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CO VER s T OR y We purchased a pruner for a high wire cordon, a leaf remover, an implement for breaking off suckers in the middle of a divided canopy and three different types of fruit-thinning devices. We hired Tom Oldridge as a consultant, and he built a prototype shoot thinner. We did six experi- mental plots—Cabernet Sauvignon, Char- donnay, Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot and Zinfandel—and made wine from both the hand-farmed and machine-farmed fruit. All the fruit was handpicked, and there were no significant differences in the wines. With the M-O system, the pruning is done during the winter, with a rough follow-up leaving about double the number of fruitful buds as desired. Then at 6-to-10 inches of growth, depending on variety, we shoot-thin. Carefully count- ing shoots and clusters, we leave about 130% to 140% of the desired crop. This gives the grower a 30% to 40% overload through bloom and through much of the frost danger in spring. This can be a huge advantage in the event of a frost or a poor set due to cold, rainy weather. After berry set, we count the berries on several clusters and establish a cluster weight using berry weights taken from previous harvests. Now you can deter- French Camp employs three different types of fruit-thinning devices such as the Force Balanced Shaker (above). mine your potential crop load and your need to fruit-thin. If there is a need to fruit-thin, that should be done during lag phase, when the berries are about half- size. This usually happens around the first of July, which gives the grower plenty of time to leaf, if desired, or brush the bot- tom of the cordon to remove suckers. When lag phase arrives, we fruit-thin, if necessary. A damage factor should be figured in the formula. The formula changes with different thinning implements, grape variety and a multiplier that is determined by the berry weight that day versus histori- cal harvest berry weight. If someone is con- sidering using this system, it is essential to have this historical data about berry weight. W&V: What improvements have since been made to the equipment? Ashby: Oxbo International bought the patent for the M-O system and the equip- ment from the University of Arkansas. We had seen that to go to the next step, we would need to divide responsibilities to avoid operator fatigue. Oxbo engineered a trailer called the vMech, which had three seats and was pulled by a tractor. Two seats were occupied by operators, and the third seat was for a supervisor. This way we could do two rows at a time, and one person could observe mistakes, etc. The equipment operators did not have to worry about driving the tractor. It was set up with lights so some jobs could be done at night. The shoot-thinner, which is a perpendicular spinning wheel with flexible plastic paddles, was improved with paddles that were more durable. Many changes were made to the original implements, mostly in an effort to make them easier to operate and more durable. The largest producer of grapestakes and crossarms nationwide Buy Direct & Save! Your Source for All Vineyard Trellising Products Ready to serve you nationwide! 800.423.8016 www.jimssupply.com • Anchors • Wire • Posts • Fencing • T-Posts • Bird Netting • Grapestakes • Tying Materials • Grow Tubes • Vine Protection • All Trellising • And More! Monthly specials always posted on www.JimsSupply.com 26 Wines & Vines MARCH 201 1 2011 W&V Directory & Buyer's Guide Now Available! Gain access to the industry's largest database. winesandvinesbuyersguide.com (866) 453-9701 GREG BERG