By: Alyssa L. Ochs
Smart equipment investments are essential to running a profitable, sustainable, modern vineyard that aligns with your business goals. Some of the most affordable and versatile equipment solutions are small tow-behind implements that work well between rows of grapevines.
Tow-behind equipment is especially beneficial for small and mid-sized vineyards with tight budgets. With the right mulchers, spreaders, mowers, deleafers, and harvesting tow behinds, you can maneuver tight spaces and rely less on manual labor to save costs and overcome worker shortage issues.
To learn more about compact, nimble machines that aren’t unnecessarily complicated or overpriced to strain your budget, we connected with several industry leaders offering small tow-behind equipment for vineyards.
BDI MACHINERY: Time-Saving Deleafers and Optimal-Coverage Sprayers
BDi Machinery, based in Macungie, Pennsylvania, offers a wide selection of vineyard equipment. BDi sells many types and sizes of sprayers, hedgers, leaf removers, shredders, cultivators, pruners, mowers, row mulchers, and other specialized machines.
Paul J. Licata from BDi Machinery explained that his company focuses on growth and cultivation mechanization equipment and is the exclusive importer of OLMI Pneumatic Deleafers for vineyards in the U.S. OLMI is the pioneer, innovator, and premier brand of Pneumatic Deleafers, which encourage optimal grape development and lead to improved grape health and quality wine.
“An OLMI deleafer does not harm grapes during any period of use, since the OLMI leaf remover does not work in contact with vegetation,” Licata said. “It allows work in any kind of vineyard and has short application times. The OLMI in pre-harvest facilitates manual harvesting with a saving of time of 30 percent, while with mechanical harvesting it eliminates moisture in the fruiting area so a greater cleanliness of the crop can be reached. Also, fungicides and other impurities in the tanks of the harvester can be reduced. Even in this phase, the deleafer does not harm the grapes.”
Licata shared that this deleafer requires 50 PTO HP for a single diffusor head machine and 85 PTO HP for a multi-head diffusor head model machine. Maintenance and inspection after each use stage during the growing season involve checking the filter, greasing points, oil levels for the compressor and gearbox, and the fan coupling joint.
“We provide complete post-purchase support for the startup and training of the machine use,” Licata said. “Whenever there is a need, we and our customers are in direct contact with the OLMI Italy factory for all customer needs, and we offer a one-year warranty.”
He shared that the typical return on investment for an OLMI deleafer is 1.5 to 2.5 years, depending on the size of your vineyard operation.
Licata also told us that BDi Machinery imports CIMA Low-Volume Atomizer Sprayers, which are the pesticide sprayers of choice for growers who want quality, clean fruit. They offer a better alternative to traditional high-volume air-blast “soaker sprayers” that don’t have consistent pressure control.
“The CIMA Blitz Trailer Model T50 – 300 Gallon with a TC.2M2M spray head is a very common solution for our customers for single row, and TCF.2M2M spray head for multi-row,” Licata said. “The CIMA makes droplets in the 100 to 150µ range. In contrast, a high-pressure “soaker sprayer” commonly makes droplets in the 250-400µ range.”
“Since droplets are three dimensional, when you break down a large droplet, it has many smaller droplets inside of that large droplet,” he explained. “Therefore, with a CIMA Atomizer Sprayer, you will have many more droplets available for better coverage. This type of spray method also allows you not to have to spray to a drip. Unlike typical high-pressure air blast sprayers with air speeds around 80 to 100 mph, the atomizer-style delivery system coats all surfaces of the canopy with air speeds around 170 to 200 mph, achieving better quality of coverage and yielding a cleaner crop.”
CLEMENS TECHNOLOGIES: In-Row Cultivating and Mechanical Weed Control
Another company, Clemens Technologies, offers efficient and sustainable machine solutions that make winegrowers’ daily work in grapevine rows easier. Clemens Technologies was founded in 1952 and is based in Germany. The company launched in the early 1970s with a specialization in mechanizing all work steps in vineyards and orchards.
Clemens’ first product line featured specialty cultivators for working the soil in steep hill conditions. From there, the company developed a steadily perfected line of soil-working equipment, especially mechanical solutions for in-row cultivation and weeding to avoid the use of herbicides. Clemens’ machines operate worldwide in all vineyard conditions, row spacings, and varieties.
Since 1988, Clemens Technologies USA has been based in Woodland, California, offering these vineyard solutions to the U.S. wine industry. Here, Clemens provides products for under-row care, soil cultivation, canopy management, tool carriers, high-wheel tractors and crawlers, and vineyard management software.
Owner and president Thomas Clemens explained to The Grapevine Magazine that his company specializes in in-row cultivating and mechanical weed control. Clemens’ equipment solutions are designed year-round for mechanical weed control in vineyards and orchards, especially in the spring and summer.
“The well-known Clemens Radius under-vine-weeder undercuts the weeds and detects the vine,” Clemens said. “Is mounted to a tractor or tool carrier either in front, in the rear, or in between the axles. It is driven by tractor hydraulics, like most of the Clemens products. There are multiple versions and accessories for the Radius.”
“For high weed situations and no-till vineyards Clemens offers a brush system, called Multiclean, which mows the weeds in between the vines,” Clemens went on to share. “Also, this unit is hydraulically-driven and has the same mounting options as the Radius.”
In addition to these pieces of vineyard equipment, Clemens Technologies has offered a range of machines for canopy management since the early 2000s. These products include pre-pruners, hedgers, shoot-binders, and leaf-removers.
Clemens told us that all his company’s products are low-maintenance and easy to service. If repairs are needed, parts are always available in Clemens’ Woodland, California warehouse.
“Modern tractors are equipped with sufficient hydraulic remotes nowadays,” Clemens said. “If not, we offer joystick controls to provide a comfortable and most efficient way to control the equipment. Most of the Clemens units are available in one-sided or two-sided versions. During intensive discussions with the customer, we configure the right setup for each individual vineyard situation.”
GEARMORE: Various Attachments to Make Tractors More Productive
Based in Chino, California, Gearmore sells reliable tractor attachments exclusively through servicing tractor dealers. For over 50 years, it has served the vineyard, farm, ranch, landscape, municipal, and construction industries. Gearmore’s primary service areas are California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Hawaii, Baja California, and Sonora, Mexico. However, it also sells products nationally and globally.
Its selection of vineyard implements includes sprayers, vine trimmers, deleafers, pre-pruners, compost spreaders, and sulfur dusters. Skid steer mowers, mower shredders, soil conditioners, air blast sprayers, and in-row cultivators are other products available.
Innovations in Modern Tow-Behind Equipment
Many vineyard managers have been gradually shifting away from large, heavy, and complex machinery that damages vine rows and compacts soils. Instead, they’re looking for more manageable equipment solutions that can easily be hitched to tractors and navigate tight rows over challenging terrain. Vineyards between five and 50 acres of rows benefit tremendously from this approach.
Vineyard managers rely on tow-behind equipment to achieve sustainability goals by reducing soil compaction and promoting long-term vine root health. Variable-rate technology, data-logging features, and GPS guidance further enhance product offerings with greater automation and precision. Lightweight, eco-friendly equipment materials like aluminum can further minimize vineyard impacts and boost soil health.
Another industry innovation trend is multi-function, modular tow-behind platforms, which are versatile tool carriers able to accommodate multiple attachments. Vineyards can consolidate multiple tools into a single platform for spraying, cultivating, mowing, and other tasks while minimizing downtime. Some systems include digital dashboards, quick-swap interfaces, and remote diagnostics using Wi-Fi connectivity.
Choosing and Maintaining Your Tow-Behind Equipment
Vineyard managers can avoid common maintenance and operational challenges by implementing regular maintenance plans at defined intervals and as specified by equipment manufacturers. Regularly inspect your tow-behind equipment by greasing it and checking the fluid levels and belt tension.
“Importantly for BDi Machinery customers is the stocking of parts and support materials for all the brands we represent,” Licata from BDi said. “Anyone can sell a machine, but the service, parts, and support is where the rubber hits the road. Customers know they can always count on BDi Machinery, with also additional direct factory technical support should that ever be needed.”
Licata also advised that customers must understand the specific tow-behind equipment tractor requirements before making any purchase. The relevant and essential technical tractor specifications include the tractor HP, PTO HP, hydraulic flow rates at remotes, and electrical outlets for controls. It’s also necessary to assess your vineyard application criteria, such as row width, row height, trellis system, growing system, irrigation system, and soil density.
Looking ahead, we may see future innovations involving autonomous tractors and tow-behind units guided by GPS and robotic systems. Meanwhile, self-leveling mowers and sprayers can help vineyard managers make real-time adjustments based on their terrain. Other high-tech tools to watch in the years ahead are performance tracking tools to help you monitor tow-behind equipment usage, labor needs, and maintenance schedules.
Embracing innovations in vineyard tow-behind equipment can give winegrowers a competitive edge while maintaining an authentic, hands-on production approach. With precise, well-designed machinery that improves both vine health and worker productivity, tow-behind equipment has come a long way from its original, humble beginnings.
