mechanical pruning of pecans 37 th annual western pecan growers conference erick nielsen, president...
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![Page 1: Mechanical Pruning of Pecans 37 th Annual Western Pecan Growers Conference Erick Nielsen, President of ENE, Inc](https://reader030.vdocuments.net/reader030/viewer/2022032800/56649d485503460f94a23baa/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Mechanical Pruning of Pecans
37th Annual Western Pecan Growers Conference
Erick Nielsen, President of ENE, Inc.
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Pruning Practices
Maintaining the interior fruiting area of the tree by regularly hedging the peripheral canopy
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Pruning Practices
Maintaining a margin of fruiting wood on the periphery of the tree by periodically hedging to renew fruitwood
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Pruning Practices
“Angle” or “roof” topping of pecans is also being done to manage the height of the tree to allow adequate light in the orchard.
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Consider: How far off the trunk?
How high?
How often?
Geographical area
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Consider: Soil type
Variety
Spacing
Age & health of the orchard
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Mechanical Pruning Equipment
Double sickle bar
Rotary
Straight Bar
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Double Sickle Bars Tractor mounted
6” sickle sections
12’-14’ cutting swath
Cuts up to 1 ½” diameter wood
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Double Sickle Bars Hedges up to 36’
Roof tops up to 24’
Slow, 2 MPH +/-
Highly maneuverable
Very little reach
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Double Sickle Bars Effective in young trees/new growth
Low maintenance
Sickle sections are cheap!
$20k ready-to-mount
Purchase, rent, or lease
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Double Sickle Bar
Tangeman (20’)
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Double Sickle Bar
Vamco (14’)
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Double Sickle Bar
Gillison (12’)
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Rotary Machines Single or double boom styles
Tractor mounted or a complete unit
2 to 5 saw blades
24” to 38” diameter saw blades
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Rotary Machines Up to 24’ cutting swath
Cuts up to 10” diameter wood
Hedges up to 53’
Roof tops up to 46’
Best reach of all machines
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Rotary Machines Speed: 1-5 MPH
Clears brush effectively
Caution: wood can get caught in rotation
Multiple blades=multiple chances to cut wood
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Rotary Machines Higher maintenance
Saw maintenance=expensive
Ready-to-mount kit: $40k Complete unit: $125k-$190k
Purchase, lease, commercial companies
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Rotary Machine
TOL (20’)
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Rotary Machine
TOL (24’)
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Straight Bar Machines Single or double boom
Complete unit or mounted on rough terrain cranes, lifts, or excavators
4-8 saw blades
30”-48” diameter saw blades
Cutting swaths of up to 27’
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Straight Bar Machines Hedging up to 75’
Roof topping up to 46’
Capable of cutting 12” diameter wood
Speeds vary: 2 – 10 MPH
Handles large cuts effectively
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Straight Bar Machines Higher maintenance
Saw sharpening is critical!
Costs: from $20k to $200k
Available through commercial companies or can be custom built
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Straight Bar Machine
Leydig-double boom (24’)
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Straight Bar Machine
Leydig-double boom (16’)
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Straight Bar Machine
Nielsen (23’)
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Straight Bar MachineFICO (20’ +)
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Available Equipment
Baker, Mike (Visalia, CA) ENE, Inc. (Orland, CA) Gillison’s Variety Fabrication, Inc.
(Benzonia, MI) It-Hulls / Ron Kaiser (Jackson, CA) Kimball Toppers, Inc. (Visalia, CA)
Manufacturers / Commercial CompaniesInvolved in California Industry
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Available Equipment
Maragliano, Rober (Thornton, CA) Don Pellum Topping (Stockton, CA) Peltzer Enterprises, Inc. (Visalia, CA) Premier (Exeter, CA)
Manufacturers / Commercial CompaniesInvolved in California Industry
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Available Equipment
TOL, Inc. (Tulare, CA) Tri L (Visalia, CA) VAMCO, Ltd, Inc. (Lindsey, CA)
Manufacturers / Commercial CompaniesInvolved in California Industry
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Options for Pecan Growers Utilize a commercial company
Rent/lease/purchase a machine
from a manufacturer
Have a machine custom designed
Build your own machine
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Utilize a commercial company Who’s in your area? (lower fees/better
Scheduling
Reasonable cost per acre
No capital investment in equipmentor operators
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Rent/lease/purchase a machine from a manufacturer
Price
Availability of parts andservice
Availability and quality ofoperators
Maintenance of sawsand machine
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Rent/lease/purchase a machine from a manufacturer
Seasonality of work
Cost per acre worked
Go in together with a groupof growers
Potential for doing localcommercial work
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Have a machine customdesigned for you
Cost prohibitive?
Request for adjustments orchanges to be made toexisting designs
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Build your own machine
Not recommended
“Buy” the experience insteadof reinventing the wheel
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Summary Identify your needs
Consider specific pruning
practices
Consider available equipment
Come to your own conclusions!