You've probably noticed that my blog hasn't exactly been chuck a bluc with farming info in December. Are you guessing that Christmas preparations have been distracting me from my farming career? Busted!
Well, the break's over, my friend. The hot buttered rum's on hold because it's time for a farm quiz. Yep, it's a pop quiz to check your farming savvy. Don't sweat it. Just relax. Maybe try to burp. Maybe try to say a sentence while you're burping as that will distract you from your anxiety. I've seen this work with Bill.
We were in Ephrata this fall to look at the Royal Reds when we had this opportunity to observe this machine. What does this machine do?
a. cool the workers as they pick
b. communication device between pickers
c. deliver snacks to pickers as they work
d. assist in harvesting apples
Would more pictures help you? OK, I can do that since I have the Christmas spirit.
No, these blue trays aren't for sandwiches. They're for apples.
The pickers are picking into a vacuum tube that pulls the apples along into a water tank before going into an electronic sorter.
There are 3 men on the machine. One is the operator and two pick. The pickers on the machine are picking the fruit at the top of the tree. There are 2 men picking at ground level. Each of the pickers has a harness with a tube attached to the machine.
Those guys in the sunglasses are the investors of this machine. They were very excited to see it in action as it was being tested in the field. If all goes well, they hope to start selling the machine commercially soon.
The machine moves like a crawler through the orchard row. It works best on level ground as it picks up a bin in front and discharges a full one.
This investor is giving Bill compelling reasons to tell all of his farm friends what a great investment this would be. He didn't share how much it will cost.
This is the computer monitor that controls the sorter portion of the machine. Not only does the machine deposit the harvested apples into a bin, via vacuum, but it can also sort out defective apples. The sorter, controlled by computer, and aided by cameras can actually see bad spots or defects on each apple as it travels under a camera. This system is widely used by the commercial packing facilities that handle our fruit only on a smaller scale here. The sorting done in the field would save a grower the sorting charges in the warehouse.
Notice the different positions of this one apple. The camera takes many pictures of each apple.
There are platforms on the machine that eliminate the need for ladders and picking bags. The idea is that this will save time and increase worker productivity.
OK, I'm impressed. You guessed spot on what this machine does. You're a regular Farmer Hoggett!
Do I think this machine will be popular in the Lake Chelan area? No, we have too many slopes.
This could be a hit in the Columbia Basin where there is a lot of flat ground. The mystery of the price will have to be unveiled with cost benefit analysis. Maybe there will be leasing possibilities?
Back to that hot buttered rum!
No comments:
Post a Comment