Crop Thinning Cost Effective Methods to Improve Wine Quality James Freckleton The Yalumba Wine Compa

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Crop ThinningCost Effective Methods to Improve
Wine QualityJames FreckletonThe Yalumba Wine
Company
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Background Why thin?

• 2004 Vintage
• Heavy crops
• Quality problems late ripening
• Resource issues-unable to secure labour
• Opportunity to trial new methods

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Financial Comparison
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Shoot Thinning
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Shoot thinning

• Advantages
• Quality
• Canopy Balance
• Yield Reduction
• Cost
• Disadvantages
• Spur Position/ Damage
• Frost/ Poor Set
• Considerations
• End target
• Timing (early/ late)
• Weather

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Thinning to early can lead to re-shooting
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Late
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Shoot thinning

• Cost?
• Early thinning cost (300 - 1,000 per ha)
• Late thinning cost (1,000 - 1,300 per ha)

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Actual cost of shoot thinning?
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• Mechanical Thinning

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The Vineyard
J
Trial
H
A
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It would be nice if Ashley gave us a hand
Cant wait until the baby comes no more of
these bloody trials.
Boy this is hard work!!
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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

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Results
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First Attempt!
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Control (not thinned)
26.9 T / Ha
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After The Harvester!
Pea size berry
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Treatment - 440rpm (16ºC)
11t / ha Reduction 6.6 Shoot Damage
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Treatment - 480rpm (16ºC)
19.4t / Ha Reduction 9 Shoot Damage
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Treatment - 440rpm (25ºC)
11.5t/ Ha Reduction 3.7 Shoot Damage
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Treatment - 480rpm (25ºC)
Change Slide
7.4 t / Ha Reduction 3.3 Shoot Damage
7.4 t / Ha Reduction 3.3 Shoot Damage
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Treatment - 520rpm (16ºC)
15.5 T / Ha Reduction 15 Shoot Damage
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Can You See A Difference?
Control
440 rpm
520 rpm
480 rpm
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Shoot Damage
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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.
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Baume Vs Yield
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Maturity Thinned Vs Un-thinned
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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

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Machine Thinning Experiences with Other Varieties
and Different Harvester Set-ups
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Sauvignon Blanc
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Shiraz
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Take Home Messages

• Final fruit destination
• Consider as cost effective options
• Timing of processes
• Weather Conditions