Mechanical Pruning Demo

April 2, 2015


The Finger Lakes Grape Program will be holding a mechanical pruning demonstration with Hazlitt Vineyards. Hazlitt Vineyards is working to completely mechanize their hybrid grape production based on the model described by Stone Hill Winery. The first block we will look at is Vignoles on the "Hazlitt Twin Tier" trellis system. It was mechanically pruned with an L shaped hedger and two hand held hedgers operated by employees on a trailer behind the tractor. There are 6 rows in the block that were hand pruned and they have the labor breakdown for the different methods.

The next block we will look at it is Chardonnay that has a high bud mortality rate. It is being mechanically pruned. We stop at this block to look at mechanical pruning and can compare the amount of labor between mechanically pruned, hand pruned, and prepruned with hand follow up.

We will be meeting at 3636 Seneca Rd, Hector NY

Thursday April 2nd at 5:00pm