Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/70675
CO VER s T OR y Overseeing French Camp is vineyard manager Hank Ashby, who has been there since 1986. Ashby, whose family raised Concord grapes in Missouri, studied engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Missouri-Rolla. He has used that engineering background to develop new equipment and techniques for vineyard mechanization. Wines & Vines: You've been experiment- ing with various methods of mechanical farming at French Camp since the early 2000s. Why is that, and what were some of your early experiments? CaLIFORnIa NV Monterey CALIFORNIA Pacific Ocean Paso Robles San Luis Obispo French Camp Vineyards Ad Art2011AFINAL2.pdf 2/1/11 1:55:51 PM ing grape production. Tom Oldridge was an Arkansas grapegrower and inventor who worked closely with Dr. Morris. The M-O system is a method that mechanizes various hand operations but also changes the timing of various op- erations. We bought a machine built by Oldridge from California State University, Fresno, where they had been experiment- ing with the system. It consists of a mast that mounts on the front of a tractor and an arm that extends to the right, over the row. It has about 40 different attachments. JMS Stylet-Oil® - The • Powdery Mildew? • Mites? Choice For Powdery Mildew and Mite control, grape growers have a choice: JMS Stylet-Oil C Vineyard manager Hank Ashby's engineer- ing background allows him to develop new equipment and techniques for vineyard mechanization at French Camp Vineyards. Hank Ashby: We started experimenting with mechanical pruning in 2001. This was only two rows, because the procedure was risky. We had large spur positions on a lyre trellis, and we used a home- made sickle strong enough to cut through 2-inch wood. The idea was to prune closely and rely on regrowth suckers to have enough buds for a crop. To our sur- prise, the vines behaved normally with an average crop and average new growth. I was afraid that there would be a very low crop and vegetative growth because the quality of wood left was very poor. Bob and Steve Miller (the owners of French Camp) had asked me to investi- gate the concept of mechanizing various handwork operations. They anticipated labor shortages in the future. We were al- ready machine harvesting part of the vine- yard. I talked to Dr. Justin Morris of the University of Arkansas, who developed the Morris-Oldridge system of mechaniz- M Y CM MY CY CMY K JMS offers grape growers an effective alternative to early-season sulfur treatment. • Outperforms sulfur as an eradicant on powdery mildew - University researched and rated 10/10. • JMS Stylet-Oil is a stand-alone product for powdery mildew. • Eliminates early season inoculum growth that can cause late-season epidemics. • Unlike sulfur, JMS Stylet-Oil works well in cool weather, protects around the clock, and harmlessly degrades without potential air pollution. Apply this clean white oil early for mite control throughout the season. JMS Stylet-Oil is now available in its conven- tional formulation or an organic formula- tion that is OMRI listed for use in an organic program. Contact JMS for complete information and product data. Headquarters 4423 5th Place SW Vero Beach, FL 32968 Office: (772) 562-8770 Fax: (772) 562-7202 styletoil@aol.com www.stylet-oil.com Pacific Northwest Region 73585 Williams Lane Pendleton, OR 97801 Office: (541) 276-8566 Fax: (541) 276-6245 styletoil@eoni.com Wines & Vines MARCH 2011 25