Trellis Trials: A case for Scott Henry in Sauvignon
A recent research project has added impetus to the argument for the Scott Henry trellis system in Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, says the scientist behind a two-year trial.
The electrict, autonomous eTractors are made by Agovor, a New Zealand horticultural robotics company that was founded to solve a problem at Ardmore Nurseries in Clevedon.
Built to Solve Real Farm Challenges
"We had the same problems as everyone else," says nursery owner and Agovor co-founder Richard Beaumont.
"Hard to find and retain good labour, always trying to reduce costs, and the new solutions we did look at had too many barriers to overcome for us to use."
They built a small, lightweight electric tractor capable of working a 10-hour shift while towing interchangeable attachments, starting with a mowers and sprayers.
"It had to be electric, and it had to be simple to operate," Richard says.
"It's been encouraging to see our first customers across New Zealand and Australia finding the same value, whether they're working in berry tunnel houses, orchards or vineyards."
Elmo in Action at Wither Hills
Elmo currently mows and sprays one of Wither Hills' Rapaura blocks, stopping only when its sensors detect something in its path.
When this happens, Mike is alerted and checks the footage on his phone before setting the tractor back to work again.
When Elmo's work is done, it navigates back to Mike's shed to be plugged in and charged up overnight, ready for the next day.
When Kermit arrives, the two eTractors will work on the same farm, splitting the work between them, Mike says.
Reducing Soil Compaction in Vineyards
Elmo was originally purchased to replace tractors on a wet block, which has since been repurposed into a wastewater lot.
For some growers the lack of compaction is key.
Ella Julian, grower at Berry D'vine in Whakatāne, says they have seen visible change in the soil in just one season.
"Izzy, our eTractor, is substantially lighter than our old tractor and has given the soil a chance to recover."
Field Demonstrations and Industry Engagement
Agovor will be at WinePro in Blenheim from 23-25 June, and is also doing a South Island tour from 21-26 June.
"Photos and videos are useful, but they only go so far," says Richard.
"Seeing an eTractor quietly working its way down your rows, handling real conditions, is what makes it click."
The vineyard demo sessions work two ways, he says.
"Growers see what autonomous, electric machinery can actually do on their blocks, and we learn what matters most on the ground."
