2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Washington State, like many other states, has been dealing with labor shortages across the agricultural sector for many years. Short-term strategies for managing labor shortages have included adjusting growing practices, increasing off-season activities, and increasing wages. Long-term strategies have included shifting to less labor-intensive cropping systems and increasing investment in mechanization. For cider apple production, mechanization of pruning, thinning, and harvest requires a high-density orchard training system that is characterized by a planar canopy that is about 2 feet in width, and includes long continuous rows that are suitable for equipment. We have developed a guide to provide commercial cider apple growers with orchard management options that will reduce the need for hand labor. Specific objectives are to establish a high-density fruiting wall that will allow for mechanized pruning, thinning, and harvesting, and to mechanically manage the fruiting wall such that fruit yield and quality are optimized. The first objective will be achieved by methodically training and pruning in response to the growth and bearing habit of the cultivar selected for production. The second objective will be achieved by focusing wall maintenance on the removal of wood that is damaged, shading, diseased, or dead. Equipment that will be used is dependent on the scale of the orchard and available financial resources, and includes hand-held pruners, loppers, and a mechanical hedger. It is important to note that for small-scale growers who may find mechanical harvest equipment unaffordable, mechanized thinning and pruning followed by hand harvest will still significantly reduce labor needs. As discussed in the guide, the experiences at Washington State University Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center where we have established such an orchard may be especially applicable for small-scale growers, as a lower cost hand-held hedger was used for mechanical pruning rather than a tractor-mounted hedger.