Jan 7, 2019Specialty crop equipment highlighted by World Ag Expo
Results are in for World Ag Expo’s Top 10 New Products Competition, sponsored by Bank of America.
A large and impressive field of cutting-edge, cost-saving and resource-managing products were submitted for the contest by exhibitors of the largest annual agricultural show of its kind. The contest judges were made up of farmers, ranchers and industry professionals. The Top 10 New Products competition is once again sponsored by Bank of America.
The winners will be showcased Feb. 12-14, 2019, during the event in Tulare, California. World Ag Expo, hosted at the International Agri-Center, draws more than 1,400 exhibitors and an estimated annual average of 100,000 individuals from 70 countries.
Four of the 10 winning new products are geared for fruit growers or specialty crop agriculture. Here are the Expo’s descriptions of those four winning products:
Andros Engineering Corporation: Wide Trellis Pre-Pruner
The Andros Engineering Wide Trellis Pre-Pruner cuts and strips excess canes from table grape vineyards grown on a wide “Y” trellis. The Andros Pre-Pruner attaches to the front of a tractor with a three-point hitch, utilizes the tractor hydraulic system, and has a one-handed controller. Dual cutters can be adjusted for pressure sensitivity, cutter speed, head height, and head angle.
- Website: www.andros-engineering.com
- Exhibit Space: N46, N48, N50
- Location: Paso Robles, California
Automated Ag Systems: The Cyclone
This vacuum machine was designed to aid in the efficiency of harvest, alleviate worker fatigue, and reduce bruising during harvest. As fruit is being picked, pickers place the fruit into the padded bucket, attached to the bucket are fabric lined tubes, the vacuum creates suction to the tubes which then takes the fruit into the decelerator, placing each piece of fruit into an individual “cup”, then “drops” the fruit into the bin filler, where it is placed gently and quickly into the bin. As the bin fills, the electronic eye slowly lowers the bin, allowing the bin to fill without damaging fruit in the process. We can create better time efficiency during harvest, speeding up the per bin harvest time compared to traditional ladder pick.
- Website: www.automatedag.com
- Exhibit Space: Q36, Q38
- Location: Moses Lake, Washington
SBM: Low Pro Cab 532
SBM fully welded unibody ROPS Certified Orchard Cab is used on CNH Tractors and designed to endure the toughest Walnut, Almond and other trees. With driver comfort and safety in mind, we designed a Low Profile Cab that keeps the driver safe from branches and other hazards as well as chemicals.
Fully powder coated, air conditioned and ergonomic controls begin the list of great features. The SBM Cab also comes standard with a radio, Hehr bullet proof glass, Cabinair pressurizer and limb lifters. Work lights and a roof scratch guard add to this already well optioned cab.
- Website: www.sutterbuttesmfg.com
- Exhibit Space: SS15, SS17
- Location: Gridley, California
Vinduino: Wireless Irrigation Valve Controller with Volumetric Feedback
Vinduino provides long-range wireless technologies that help farm communities manage irrigation better under changing climate conditions. We improve profitability with lower water cost, higher yield, and better-quality fruit. Our system provides on-line irrigation guidance, “how much and how often to irrigate,” and feedback from soil moisture sensors in the field. Our newly added product improves irrigation accuracy by replacing manual operation (and labor) by wireless LoRa valve controllers, and remotely measuring the amount of water applied to the crops. This also serves to detect leaks and obstructions in the irrigation system, saving labor on irrigation inspections in the field.
- Website: www.vinduino.com
- Exhibit Space: 2130
- Location: Temecula, California
