Hand Tools To Help Fruit Growers Save Time and Money

With the arrival of the New Year, three distributors of machinery and equipment — Daryl Shatto of Zenport Industries, Paul Licata of BDi Machinery, and Tim Brady of OESCO — provide advice on what hand tools can best help growers address labor issues within their orchards. Not surprisingly, top-of-the-line pruners are at the forefront.

Orchard Issue: How are we going to pay for the orchard pruning? Inflation has taken a bite out of everyone’s wallet. Growers need to find affordable, compatible pruning loppers that get the job done. A dependable source of backward-compatible replacement parts is a must. The ability to repair and maintain existing equipment is key to cost savings.

Equipment Solution: La Buena Orchard Tree Loppers: MB26, MB30, MB40

Benefit: “The La Buena Tree Lopper is a budget-minded, commercial grade series of loppers for orchard professionals needing to cut up to 2.5-inch diameter. The lopper parts are backward compatible with Zenport and Hickok loppers. Forged blades ensure high strength, while the extruded aluminum handles and bumper provide a cushioned response. La Buena is designed with the highest quality materials, weighing up to 30% less than comparable loppers. With its extra length, these loppers offer extended reach and cutting leverage. Its 26-inch (MB26), 30-inch (MB30), and 40-inch (MB40) handle lengths, while weighing 2.5 to 2.8 pounds, make them lightweight yet powerful tools for orchard pruning needs. The combination of the low-cost upfront investment and the ability to purchase low-cost backward-compatible replacement parts will help orchard growers to save money and get the job done.” — Daryl Shatto, Marketing, Zenport Industries

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Orchard Issue: Who is going to do all that orchard pruning? I could do it myself if I had an affordable powered solution. Orchard growers are all becoming more and more frustrated trying to maintain an affordable, dependable, and knowledgeable labor pool. Growers need to be able to take control of the manpower situation, buffering any inconsistencies in labor availability and rising costs.

Equipment Solution: Long Reach Battery Powered Pruners: LEP848 (59-inch), LEP858 (99.5-inch)

Benefit: “Zenport Long-Reach Battery-Powered Pruners, 59-inch (LEP848) and 99.5-inch (LEP858), allow one person to do the work of three without breaking the bank. These pruners feature a powerful 4.4AH 36V lithium battery. At full capacity, this battery will last a full 10 hours and will complete more than 10,000 cuts. There is a maximum cutting capacity of 1.25-inches. The razor-sharp cutting blade is made of high-quality SK5 Japanese steel. The high-quality durable harness makes for comfortable, easy handling while in use. Impact-resistant carrying cases keep the tool and accessories safe and secure while storing or travelling to the job. Easy-to-follow detailed instructions with a portable maintenance toolbox are included to keep this electric pruner operating at optimal performance for many years. Includes all cables and charging equipment, which is compatible with both 120V and 240V outlets. Replacement blades, batteries, and parts available.” — Shatto

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Orchard Issue: The continuing challenge is finding labor to work on the farms of fruit growers while still needing to prune and maintain tree growth and, especially now, canopy management in high-density trellis apple orchards.

Equipment Solution: Infaco F3020 electric pruning shears

Benefit: “As reported to us by our customers, each Infaco pruner makes each employee 2.5 times more productive and cuts their pruning team size in half.” — Paul Licata, President, BDi Machinery

Equipment Solution: Lisam Sly

Benefit: “Lisam Pneumatic pruners, powered by a single compressor, allow for large teams of six to eight employees at a time to work on pruning orchard rows.” — Licata

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Orchard Issue: Pruning apple trees with a rope-style lopper can be frustrating, as the rope frequently snags in the branches.

Equipment Solution: Allen Brothers 8-Foot Pole Pruner

Benefit: “This 8-foot-long pruner has an internal metal rod that won’t get caught on branches. The hook-shaped head can rest on limbs, and the lever actuation provides great leverage. This rugged tool is manufactured in the U.S. and has become a favorite among generations of apple growers. And since all of its parts are replaceable, it is sure to be a part of your tool kit for years to come.” — Tim Brady, Sales, OESCO

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Orchard Issue: Orchard pruning with manual hand tools is hard work, labor intensive, and expensive.

Equipment Solution: FELCO F822 Electronic Shear with Double Capacity Battery

Benefit: “When Felco introduced the FELCOtronic Electro portable tools, it changed orchard pruning forever. With these tools, you can now slice through tough apple branches up to 1.8inch thick with a simple touch of a trigger. Gone are the days of noisy compressors and clumsy airlines of pneumatic tools. Paired with the double-capacity battery, the powerful F822 easily last for an entire day’s work. Felco’s rugged Swiss design and the repairability of these tools really sets them apart from other shears. There are even 3- and 5-foot extensions available if you need some extra reach.” — Brady