This post includes current degree day accumulations and information on a demonstration of the SF Fruit Harvester used for picking up dropped fruit.
Update on 2022 Degree Day Accumulations
This year continues to be above-average for heat unit accumulation and trends have not changed noticeably.
Figure 1: Heating degree day accumulations for plant (above 5°C) and insect (above 10°C) development from March 1 to Sept 27 for the past 17 seasons. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC).
- Approximately 4% more plant development heat units compared to the 5-year average, and 4% more compared to the 10-year average.
- Approximately 1% less plant development heat units compared to 2020, and 5% more compared with 2019.
- Approximately 5% more insect development heat units compared to the 5-year average, and 4% more compared to the 10-year average.
Automation in Picking Up Fallen Apples
I was in the right place at the right time when the SF Fruit Harvester showed up for a demonstration on-farm. Picking up dropped fruit is on our minds more than usual lately and the possibility to automate is an interesting one.The harvester uses a rubber rotor to lift fruit from the ground and conveys them through brushes to remove debris and then place fruit into a hopper. The harvester is also equipped with a blower to blow apples out from in between trees so fruit become easily accessible when travelling from the other side. The equipment demonstration was provided by Tidal Tractor with a representative from ProduceTech at Stirlings Mountainside Farm.
Figure 2: The SF Fruit Harvester being driven down a row of high-density apple trees to collect dropped fruit using the rubber rotor.
Figure 3: A close up of the rubber rotor that collects dropped fruit.
Figure 4: The blower moves apples out from under trees and to the other side for collection.
Figure 5: Fruit in the hopper are emptied into a bin.
