Egon
Epic Contributor
Welcome.:thumbsup:
Take a google trip of some European River Bank vineyards. Terraced and steep.
Take a google trip of some European River Bank vineyards. Terraced and steep.
First Equipment for Existing 3 ac Mountain Vineyard
- Thread starter Norcal M5
- Start date
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tmajor
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2007
- Messages
- 666
- Location
- NE PA
- Tractor
- 2010 MF 1529, Woods ZTR MZ1952, National Mower sickle bar circa 1963
From: UC IPM .. UC IPM: Information about Weed Management in Organic Vineyards in Grape
Weeder geese. Geese can often be used to manage grass weeds in vineyards. Geese prefer grass species and will eat other weeds and crops only after the grasses are gone and they become hungry. If confined, they will even dig up and eat johnsongrass and bermudagrass rhizomes, which they have a particular preference for. Both of these weeds can be especially troublesome in vineyards. Generally, about 4 geese per acre are needed. They require water for drinking, and some form of protection from predators (dogs, coyotes, etc.). Young geese are preferred, as they eat larger quantities of food, although having at least one older goose, helps to protect the younger birds. Consult the following Website for further information on geese: http://www.metzerfarms.com/weeder.htm. Other animals sometimes used in organic vineyards include sheep and goats. Sheep will effectively remove all weeds down to ground level. Goats are browsers and must be carefully managed to avoid damage to the vines. Both sheep and goats are generally used during the time when grapes are dormant and the chance of grazing damage is minimal.
Weeder geese. Geese can often be used to manage grass weeds in vineyards. Geese prefer grass species and will eat other weeds and crops only after the grasses are gone and they become hungry. If confined, they will even dig up and eat johnsongrass and bermudagrass rhizomes, which they have a particular preference for. Both of these weeds can be especially troublesome in vineyards. Generally, about 4 geese per acre are needed. They require water for drinking, and some form of protection from predators (dogs, coyotes, etc.). Young geese are preferred, as they eat larger quantities of food, although having at least one older goose, helps to protect the younger birds. Consult the following Website for further information on geese: http://www.metzerfarms.com/weeder.htm. Other animals sometimes used in organic vineyards include sheep and goats. Sheep will effectively remove all weeds down to ground level. Goats are browsers and must be carefully managed to avoid damage to the vines. Both sheep and goats are generally used during the time when grapes are dormant and the chance of grazing damage is minimal.
Robert_in_NY
Super Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2001
- Messages
- 8,552
- Location
- Silver Creek, NY
- Tractor
- Case-IH Farmall 45A, Kubota M8540 Narrow, New Holland TN 65, Bobcat 331, Ford 1920, 1952 John Deere M, Allis Chalmers B, Bombardier Traxter XT, Massey Harris 81RC and a John Deere 3300 combine, Cub Cadet GT1554
Are you planning to spray the vineyard yourself? If your planning to do your own spraying look for a sprayer first and make sure the tractor you get can handle it. Some sprayers eat up a lot of horsepower. As for mowing, you will want a tractor around 60" wide as when the vines grow your 9' row spacing looks awfully tight and 60" wide tractors do fine in that row spacing.
John Deere, New Holland, Case-IH, Claas, Landini, Massey Ferguson, Fendt and a few others make standard fruit and vineyard tractors that are narrow, have plenty of hp, and a low center of gravity. You can find them used for a decent price if you keep your eye open but at the minimum look for a pure utility tractor (ideally around 45hp or more) that you can set around 60" as it will handle the mowing and any future vineyard related chores you decide to take on yourself.
John Deere, New Holland, Case-IH, Claas, Landini, Massey Ferguson, Fendt and a few others make standard fruit and vineyard tractors that are narrow, have plenty of hp, and a low center of gravity. You can find them used for a decent price if you keep your eye open but at the minimum look for a pure utility tractor (ideally around 45hp or more) that you can set around 60" as it will handle the mowing and any future vineyard related chores you decide to take on yourself.
OP
Norcal M5
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2011
- Messages
- 81
What great advice. It would be wonderful to have a natural approach like this and have a good reason for some farm animals.
ayelvington
Gold Member
Choose your implements first, and then select the tractor that supports them. You'll want an airblast sprayer for sure, and you'll have to decide if you want a tow-behind or 3-pt version. If 3-pt, then you have to decide if it's a PTO pump or and on-board pump.
I have a small orchard in PA, and you want to look at your aisle widths and turning radius for the end of the rows. Don't laugh, but I'm happy with my little BX-24 for 90% of the work! It fits like a hand in glove... Rear remotes may also become a necessity for weed control equipment. (probably NOT discs...)
I recommend that you pick up a copy of Fruit Growers News, and ask your vintner neighbors what they use on a regular basis. FGN is focused east of the Mississippi, but lots of good ideas.
I have a small orchard in PA, and you want to look at your aisle widths and turning radius for the end of the rows. Don't laugh, but I'm happy with my little BX-24 for 90% of the work! It fits like a hand in glove... Rear remotes may also become a necessity for weed control equipment. (probably NOT discs...)
I recommend that you pick up a copy of Fruit Growers News, and ask your vintner neighbors what they use on a regular basis. FGN is focused east of the Mississippi, but lots of good ideas.
OP
Norcal M5
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2011
- Messages
- 81
Well, we did it! got the tractor. A nice NH TC34DA. Got it on eBay for only $12K delivered! Got it home and used it already for some road maintenance and grading. Next, we get implements - tiller, flail mower and more.
