Category: Archived Articles

By: Alyssa L. Ochs

Various tools and pieces of equipment are essential to smoothly operating a vineyard. Yet the versions of these products you choose could significantly impact your labor expenditures and a successful harvest.

  This article highlights several specific pieces of vineyard equipment: de-leafers, tillers, sprayers, mowers and shredders. With the input of industry experts, we offer recommendations about evaluating your options and choosing suitable machines for your grapes.

De-Leafers in the Vineyard

  De-leafers are machines that remove leaves around grape clusters in a vineyard. They aim to improve air circulation and allow grapes to get more sunlight for growth. Using a de-leafer helps reduce the likelihood of disease and enhances grape quality.

  Based in Macungie, Pennsylvania, BDi Machinery offers the Rinieri DRF, a double barrel leaf remover that fits the needs of modern vineyards. Paul J. Licata from BDi told The Grapevine Magazine how this machine removes leaves from the grape zone, increasing maturation and aeration and reducing the amount of chemicals sprayed.

  He also shared about the Olmi 430F Air Impulse leaf remover machine with one reversible head, four hydraulic movements, a cardan, and an electro-hydraulic joystick to operate the hydraulic movements. It has a high-speed system head, and the compressor unit on the back of the tractor has a three-point hitch linkage frame with the head at the front of the tractor. OLMI is the pioneer of pneumatic de-leafing and the latest technology available. 

  Lakeview Vineyard Equipment is based in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, and provides a wide range of vineyard mechanization solutions for every scale of operation. Joe Pillitteri from Lakeview Vineyard Equipment shared with The Grapevine Magazine that his company offers leaf removal machines like the Collard Raptor Compressed Air Leaf Removers. The Clemens EasyFix Shootbinder is a tool used to tuck vines behind leaves, and the Collard Hedger and Collard Leaf Removers are also options.

Chino, California-based Gearmore provides quality implements through servicing tractor dealers and aims to offer the finest and most reliable equipment at affordable prices.

  Robert Giersbach from Gearmore told The Grapevine Magazine, “Many different implements are available for between rows vineyard maintenance, such as discs, flail shredders, cultivators, tillers and v-rippers. We supply all these implements, as growers may use one or more of these implements that best fits their requirements.”

  In general, when shopping for de-leafers, look for models that save manual labor time. Some models can save up to 30 percent of your time rather than de-leafing by hand. Also, look for de-leafers that are gentle to vines, such as air-based systems, so that you don’t damage grapes. 

Tillers in the Vineyard

  Tillers prepare the soil for planting by breaking it up and mixing the nutrients optimally. Tilling the soil promotes healthy root growth and good water absorption.

  Licata from BDi Machinery told The Grapevine Magazine, “We handle Ortolan Power Harrows and Stone and Sod Buriers, plus Tortella Spaders. Depending on needs, application and tractor specs, they are perfect for working the soil in vineyards, orchards, horticulture and nurseries.”

  Pillitteri Lakeview Vineyard Equipment said that his company sells a complete line of Clemens vineyard floor management tools to control weeds and prep soil for cover crops. These products include the Clemens Radius SL+ Undervine Weeder, Clemens Over the Row MultiClean and Clemens Finger Weeder/Roller.

  As you compare tillers, choose one that matches your soil type. For example, light models do well in sandy soil, while heavy-duty tillers are best for clay. It’s also wise to choose an adjustable tiller with depth settings that you can change to accommodate vineyard needs.

Sprayers in the Vineyard

  A sprayer is used in a vineyard to apply fungicides, fertilizers and pesticides. By spraying the vines, you protect them from diseases and pests while giving them essential nutrients.

  BDi Machinery represents the world leader in sprayers: CIMA low-volume Atomizer sprayers. These sprayers are designed for efficacy to help growers use less water and chemicals with targeted spray coverage. Licata from BDi said, “Cima sprayers have been designed and built inside the Cima factory in Italy since 1974. Cima sprayers are perfect for vineyard, orchard and nursery spraying. These sprayers allow for more acres per fill-up, uniform spray, more coverage and better control of air distribution. They also allow for less chemical run-off, fewer applications, fewer fill-ups and less maintenance.”

  You can purchase Gregoire single and multi-row sprayers from Lakeview Vineyard Equipment, including a recycling sprayer for one to four rows of coverage. Options include the Gregoire ECOProtect L2 Sprayer, Gregoire Progress Sprayer and Gregoire GL7 Harvester with Sprayer Attachment.

  A sprayer should provide even coverage to all parts of your vines. Look at models with adjustable nozzles for the best control. Also, look for sprayers with tanks that scale with your vineyard size to minimize the time needed for refilling.

Mowers and Shredders in the Vineyard

  Vineyard workers use mowers to cut the grass and trim the weeds between vineyard rows. Mowing helps maintain a clean and managed vineyard floor for better growth.

  Shredders are used in vineyards to shred organic debris, such as leftover prunings. The materials shredders collect can be used to retain moisture and enrich the soil.

  BDi Machinery offers shredders/mowers ideal for grass and wood in vineyards, parks, and large orchards.

  Acampo heavy-duty shredders/mowers are available from Lakeview Vineyard Equipment as well.

  “With each manufacturer we can configure options and sizes and machine capacities to fit any size operation,” said Lakeview’s Pillitteri. “We have incredible market share in each category and, as such, have access to high quality used equipment that is backed by warranty. For each product we have chosen a supplier that we feel is the most robust, versatile and best supported product in our space. Ultimately we are acutely aware that equipment is only as good as the dealer that backs it and in our case we feel Lakeview adds incredible value.” 

  Consider mowers that can easily navigate between your rows without damaging the vines. Wider cutting widths may reduce mowing time, but ensure it’s narrow enough to fit between rows.

  The best shredders are durable and can handle rugged vineyard equipment. Efficient models can also handle significant pruning and debris volumes. For easy management, look for ones that sweep debris into the path of your shredder or mower.

Current Trends in Vineyard Equipment

  Regarding trending innovations and technologies now available, Licata from BDi shared, “Customers are continuing to seek doing more with less. Whether it’s leaf removal or spraying, moving from single-row to multi-row machines continues to be a trend.”

  Pillitteri from Lakeview Vineyard Equipment said that in the last 10 years, he’s seen a remarkable shift away from herbicides and towards minimizing chemical use across the industry.

  “Even if our customer base is not completely organic or biodynamic, there’s a strong desire to put less chemical into the fields without sacrificing fruit quality or vine health,” he said. “In that regard we have experienced explosive growth with Clemens mechanical weed control tools and Gregoire decreased volume, EcoProtect recycling sprayers.”

Choosing the Right Machines for Your Vineyard

  With a better understanding of the options available for these types of machinery, you can make the best choices based on your vineyard’s size, climate, budget and other factors.

  BDi Machinery’s Paul J. Licata advises vineyards, “The two important areas are knowing your tractor’s technical specifications and the implement you are selecting technical information. Both need to work together and allow for correct operation.”

  Joe Pillitteri from Lakeview Vineyard Equipment’s advice was to always prioritize a budget based on the growth stage of the vineyard. 

  “A good sprayer is the foundation for plants to go from planting to fruit production, so invest in a sprayer that allows for excellent coverage in a reasonable spraying window. It’s best to buy ‘right’ first rather than making something work that is going to present reliability issues or simply be undersized for the vineyard your operation,” Pillitteri said. 

  He continued, “After that, floor management becomes a focus for grape radius, weed control equipment, cultivation equipment and mower/shredders. If and when the time is right, mechanical harvesting is a product line that seems to have gone from a luxury to a necessity based on labor availability and short harvesting windows.”

  “When purchasing any equipment I think it makes good sense to ask for at least five to 10 references for any product that a dealer has sold to a similar sized vineyard,” Pillitteri  said. “Even if you don’t intend to contact each and every reference, it supplies peace of mind that the product and the dealer will earn your investment.”

  Giersbach from Gearmore added, “Growers continue to reduce the number of passes in their vineyards. One of the popular ways is to spray two complete rows in lieu of two half rows, thus cutting spraying time half. Also, by using Venturi concentrated spray, less fill-ups are required.”

  Giersbach also shared that at Gearmore, the same implements are available in many different widths and capacities.

  “This is needed because of the many tractors horsepower’s and widths,” he said. “Thus, if you tell your supplier this information and your vineyard row width, it will be easier to recommend the implement model that best fits your vineyard.”

By: Gerald Dlubala

Vineyard pruning is sometimes approached with a different passion than harvest, but it’s no less critical and can have a noticeable effect on the following year’s harvest.  Proper pruning encourages robust vine growth and enriches the health of the vine and fruiting grapes. A well-pruned and maintained vine directs all of its energy into producing high-quality fruit rather than sending resources into nonproductive areas of the vine.

  On the surface, pruning sounds simple, but it really is an art form that separates the healthy wood from any dead or damaged vines to help increase the production and quality of the fruit in the next harvest. Locate your previous year’s growth and eliminate the dead or diseased wood. Select the strongest and healthiest-looking vines and trim any excess, leaving a few well-spaced buds on those canes to encourage optimal shoot development and production.

  If done early, vineyard managers give themselves plenty of time to complete the pruning. Late pruning is known to help reduce the damaging effects of frost, but then the workers may have to deal with less-than-optimal weather to complete the pruning before bud break. Younger vines can be trained at this time, while older, mature vines are pruned to encourage ongoing productivity. Pruning is also the time to help form a well-ventilated canopy that features proper air circulation and optimal sun penetration.

  Pruning is also critical to disease detection and to determining which vines, if any, should be replaced. Additionally, any detected diseases can be spread from one vine to another through the tools used, so regularly sterilizing pruning tools with isopropyl alcohol or a bleach solution is a must.

  Many vineyards have turned to pre-pruning to reduce the time needed for pruning and the labor involved.

Pre-Pruning to Ease the Load: Provide Agro

  Sean Bartlett, business unit manager for Provide Agro, a Bartlett Company, told The Grapevine Magazine that pre-pruning is one way to ease the demands on vineyard managers during the pruning season.

  “Pre-pruning cordon and spur-trained vines can significantly help cut down on labor costs and time spent pruning,” said Bartlett. “We recommend doing this anytime throughout the dormant season before you do the final pruning. The best time for final pruning is usually as late as possible in the dormant season, but that’s not often practical with larger vineyards with more acreage and labor limitations. This is when a pre-pruning strategy really pays off.”

  Bartlett says that all long canes measuring six to 12 inches long are cut back during pre-pruning. By doing this now, there is less manual manipulation,  saving labor and time later during traditional pruning.

  “Leaving the longer cane length during pre-pruning has also been shown to help deter fungal disease,” said Bartlett. “Additionally, while pre-pruning, you can prioritize and choose your vines based on their expected susceptibility to winter injury. Sometimes, based on observations, you may want to leave more buds now and reassess at final pruning.”

  Provide Agro works with clients to provide custom solutions and proper equipment for their field equipment, packhouse and custom manufacturing needs. For vineyard management, Bartlett recommends Freilauber products. Freilauber has specialized in vineyard equipment for over 25 years, focusing on quality and new innovative processes for the future.

Combining Experience & Technology for Cost-Effective, Efficient Pruning: Cypress Agritech Partners With INFACO USA

  “Vineyard pruning isn’t a one-size-fits-all task,” said Joey Traut, vice president of Cypress Agritech, a provider of practical and sustainable solutions to the agriculture industry. “The optimal time for pruning depends on the growing region you’re in, the weather and the vineyard location’s microclimate. It also depends on if you’re growing table grapes or wine grapes.

  Sometimes, it’s just a result of getting through harvest and wanting to take some time off before undertaking another labor-intensive vineyard task. The normal pruning window lies between November and January. Table grape growers may begin in November after harvest; wine grape regions usually hold off until later in January. Vineyards further north, such as those in the Pacific Northwest, may prune in February or March to get past the coldest winter months and not have to prune when it’s cold and wet. The farther north you go, the later they start pruning. Regarding completion time, we know that most vineyards would like to complete their pruning within one to two months.”

  Cypress Agritech is the dealer and service provider for INFACO, a premium hand-held power tool manufacturer servicing the agricultural industry for over 35 years. INFACO is credited with developing the first electric pruning shear, and through continuous development, its F3020 Professional Battery Powered Pruning Shear is considered the gold standard in electric pruning shears.

  “We partnered with two vineyards through two pruning cycles to test the effectiveness of INFACO’s F3020 shears,” said Traut. “These tools aren’t cheap, so if you have to buy enough shears so that a block of up to 50 workers can all prune the vineyard at the same time, you want to make sure you’re getting a return on your investment.”

  “So, we looked at how to prove that return,” he said. “The idea is simple enough: you provide an electric shear that will prune faster with quicker cuts, saving time and money on labor hours. But how much? Is there a potential to reduce your pruning crew and have those available workers do other vineyard activities at the same time? If crews can prune in half the time, pruning crews can be reduced, making other workers available for additional vineyard tasks at the same time. We’re not looking to reduce jobs. We look to automate those we can to increase efficiency across the vineyard. That’s a win for everyone.”

  “For our trials, we had two vineyards that were each about 200 acres, with 900 vines per acre planted with the same spacing,” said Traut. “Rows were alternated being pruned either manually or by using INFACO’s F3020 shears. We continued the trial over two years,  using two pruning cycles to validate our findings and compare the labor data to the cost of shears needed. We know upfront that the manual pruning is going to naturally take longer, with more mental and hand fatigue from clenching down manually on bigger branches. The end of the two-year trials gave us the results of using electric shears in a real-time test under real-world conditions in two prominent and well-managed vineyards.”

  He shared, “We ended up with some great, specific data sets. Those data sets showed that, with all things being equal, the pruning was completed with INFACO’s electric shears in 1.64 months compared to 2.18 months for those using traditional manual pruning methods. We then compared the labor data to the cost of the shears, and we see that we’ve also cut costs while optimizing our labor.”

  Traut said they have created spreadsheets in cooperation with vineyard pruning experts and have come up with a formula that provides a vineyard manager or owner with an idea of the return on investment and how much they would save by using electric shears for their pruning tasks. Different spreadsheets are available for wine and table grapes because each features different intricacies, including different pruning methods.

Look for Equipment with Functionality, Durability, Safety & Non-Stop Battery Life

  Traut said that, as with any farm equipment, vineyard workers want to know about the safety and durability of any new equipment. Additionally, when it comes to battery-powered equipment, battery life is always one of the first questions that come to mind.

  “Those are all legitimate concerns,” said Traut. “In trials, battery life was a big question. After all, these shears are farm equipment and will be subjected to rough use while in the elements. Downtime due to battery failure or the need for a recharge is not acceptable. INFACO’s F3020 shears can easily go a couple of days without a recharge, but we recommend that vineyard workers do the simplest and most efficient thing and store them in their charging cradle after completing a day’s work. In all of our trials, vineyards have loved these shears. We’ve had the same success stories with orchard and blueberry farmers. The batteries won’t fail in the field unless they haven’t been charged in a few days.”

  Traut says that the F3020 is essentially a modular unit. It attaches to a cable that hooks into the battery pack located in the included backpack-type mechanism, or it can attach to a belt. The backpack keeps the cable out of the way and keeps the unit ergonomically valid, reducing stress on the hand and wrist and effectively reducing workman’s compensation claims.

  The blades of the shear are interchangeable. The shear comes with a medium head size, which is the most popular and widely used in vineyards. The larger maxi head size has a bigger cut radius, which is more popular in orchard use. When pruning smaller diameter branches, the diameter cut radius of the shear can be adjusted, optimizing cut speed. An interesting safety feature is that the shear’s bottom blade can pick up on the electromagnetic current that runs through a human’s skin. If the shear senses that current, it will not close or cut.

  “It’s an extreme safety feature that I demonstrate at shows with my own fingers,” said Traut. “We’ve had very positive reviews from those that have adopted INFACO’s shears for use in their vineyards, and that’s just one reason we’ve decided to work with them. There are a lot of electric shears on the market that are capable of doing a job for you, but when considering safety, quality, maintenance, service and overall function, INFACO was the one that gave us everything. For anyone looking to purchase electric shears, I would say that they should look at the product’s safety, durability and reliability in that order. Additionally, we provide an excellent annual maintenance program that essentially extends the original warranty to last a lifetime.”

Innovation and Improvements Continue

  Even though the F3020 is just two years old, INFACO is always looking for new ways and features to get better. They’ve increased their Bluetooth connectivity and enhanced their safety function, giving it more reliability by decreasing the lag that sometimes occurs in wet or heavy dew conditions. The improved Bluetooth connectivity will also allow their app to record every trigger pull to make a cut. All new orders starting for this season will have the enhancements already installed.

  These features will be added to existing shears at the next maintenance interval. Traut tells The Grapevine that INFACO has multiple tools for different crops, and they’ve also had great reviews on their AT 1000, an electric tying device that provides orchard and vineyard workers a quicker way to tie vines rather than hand tying.

  “We believe that INFACO has the best electric shears on the market,” said Traut. “We do our due diligence, learning from having locations along the Central Valley and Central Coast of California wine regions. We’ve done extensive trials with both table and wine grapes just because we know there are different intricacies within those varietals, including timing, pruning methods and training methods. But we don’t want to just blast out data. We travel up and down the state and are always happy to give demos and sit down with vineyard owners/managers who can input their own data points into our calculator to get an idea of the savings they can realize by going to electric shears.

  We have plenty of references to speak with as well. We believe in good relationships and want everyone to stay safe during harvest and pruning season.”

Photo Credit: Jensen Precast

By: Alyssa L. Ochs

In the modern vineyard, trellis systems consist of posts, wires or other structures used to support grapevines and help them grow. The concept of a trellis is relatively simple, but choosing the right one could mean the difference between a successful harvest and plants struggling to survive.

We connected with industry experts and vineyards with effective trellis strategies to share insights about the options available and how to choose the best one for your vineyard.

The Importance of Trellises

  Trellises provide structural support for the vines and fruit in a way sturdy enough to sustain significant wind. They also help vines get adequate sunlight for photosynthesis while ripening and developing sugars for high-quality fruit. An effective trellis system helps circulate the air around plants and reduce disease risk without excessive use of herbicides and pesticides.

  Meanwhile, trellises help reduce the labor needed for weeding because the vines are lifted off the ground, making weeding tasks easier. Spraying the vines with a trellis is easier because the structural support shapes the canopy. At harvest, a trellis makes it easier to pull grapes by hand, reducing labor needs and costs.

  Overall, a trellis is essential to effective vineyard design and can ensure a vineyard’s success or failure. By supporting the vine and fruit in a way plants cannot naturally do, trellises help vineyard owners produce healthy fruit and improve the quantity and quality of their grapes.

Types of Trellis Systems

  Vineyards can experiment with various trellis systems based on conditions and personal preferences. Vertical shoot positioning (VSP) involves a single-curtain system with movable catch wires and a stationary cordon wire. This system trains the vines to grow vertically and is ideal for narrow-row spacings. VSP systems often have four to six wire levels, making pruning and harvesting easier. However, installing them can be costly and require maintenance beyond other trellising methods.

  Another trellis option is the Geneva double curtain (GDC), which incorporates a double canopy system and canopies with bilateral cordons. This method ensures the vines get adequate light and canopies are divided horizontally for shoot positioning.

  Vineyards can also try the four-arm kniffin (FAK) method for trellising, which involves a four-arm, quadrilateral cane system with equal spacing on the wire. Fruit canes grow between the arms, making it ideal for small vineyards. A FAK with a three-wire trellis system is easy to build and cost-effective. It is also versatile and can adapt to various row spacings.

  Top wire cordon (TWC) trellis systems work for flat sites and have cross arms, posts and top wires strung from the post’s bottom to the arms’ ends. This design can accommodate row spacings from about three to 10 feet and is ideal for vines growing downward. However, they offer less overall support and can damage wind and sun.

  There’s also the umbrella kniffin (UK) method, which uses two wires at 45-degree angles to grow vines between them. Vineyards in warm climates with high winds often find success with this method. It’s simple and easy to install but takes up more space than other systems, and weed control can be an issue.

  High-wire cordon trellis systems work well with cold-hardy grapes and require minimal labor and investment. This system involves one to three wires, with the top wire four to six feet from the ground. Pruning is easy with this system, which allows for vineyard mechanization more than more complex trellis systems.

What Vineyards Are Using

  Four Daughters Vineyard in Spring Valley, Minnesota uses two different trellis systems in its vineyard, primarily a mid-wire cordon with VSP-trained vines and some lyre trellis. Four Daughters is a winery, cidery, restaurant and event center on a sprawling estate with a six-acre vineyard in rural southeastern Minnesota.

  “We are working to retrain the vines on the lyre system to VSP and convert the trellis as well,” Hannah Hanlon, Four Daughters’ winemaker and vineyard manager, told The Grapevine Magazine. Hanlon said that the mid-wire cordon with VSP works well for the vineyard and the vines.

  “Many vines are best suited to a high-cordon; however, working on high-cordon systems is really hard on the back, and those vines may not be as perfect as VSP, but they will produce and grow just fine,” Hanlon said. “Similarly, the lyre system we have is hard to hedge and hard to penetrate the center of the canopy with sprays; VSP would solve those issues. We feel fortunate that our site is on limestone and less vigorous than most in Minnesota, and we can grow a double cordon VSP vine without unmanageable vigor. Vines are incredibly versatile and resilient. Finding perfection is not my goal in the trellising and training in the vineyard; my goal is to keep the vines happy enough and keep them easy to be worked on.”

  Concerning trellis-related supplies, Hanlon from Four Daughters Vineyard shared, “I use grow tubes from MDT to grow up vines when I need to retrain trunks or replant; this protects them from herbicide and rabbits. With these, I use bamboo poles to hold them in place. I use rubber black ties to hold the vines onto the trellis system, a Maxtapener for the growing season tying and Felco pruners, saws and loppers for pruning. We net our vines and use clips to hold those nets in place to protect them from birds. I have an herbicide sprayer, fungicide sprayer and tractor. We have a tractor-mounted hedger. For repairing the trellises, I have a crimping tool, strainer handle, hammer and extra trellising supplies.”

  Hanlon recommends the Minnesota Grape Growers Association’s book Growing Grapes in Minnesota (available for free download) to compare the costs of different trellis systems.

  Meanwhile, in New Haven, Vermont, Lincoln Peak Vineyard has most of its vineyard trained on Geneva double curtain (GDC) but also has some high wire. Kevin Bednar and his wife, Nichole Bambacigno, own Lincoln Peak and took over management of the vineyard earlier this year.

  “In these systems, the fruiting wire is six feet off the ground, and we encourage the shoots to grow downwards as the season progresses,” Bednar told The Grapevine Magazine. “These systems typically are spur-pruned and lay down cordons for multiple years, but we opt for cane pruning, replacing the canes on the fruiting wire every year. This allows us to eliminate potentially diseased or cold damaged wood.”

  Bednar shared that the systems they use now at Lincoln Peak allow vigorous hybrids plenty of room to grow, balancing the vegetative and reproductive growth. He explained that these varieties struggle to grow upright, so their trellis system fits their tendencies more than VSP and allows the vine to support a heavier crop load.

  “The downward growth pattern of the shoots leads to great sun and wind exposure in the fruit zone, leading to better ripeness and good development of fruiting buds,” Bednar said. “I certainly think VSP and other upright trellis systems are nicer to look at, and, having had more experience working with VSP, it seems to me that you have more control over undervine growth and fruit zone exposure throughout the season.”

  Bednar from Lincoln Peak explained that a vineyard needs to purchase end posts and anchors, row posts, wire, crossbars and a post hole digger to construct a trellis.

  “All trellising systems have the same number of posts, so it really comes down to wire and crossbars,” Bednar said. “The more wires, the more expensive the system. High wire is typically just one wire, GDC is two and VSP can be up to seven.”

Recommended Vineyard Trellis Products 

  One company specializing in vineyard trellis systems is Jensen Precast, based in Reno, Nevada and one of America’s largest, independently-owned precast concrete businesses. George Kehagias, Jensen’s director of product management, told The Grapevine Magazine that their most popular products for vineyards are the Harvest Pillar brand 3”x3”x8’ concrete line posts, 4”x4”x8’ concrete end posts, wire clips and end post bracketry.

  “Our wire clips are popular because they’re very quick to install,” Kehagias said. “We also offer a variety of easy-to-mount cross arm bracketry, depending on the type of trellising in the vineyard.”

  Kehagias explained that the method for trellising determines what supplies are required, but concrete posts require similar components to wood and steel.

  “The vineyard will need clips to attach the wire to the post, which Harvest Pillar supplies, and then wire to attach the fruit to,” Kehagias said. “In general, vineyards use anchors to secure the fruiting wire to the ground. With Harvest Pillar, the anchors and wire used are interchangeable between wood, steel and concrete. The wire clips used on concrete are similar in function but slightly different in form from clips used on wood and steel. Our customers also typically attached irrigation drip lines to the trellis. With concrete, this method can be done using the same accessories as used on wood and steel trellis.”

  He shared that concrete posts are the most cost-effective solution when you factor in the replacement costs of damaged posts and optimized spacing for strengths. Jensen Precast has a calculator on its website that compares wood, steel and concrete costs per acre.

  Headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, Gripple, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of wire joiners and tensioners for the agricultural market. Its highest-selling products in the vineyard market are the GP Medium, GP1 and GPak kits.

  “While the GP Medium is our best-seller, it is available in a range of sizes starting with small to medium, then large, and we even carry a jumbo option,” Rick Hermosillo, campaign marketing manager for Gripple, told The Grapevine Magazine. “The GP Medium is most often used for joining 13.5-to-10-gauge smooth trellis wire together, repairing broken or cut wires and often used at termination points around the end post. The medium is popular for its ease of use and speed of installation without drawbacks. It has an 880-pound working load and is designed with corrosive-resistant materials to last the life of the trellis wire.”

  Hermosillo explained that GP1 is another termination end option. It is designed with a flat edge, creating extra stability when using metal end posts. While the GP1 has a high load strength equivalent to the GP Medium, there is also a GP2 option for larger wire with a stronger hold at 1,320 pounds.

  “Lastly, our GPak kit — again, this comes in a range of sizes, but the most common is our GPak 3,” Hermosillo said. “It’s a ready-to-use kit with a pre-cut fused cable and a joiner. The GPak is designed as a quick installation tieback to connect your end post to your ground anchor.”

  Gripple manufactures 95 percent of the components in all its products and has released three new products to the vineyard market in the past two years. The GP90 is a cross-wire joiner, the D8 works with a 5/16-inch cable that provides a load rating of 6,170 pounds and the Anchor 5 is the largest anchor of its series to fit the most demanding trellis systems.

  Finger Lakes Trellis Supply is another company that can help if you’re in the market for a new trellis system. Based in Williamson, New York, it offers trellises, fencing, posts, wires, harvest supplies, irrigation supplies, tools, equipment and wildlife solutions.

  For vine training, Finger Lakes Trellis Supply offers a lightweight and durable MAX Tapener, four-inch KlipOn Trellis Ties and 1/4-inch stake-to-wire clips. These products provide a stable foundation for growing vines and help you save time while setting up trellises. This company also sells metal and wooden posts and accessories, plus earth anchors in various styles.

Final Words of Advice

  Hanlon from Four Daughters Vineyard & Winery advised vineyards, “Think about standing at that vine and pruning it, training it, working on it, driving down the row and harvesting the grapes. What tools you plan to use to do all of that? Choose something that is amiable to your tools and body. Bending down or reaching up to do a task for one vine is manageable, but can you do it for 1,000?”

  Bednar from Lincoln Peak advised, “Do your research and be realistic with yourself! There’s no right answer, so figure out what your short-term and long-term goals are. What’s your labor budget and access? How much mechanization do you want to do? What are your goals for fruit yield, quality and vine longevity?”

  Kehagias from Jensen Precast said, “When choosing a trellis system, one of the most important factors to be considered is the ever-increasing costs of labor resources and finding a system that, in the long run, will need minimal labor to maintain and utilize the system. We think our Harvest Pillar concrete trellis systems are the best solution.”

  Hermosillo from Gripple shared, “There are many reasons for choosing a preferred method; however, Gripple leaves it to the grower to determine which is best for their site. Gripple can improve on some of the cons to these methods are in the joining repairing and tiebacks of any design selected. One of those key benefits, besides the speed and ease of use, is the ability to tension and re-tension that wire year after year. We offer a torque tool that was engineered to complement our Gripple joiners. With this tool, it takes less than 10 seconds to add tension to a trellis line. Since most vineyards are built on many acres of land, this system can provide a significant benefit in time and labor savings.”

Five vine shelter types currently being investigated by Texas A&M for their impact on vegetative growth and winter injury potential

By: Patrick O’ Brien, Ph.D and Michael Cook – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

The first few seasons in the vineyard immediately following planting are key growth stages and can be especially challenging in terms of their management requirements, even for the most seasoned of viticulturists. As young vines are not well established, they are particularly susceptible to various forms of damage from both biotic and abiotic sources.

  Growers also assume a great financial risk and burden not only because, in most cases, it takes three to four years for vines to come into full production but even more importantly, as grapes are long lived perennial crops, mismanagement of a young vineyard can have negative implications that may persist for decades. A prudent grape grower will spend time to understand the inherent risks of their site and implement practices that will encourage healthy growth of both roots as well as shoots. One of the top threats to a young vine occurs when encroaching weeds compete with the vine for water and nutrient resources or rapidly grow tall enough so as to provide excessive shading, robbing the vine of vital sunlight. Additionally, left exposed to the open environment, young vines are at the mercy of excessive wind, intense solar radiation, and if using herbicides for vineyard floor management, potentially disastrous off-target herbicide damage. Moreover, to add insult to injury, vertebrate pests have no understanding or appreciation for the long-term goal of establishing a productive and healthy vineyard and are likely to view your leafy young wards only as an appetizing food source.

  It is for this reason that vine shelters are commonly used to provide protection during early vine growth stages. Sometimes referred to as grow tubes, these shelters are available commercially in a range of colors, sizes, configurations, and material types. The choice of ideal shelter features for your vineyard site is a decision probably best determined by which risks present the greatest priority. Taller shelters may provide additional protection to the elements or vertebrates but may also prove a hindrance for ease of vine access for monitoring and training purposes. Cost of vine shelter type also varies greatly, with those made of stronger material types like plastic coming at a greater premium than those made of weaker materials like waxed cardboard. What may work well for a shelter design in one growing region may not necessarily work well for all regions or vineyard management strategies. In areas where hail is common for example, weaker vine shelters may not provide the durability required to protect their housed vines for an entire growing season, much less the multiple seasons required for full establishment.

  Another factor to add to the decision-making process in vine shelter selection is that it is often recommended that shelters be placed on vines until sufficient periderm formation has occurred in order to reduce the risk of off-target herbicide injury, meaning that these shelters are utilized for the first two to four years of establishment. Some shelter types degrade rapidly, such as those made from cardboard, and may only last one growing season while others are much more resilient to the elements and thus their service life can be greatly extended.

  Because of the protection that they provide you might think that the use of vine shelters for your young vineyard is an obvious choice. It is certainly a popular strategy, particularly in new world wine growing regions where their use is nearly ubiquitous. This decision may warrant a little more consideration however, because although vine shelters are effective in providing protection against certain forms of damage, due to the nature of their application, they may actually make vines more prone to other forms of damage as well. Research conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service demonstrated that the environmental conditions provided by different vine shelters vary based on their inherent features. In a trial investigating 12 commercially available vine shelter types, differences were observed in temperature and sunlight infiltration rates within the shelters. Light transmittance (lux) ranged from 2% to 48% compared to ambient conditions. Annual mean temperature was elevated for 3 of the 12 shelter types, with a maximum increase of 3% and reduced for 3 shelter types when compared to ambient demonstrating certain vine shelters do retain more or less heat than others

Figure 1

Figure 1: Growing degree days (GDD) were also calculated, with 6 shelters having up to 10% greater GDD accumulation compared to ambient and 2 with as much as 13% less accumulation Figure 2.

  Figure 2

Previous research has also reported that the use of vine shelters may provide a warmer growing environment. Graham Due found that the use of polypropylene shelters at vineyards in South Australia led to an increase of 18°F over ambient temperature, while Hall and Mahaffee found that use of similar shelters on potted vines led to a maximum increase of 32°F! These findings have an important implication on vine development as air temperature may affect early vine growth. There is an optimum temperature range for vine growth, and the accumulation of growing degree days over the course of the growing season dictates total vine growth potential. Likewise, sunlight interception is an important growth factor. Based on this information, vine shelters could help to promote more rapid vegetative growth immediately following planting, desirable for getting young vines into a well-established state in preparation for training. Additionally, shelters help to guide the growth of shoots in a straight and vertical manner ideal for permanent trunk architecture and suppress the growth of lateral shoots meaning that vigor is not wasted on vegetative growth that is not constructive for training.

  The higher temperatures that have been observed in certain vine shelter types are the result of a greenhouse effect caused by the insulative properties of the shelters themselves. Although this may be a positive feature in terms of providing sustained warm temperatures for promoting vegetative growth, especially throughout the growing season in cooler climates, it also means that vines housed in those shelters may be at an increased risk of heat injury particularly during heat waves in cool climates or for the extended period of high temperatures experienced in hot climates.

  Another concern that can be easily overlooked is that the use of shelters could also increase cold injury potential during winter months or even encourage an earlier budbreak, making young vines more susceptible to spring frost events. This is because of the physiological sensitivity intrinsic to most grapevine species as it relates to dormancy. Grapevines enter dormancy rather slowly via acclimation beginning in the late summer to fall with dormancy peaking in mid-winter. They then begin to deacclimate, at a much more rapid rate, in late winter to early spring ultimately resulting in budbreak. Unfortunately, increased temperatures during these times can delay and/or disrupt acclimation as well as encourage premature deacclimation, making vines much more sensitive to cold injury.

  To make matters worse, for those vineyards located in areas that experience frequent and drastic temperature swings the risk for injury markedly increases. One strategy that growers may use to mitigate this risk is removing shelters entirely in the late fall, and then replacing them once growth begins in the spring. Of course, removing and replacing shelters can be problematic not only because it is labor intensive and may require purchase of additional tubes if using “one-time-use shelters”, costing the grower more time and money, but this practice has not been supported by scientific studies.

  Thus, in order to provide grape growers situated in environmentally high risk growing regions with the most up to date research-based recommendations on vine shelter use, a new project has been launched this year by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to further explore the impact of the insulative properties of 5 vine shelter types on vegetative growth rate, bud cold hardiness, and potential for summer and winter injury in the Texas High Plains. The shelter types under consideration for this trial were selected based on the results of our original trial as these shelters had the most significant insulative capacity out of the original 12 evaluated.

  While the original trial was conducted on empty vine shelters, the new trial is focused on shelters housing actual young vines, allowing for direct measurements of plant growth response to the unique growing conditions provided by each shelter type. Preliminary results from this new study indicate minor visible differences in the rate of phenological development between vines housed in different shelter types. For example, by assessing the rate of growth, at intervals of once a week after planting, using the Eichhorn-Lorenz model, vines housed in 30” corrugated plastic shelters achieved a more advanced stage of development than their 30” waxed cardboard counterparts on four out of the five dates of assessment.

  Over the next few growing seasons, we will continue to carry out this study and will provide results and recommendations to grape growers across the United States who are concerned about the potential for vine shelters to contribute to vine injury during the establishment of new vineyards and whether certain vine shelter types should be removed during fall to ensure vines acclimate to dormancy and deacclimate as best as possible.