Transcript Mechanical Pruning of Pecans - New Mexico State University

Mechanical Pruning
of Pecans
Erick Nielsen, President of ENE, Inc.
37th Annual Western Pecan
Growers Conference
Pruning Practices

Maintaining the interior fruiting area of
the tree by regularly hedging the
peripheral canopy
Pruning Practices

Maintaining a margin of fruiting wood
on the periphery of the tree by
periodically hedging to renew fruitwood
Pruning Practices

“Angle” or “roof” topping of pecans is
also being done to manage the height
of the tree to allow adequate light in
the orchard.
Consider:

How far off the trunk?

How high?

How often?

Geographical area
Consider:

Soil type

Variety

Spacing

Age & health of the orchard
Mechanical Pruning
Equipment

Double sickle bar

Rotary

Straight Bar
Double Sickle Bars

Tractor mounted

6” sickle sections

12’-14’ cutting swath

Cuts up to 1 ½” diameter wood
Double Sickle Bars

Hedges up to 36’

Roof tops up to 24’
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Slow, 2 MPH +/-

Highly maneuverable

Very little reach
Double Sickle Bars

Effective in young trees/new growth
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Low maintenance

Sickle sections are cheap!
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$20k ready-to-mount

Purchase, rent, or lease
Double Sickle Bar
Tangeman (20’)
Double Sickle Bar
Vamco (14’)
Double Sickle Bar
Gillison (12’)
Rotary Machines

Single or double boom styles
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Tractor mounted or a complete unit

2 to 5 saw blades

24” to 38” diameter saw blades
Rotary Machines

Up to 24’ cutting swath
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Cuts up to 10” diameter wood

Hedges up to 53’

Roof tops up to 46’

Best reach of all machines
Rotary Machines

Speed: 1-5 MPH

Clears brush effectively

Caution: wood can get caught in
rotation

Multiple blades=multiple chances to
cut wood
Rotary Machines

Higher maintenance

Saw maintenance=expensive
Ready-to-mount kit: $40k
 Complete unit: $125k-$190k


Purchase, lease, commercial
companies
Rotary Machine
TOL (20’)
Rotary Machine
TOL (24’)
Straight Bar Machines

Single or double boom

Complete unit or mounted on rough
terrain cranes, lifts, or excavators

4-8 saw blades
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30”-48” diameter saw blades
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Cutting swaths of up to 27’
Straight Bar Machines

Hedging up to 75’

Roof topping up to 46’

Capable of cutting 12” diameter wood
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Speeds vary: 2 – 10 MPH

Handles large cuts effectively
Straight Bar Machines

Higher maintenance
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Saw sharpening is critical!

Costs: from $20k to $200k

Available through commercial
companies or can be custom built
Straight Bar Machine
Leydig-double boom (24’)
Straight Bar Machine
Leydig-double boom (16’)
Straight Bar Machine
Nielsen (23’)
Straight Bar Machine
FICO (20’ +)
Available Equipment
Manufacturers / Commercial Companies
Involved in California Industry
Baker, Mike (Visalia, CA)
 ENE, Inc. (Orland, CA)
 Gillison’s Variety Fabrication, Inc.
(Benzonia, MI)
 It-Hulls / Ron Kaiser (Jackson, CA)
 Kimball Toppers, Inc. (Visalia, CA)

Available Equipment
Manufacturers / Commercial Companies
Involved in California Industry
Maragliano, Rober (Thornton, CA)
 Don Pellum Topping (Stockton, CA)
 Peltzer Enterprises, Inc. (Visalia, CA)
 Premier (Exeter, CA)

Available Equipment
Manufacturers / Commercial Companies
Involved in California Industry
TOL, Inc. (Tulare, CA)
 Tri L (Visalia, CA)
 VAMCO, Ltd, Inc. (Lindsey, CA)
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Options for Pecan Growers

Utilize a commercial company

Rent/lease/purchase a machine
from a manufacturer

Have a machine custom designed

Build your own machine
Utilize a commercial
company

Who’s in your area? (lower fees/better
Scheduling

Reasonable cost per acre

No capital investment in equipment
or operators
Rent/lease/purchase a
machine from a
manufacturer
 Price
 Availability
of parts and
service
 Availability
and quality of
operators
 Maintenance of saws
and machine
Rent/lease/purchase a
machine from a
manufacturer
 Seasonality
 Cost
of work
per acre worked
 Go
in together with a group
of growers
 Potential
for doing local
commercial work
Have a machine custom
designed for you
 Cost
prohibitive?
 Request
for adjustments or
changes to be made to
existing designs
Build your own machine
 Not
recommended
 “Buy”
the experience instead
of reinventing the wheel
Summary

Identify your needs

Consider specific pruning
practices

Consider available equipment

Come to your own conclusions!