Cider Orchard Establishment,Management and Mechanization

Transcription

1 Cider Orchard Establishment,Management and Mechanization C. Miles, J. King, E. Scheentra and T. Alexander Department of Horticulture Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center Research Cider Orchards at WSU cider apple varieties first planted at WSU Mount Vernon NWREC 1983 to varieties added, observations made on productivity, growth habit, and disease susceptibility 1994 Cider apple trial orchard established with over 70 different varieties 2002 to current Varieties evaluated for juice characteristics Planted 65 varieties in a replicated research orchard April

2 New Cider Research Orchard WSU NWREC : 65 varieties planted in 2 replicate blocks Rootstock: Geneva 935 Spacing: 6 ft x 12 ft Post height: 10 ft. Tall spindle/fruiting wall April 2016 Establishing a Cider Orchard Orchard / training system Labor Number of trees per acre Time to first harvest Yield per acre M106 G935 2

3 Cider Orchards in Virginia Labor Considerations 3

4 Cider Orchards in Washington Craig Campbell, Tieton Cider Works Cider Orchards in Washington Tieton Cider Works 4

5 Sources of Cider Apple Trees Plan ahead! 1-2 years for nursery to make cider trees Nurseries listing cider apple varieties online Video on apple chip bud grafting online Rootstock Factors to Consider Size of mature trees Precocity - how long till first fruiting Will trellis be needed, and what is the cost? Suitability to soil conditions Disease susceptibility - can be very important in fire blight prone areas 5

6 Rootstock Effects Yarlington Mill on M106 (left) and M9 (right) Rootstock Choices Source: Dr. Terence Robinson, Cornell University 6

7 Variety Growth Habit and Characteristics Tree growth habit and tree characteristics of cider apple varieties observed at WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, Cultivar Bearing Habit Blind wood 1 Growth Habit Full Bloom Date 4 Comments Amere de Berthcourt Semi Spur 1.5 Spreading Y Semi May American Forestier Semi Spur 1 Semi Spreading Y Y May Blanc Mollet Semi Spur 1.5 Semi Upright Y Y May Bouteville Standard 1.5 Semi Spreading Semi Semi May Bramley s Seedling Standard 2.5 Spreading Y Semi May Breakwell Seedling Semi Spur 1 Spreading Y Semi May Brown s Apple Semi Spur 2 Semi Spreading Y Y May Brown Snout Spur 1 Semi Spreading Y Grower Alternate Friendly 2 Bearing Prod. 3 Semi 4 23-May Small fruited Brown Thorn Standard 2 Semi Spreading Semi Y May Bulmer s Norman Semi Spur 1 Spreading Y Semi May Campfield Semi Spur 2 Upright Semi Semi May Cap of Liberty Spur 1 Semi Upright Y Y May Extension Manual WSU Extension Manual PNW0621 (2010) 7

8 Bearing Habit Spur: many fruit spurs closely spaced on all branches (2 year and older wood). Semi Spur: fruit spurs on all branches but more widely spaced than Spur type. Photo: Apple and Pear Australia, Ltd. Standard: fruit spurs on most older branches. Tip bearing: fruit in single clusters on branch ends; may have areas of blind wood. Photo: Royal Horticultural Society Bearing Habit Spur: many fruit spurs closely spaced on all branches (2 year and older wood). Semi Spur: fruit spurs on all branches but more widely spaced than Spur type. Standard: fruit spurs on most older branches. Tip bearing: fruit in single clusters on branch ends; may have areas of blind wood. 8

9 Blind Wood Blind wood refers to areas of a tree where fruit spurs have not developed. Rating scale 1 : 1 = none to few areas (< 4 in.) 2 = few bare areas (4-6 in. without bud/spur) 3 = several bare areas (4-6 in. without bud/spur) 4 = several bare areas (< 12 in., most 8-12 in.) 5 = several areas on numerous branches with 12 in. or more without bud/spur 1 Hard Cider Production, PNW 621, Moulton et al, 2010 Fruit Yield Productivity Productivity ratings 1 taken in August September (immediately pre-harvest) Rating scale: 0 = no fruit at all 1 = very few fruit, samples only 2 = low production, unacceptable commercial 3 = acceptable production, may be uneven (clusters of fruit vs. sparse areas) 4 = moderate production, most areas of tree bearing fruit 5 = high production, all areas of tree bearing fruit 1 Hard Cider Production, PNW 621, Moulton et al,

10 Alternate Bearing Annual Bearing trees produce a good crop every year, with some annual variation. Strongly Alternate Bearing trees produce a good crop in alternate years, and little or no fruit in the off years. Semi-Alternate Bearing trees have some fruit even in low years. Cultivar Mean Bearing Habit Tom Putt Annual (High Prod.) Granniwinkle Annual (Mod. Prod.) Brown s Apple Strongly Alternate Bulmer s Norman Semi Alternate Growth Habit Type I: Columnar (Wijicik) Type II: Spur (Oregon Spur) Type III: Spindle (Golden Del.) Type IV: Tip Bearer (Granny Smith) From: Lespinasse, J. M and La Conduite du Pommier I and II. 10

11 Grower Friendly Grower friendly 1 trees are productive. Trees don t require extensive canopy management (labor). Most spur and spindle types are grower friendly; they have stiffer wood and support a large crop load. Tip bearing trees need special pruning to avoid developing areas of blind wood. 1 Hard Cider Production, PNW 621, Moulton et al, 2010 Freestanding trees that are grower friendly produce about 70% of their fruit on the first level scaffold. Orchard Establishment Costs Enterprise budget for Western and Eastern Washington Estimate main production costs o Cost Estimation of Establishing a Cider Apple Orchard in Western Washington (FS141E) o Cost Estimation of Establishing a Cider Apple Orchard in Eastern Washington (in press) 11

12 Western WA Budget Assumptions Field specification Total orchard operation Growing area Architecture Rootstock Cider apple variety In-row spacing Between-row spacing Density Commercial life of planting Assumed values 10 acres 9 acres Central leader system Dwarf M9 series Several varieties (e.g., Kingston Black, Yarlington Mill, Brown Snout, Dabinett, Porter's Perfection, Vilberie, Foxwelp) 5 feet 12 feet 726 trees/acre 25 years (including 4 years of establishment) Estimated Costs & Returns ($/Acre) Production Year Estimates Full Yield(bins/A) Price ($/bin) Total Returns $1,575 $3,780 $14,490 Establishment $5,764 Operations $1,562 $2,198 $2,752 $3,400 $3,408 Harvest $405 $972 $3,726 Maintenance $170 $195 $260 $300 $330 Total Variables $8,264 $2,638 $3,767 $5,151 $8,131 Depreciation $730 $730 $730 $730 $730 Interest $1,226 $1,771 $2,063 $2,346 $1,226 Total Fixed Costs $2,642 $3,187 $3,478 $3,762 $4,789 Total Costs $10,905 $5,828 $7,425 $8,913 $12,920 NET RETURNS -$10,905 -$5,828 -$5,850 -$5,133 $1,570 Accumulated Costs $10,905 $16,731 $22,401 $27,534 12

13 Estimated Net Returns per Acre Price and yield scenarios during full production Yield Price (per bin) (bins/a) ,626-4,226-3,826-3,426-3,026-2, ,567-3,067-2,567-2,067-1,567-1, ,508-1,908-1, , ,350 2, ,209 2,009 2,809 3, ,598 2,468 3,368 4,268 5, ,727 2,727 3,727 4,727 5,727 6,727 1 bin = 900 lbs $300 = $0.33/lb $340 = $0.38/lb $380 = $0.42/lb Fruit Sources & Costs Cost* of specialty cider apples: $0.15 to $0.75/lb Cost* of cull dessert apples: $0.10 to $0.25/lb *Galinato et al Yarlington Mill Brown Snout Dabinett Kingston Black 13

14 Mechanical Harvest Many cider apple cultivars are small-fruited, taking up to 4 times longer to hand pick than dessert cultivars. Hand harvest accounts for 38-46% of total annual variable orchard costs. Mechanized harvest of cider apples is common in Europe. Shake-and-sweep harvest not suitable for modern trellised cider apple orchards. Costs and Considerations for Establishing a Cider Apple Orchard for Mechanical Harvest Holly Tennant, WSU MS in Agriculture Candidate Compare: 1) Shake-and-catch over-the-row system 2) Shake-and-sweep system What would the ideal orchard look like for each harvest method? 14

15 Shake and Catch System Architecture: Three dimensional central leader Tree spacing: 3 ftby 10 ft Root stock: Dwarf -M9 series Commercial life of planting: 30 years Tree density: 1,452 trees per acre Trellis system: Tall spindle Time to first harvest: 3 years Galinato S.P. and C.A. Miles Cost Estimates of Establishing and Producing Specialty Cider Apples in Central Washington, in press. Shake and Catch System Production level (full): 50 bins per acre Cost per acre year 1: $16,211 Cost per acre per year maintenance: $8,941* Notes: Trees fttall for harvester Mechanical pruning also suitable * Does not include harvest costs Galinato S.P. and C.A. Miles Cost Estimates of Establishing and Producing Specialty Cider Apples in Central Washington, in press. 15

16 Shake-and-catch over-the row harvester Oxbo Olive Harvester Shake and Sweep System Architecture: Central leader Tree spacing: 8 ftby 16 ft Root stock: Semi-dwarf M7, M26 Commercial life of planting: 40 years Tree density: 324 trees per acre Trellis system: Freestanding; early support Time to first harvest: 3-5 years Bechtel et al Economic analysis of apple orchard management systems with three varieties in Central Washington. WSU Extension Publication XB1032. Moulton et al Hard cider production and orchard management. WSU Extension Publication PNW

17 Shake and Sweep System Production level (full): 27 bins per acre Cost per acre year 1:$7,910 Cost per acre per year maintenance: $4,900* * Does not include harvest costs Bechtel et al Economic analysis of apple orchard management systems with three varieties in Central Washington. WSU Extension Publication XB1032. Shake and Sweep Harvesters Tuthill Temperley, UK Weston & Sons Cider, UK Pattenden, Somerset Fruit Machines 17

18 Shake and Catch Harvest Proof of Concept Littau OR0012 Fruit Harvest Conveyance of fruit Collection of fruit 18

19 Mechanical Harvest at WSU NWREC Dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstocks can be damaged by trunk shakers Modern apple trellising systems are conducive to over-the-row harvesters Small-fruit harvesters sit idle in Western WA during time of cider apple harvest Mechanical Harvest Before After 19

20 Cider Apple Harvest Cider apples harvested at WSU NWREC for juice and cider analysis Milling and Pressing Before grinding, wash fruit and remove rot Apple shredder to mill fruit (Zambelli Enotech MuliMax 60 ) Bladder press to extract juice (40-L Enotechnica Pillan) 20

21 Harvest Fruit Weight (lb/a) Fruit Weight (lb/a) Harvest Post Harvest Clean Total Harvest Hand Machine Tree + Ground Machine Hand Machine ,987 6,138 1,853-8,987 7, ,183 3, ,183 4, ,482 6,648 2,751 3,462 12,482 12, ,000 7,298 1,338 1,751 11,000 10,387 % of Hand Hrv 63% 18% 28% 94% Fruit Damage Due to Harvest No. Bruised Fruit No. Cut Fruit Year Hand Machine Hand Machine

22 Storage Fruit Loss Fruit Stored Under Barn Conditions ( F) Fruit Weight (lb/a) % Rotted Fruit z At Harvest 2 Weeks 4 Weeks Hand Machine Hand Machine Hand Machine ,482 12, ,000 10, Avg. loss (%) x Est. loss (lb/a) y 117 2, ,766 z Per 100 random fruit sample per plot y Avg loss (%) per 100 fruit sample per plot x Calculated based on avg % loss and avg fruit weight per plot Juice Analysis No effect on juice characteristics due to hand v mechanical harvest Future research: Sensory analysis Off-flavors Travis Alexander, PhD student 22

23 Economic Analysis Cost of hand vs mechanical harvest Suzette Galinato et al., 2016 Fruiting Wall System Photo: GoodFruit Grower Jon Clements, Univ. Massachusetts 23

24 Mechanical Pruning Hedging LaGasse Works Mechanization in Orchards Oxbo Olive Harvester Grape Nuts Citrus Coffee 24

25 WSU Cider Projects Evaluation of cider apple juice (2002-current) Make and evaluate single-varietal ciders (4-5 each year) Compare juice quality of 4 varieties grown at 4 WA locations Measure costs of cider apple orchard establishment Evaluate mechanical harvest using over-the-row harvester Develop planting guidelines for orchard mechanization Develop management strategies for apple anthracnose canker Provide cider production education in cooperation with NABC On-line training videos grafting, tannin testing Extension Publications Hard Cider Production and Orchard Management in the Pacific Northwest (PNW 621) Introductory manual for making hard cider, based on research at WSU Mount Vernon NWREC 2013 Cost Estimation of Establishing a Cider Apple Orchard in Western Washington (FS141E) General guide for evaluating establishment and production of cider apples in western Washington Commonly Grown Cider Apple Cultivars In the U.S. 20 most common cider apple cultivars planted in cider orchards at 12 locations in different regions of the U.S. Hard Cider Nurseries: Tree Sources Growth Habit and Characteristics of Cider Varieties 25

26 Research Support Collaborators: Drew Zimmerman - Cider maker, consultant David Bauermeister - Director NW Ag. Bus. Center Suzette Galinato - WSU School of Economic Sciences Carolyn Ross - WSU School of Food Science Funders: Washington State Dept. of Agriculture WSU ARC Emerging Research Issues Northwest Agriculture Business Center WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources (CSANR) Northwest Cider Association Northwest Agricultural Research Foundation WSU Cider Team 26