Battery powered pre-pruning experiment to eliminate compaction on the vineyard
Battery powered tools were pretty useless only a few years ago, but that isn't the case anymore. Electric pre pruning of some the more vigorous old cordon pruned vines improves access, and makes the final hand prune a lot, lot easier. The machine only weighs about 3kg, so its possible to use for extended periods, though alternating regularly with plregular pruning is reccommended. This would be an impossible job with a petrol powered unit, as it would be much too heavy. The fumes would eventually take their toll on workers too. Even at a fairly leisurely pace, it's possble to get several kilometers of vines done in a day on a few batteries, as it only takes a few seconds to do each vine once you get going. Surprisingly fast, It works out much cheaper than getting a box pruning contractor in, and eliminates additional soil compaction
