Page 41 - Grapevine Jan-Feb 2020
P. 41
Around The Vineyard
consider when developing a vineyard weed control mechanical pruning, and decisions in this regard
program for the dormant months. Nicola Rinieri are often the result of long-standing vineyard tradi-
of Rinieri S.R.L. in Forlì, Italy, told The Grapevine tions.
Magazine that customers must think about the
conditions and their most common practices. For “All of our vineyard is manually pruned,” said
example, vineyards in the Northeast hill up the soil Lonborg. “Maintaining the proper structure of the
to protect the vines, which requires specialized vine is of the utmost importance when producing
equipment. Rinieri provides agricultural machinery high-quality fruit.”
for vineyard processing, pruning machines, offset
machines, in-and-out rotary tillers and cultivators. Rinieri said a common mistake that vineyards
make when doing mechanical pre-pruning is trying
Pruning Tools and Supplies to use a machine to do a job where it’s not appro-
priate in the vineyard.
While the process of pruning may seem simple
enough, some specific tools and supplies help get “It is common to have the wires not tighten
the job done right in the most efficient way possi- enough so the machine can catch them or to have
ble. The most basic hand tools needed for pruning a cross arm so wide that the machine cannot open
are a few good pairs of pruning shears, loppers and enough to avoid them,” she said. “This was hap-
saws. Vineyards also use hand-held scales to mea- pening many times in the past, but fortunately not
sure pruning weights and ribbons, garden tape or as often lately.”
cloth strips to identify fruiting canes and renewal
spurs. Amanda Van Hoorn, operations manager for
INFACO USA in Livermore, California, told The
There are pros and cons to both manual and Grapevine Magazine that the F3015 Electrocoup
877-892-5332 The Grapevine • January - February 2020 Page 39
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