.
These shearing disks are highly durable, designed to handle dense vine growth while maintaining sharpness over extended use, thus reducing maintenance needs.
The pre-pruner also offers an automatic post-sensing option, which, combined with its simple push-button controls, makes it easy to operate even on larger vineyards. Operators can quickly open the rollers when reaching a post or starting a new row, ensuring consistent pruning without interruption.
For flexibility, the machine can leave longer canes if needed, providing sacrificial canes as a frost buffer or offering flexibility with bud numbers.
Once pruning is complete, the ERO VITECO cane puller takes over to streamline the arduous task of cane removal. Physically this is very strenuous, plus it’s at a time of year in the UK when the weather is usually pretty unpleasant, and it takes a considerable amount of time, too.
The VITECO cane puller has been designed to strip and mulch canes simultaneously in one pass, minimising the manual labour required after pruning has been done.
Depending on the grape variety, the time required for cane stripping accounts for 35 to 60 labour hours/ha. A considerable number of seasonal workers are needed, and as growers know all too well, this brings with it hidden costs in the form of admin and the challenge of finding good people.
Instead of employing 10 to 15 people for pulling out, you can have just three working with the ERO VITECO. One to walk ahead of the cane puller making sure pruning has been done correctly and unhooking the wire, one to drive the tractor and operate the machine, and one to walk behind repositioning wires into the right place.
The ERO VITECO cane puller works by raising the movable bending wire and fruiting wires on the machine side of the trellis and guiding them to the machine head. It then strips all the woody shoots, tendrils and fruiting canes off the wires with almost nothing left behind. All of the canes wrapped around or tied to the wire are shredded while passing through the mulcher.
The debris is then spread in the vineyard and growers can choose whether or not they pass through with a pulveriser. If you are using something like the PERFECT – Van Wamel KK 150 with side chutes you will be able to create a finer mutch which will be spread directly under the vines.
Removing and repositioning the fruiting wires only takes approximately six hours/ha and can be completed immediately after with minimal effort.
According to ERO, a total of approximately 30 to 50 hours/ha can be potentially saved by using the ERO VITECO cane puller, meaning vineyards with over 35ha will see a return on investment in the first full season of use.
To run the machine, growers need vineyards with rows at least 70 metres long with all wires on the side facing the pruner being removable. Compatible with all narrow tractors from 70hp upwards, the ERO VITECO also comes with the VITIpower 60 hydraulic system with a maximum PTO speed of 540 rpm = 60 l/min.
If you’re seeking more efficient pruning solutions, and want to learn more about how the ERO mechanical pre-pruner and VITECO cane puller can benefit your vineyard, contact the NP Seymour sales team on 01580 712200 or email sales@npseymour.co.uk
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