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Crop Thinning Cost Effective Methods to Improve Wine Quality James Freckleton The Yalumba Wine Company. Background – Why thin?. 2004 Vintage Heavy crops Quality problems – late ripening Resource issues-unable to secure labour Opportunity to trial new methods. Financial Comparison.
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Crop ThinningCost Effective Methods to Improve Wine QualityJames FreckletonThe Yalumba Wine Company
Background – Why thin? 2004 Vintage Heavy crops Quality problems – late ripening Resource issues-unable to secure labour Opportunity to trial new methods
Advantages Quality Canopy Balance Yield Reduction Cost Disadvantages Spur Position/ Damage Frost/ Poor Set Considerations End target Timing (early/ late) Weather Shoot thinning
Cost? Early thinning cost ($300 - $1,000 per ha) Late thinning cost ($1,000 - $1,300 per ha) Shoot thinning
The Vineyard J Trial H A
It would be nice if Ashley gave us a hand Can’t wait until the baby comes – no more of these bloody trials. Boy this is hard work!!
Implementation – What Did We Do?Machine Set-Up 2 bow rods on either side Highest bow rod set approx 5 - 10cm below the cordon wire Remove buckets and fish plates Set a constant tractor speed of 2.1km/hr
Control (not thinned) 26.9 T / Ha
After The Harvester! Pea size berry
Treatment - 440rpm (16ºC) 11t / ha Reduction 6.6% Shoot Damage
Treatment - 480rpm (16ºC) 19.4t / Ha Reduction 9% Shoot Damage
Treatment - 440rpm (25ºC) 11.5t/ Ha Reduction 3.7% Shoot Damage
Treatment - 480rpm (25ºC) Change Slide 7.4 t / Ha Reduction 3.3% Shoot Damage 7.4 t / Ha Reduction 3.3% Shoot Damage
Treatment - 520rpm (16ºC) 15.5 T / Ha Reduction 15% Shoot Damage
Can You See A Difference? Control 440 rpm 520 rpm 480 rpm
Yield Loss Vs Time This graph indicates that actual % crop-loss at harvest is double that immediately following thinning. This is a result of desiccation of damaged bunches over time.
Current Practices Trial a row first Weather Conditions- warmer is better Timing-pea size Zone of fruit- target one area and hit hard Machine set-up Harvester Properties Beater speeds Beater location (mindful of Trellis system?) Machine speed Variety
Machine Thinning Experiences with Other Varieties and Different Harvester Set-ups
Take Home Messages Final fruit destination Consider as cost effective options Timing of processes Weather Conditions