Cordless Bottletop Burette from BrandTech Scientific

Ideal for lab and fieldwork, the Digital Buret^TM III features a long-life battery that can power up to 60,000 titrations without recharging. The Digital Buret III combines simple operation and precise control with safety features such as the SafetyPrime^TM valve. Digital display eliminates meniscus reading errors. Easy Calibration^TM technology facilitates ISP 9000/GLP compliance. The Burette is available from laboratory suppliers. For more information, call 1-888-522-2726 or visit: www.brandtech.com.  

John Deere Powered Pellenc "Over the Row" Tractors

Pellenc America, Inc, headquartered in Santa Rosa, California has announced that some of its popular "Over the Row" Tractor (harvesters) models now come standard with John Deere engines. Available in the Pellenc 3140 and 3200 series Over the Row Tractors, these new John Deere power plants make it possible to get as high as 141 HP, representing an increase of 25 percent from past years. This extra power is especially important with multi-row spraying, harvesting or pre-pruning on hillside conditions and other demanding applications. With this move, Pellenc can now offer a 141 HP Multi-function tractor with a compliment of integrated implements and attachments at a starting price of $159,000. Pellenc SA has a full compliment of vineyard equipment and specializes in multi-function tractors (harvesters) with attachments to provide year-round use. Other attachments include Sprayer, Wire lifter, Spreader, Trimmers, Pre-pruner and Leaf puller. Most of the attachments can be purchased for mounting on standard tractors. Additionally, Pellenc is now marketing the multi-row "Twin rear 3 point" system that also attaches to the "Over the Row" tractor. The "Twin rear 3 point" system is touted as making life easier for the driver, as the arms compensate side to side and up and down when the driver goes off center or the elevation of the ground changes. This is done through a ground following feeler system, which maintains the correct placement of the three point arms at all times. Each arm has hydraulic remotes mounted above the implement and an optional hydraulic PTO is available, all powered by the tractor. To date the unit has been primarily used with the Pellenc "Sunflower" in-row tillers to cover two full rows in one pass. However, growers can use the tool for a number of other multi-row applications. For more information, call 707-568-7286 or visit: www.pellencus.com.  

Quality First in Vineyard & Orchard Production

Gregg Young, who has been working in North Coast agriculture since 1973, has published and released Quality First in Vineyard & Orchard Production, a culmination of over 25 years working as an agronomist, three years of research and review by soil scientists, agronomists and viticulturists. The publication identifies and documents gaps in knowledge of soil science common in agriculture. These gaps result in over-reliance on nitrogen to produce high yields of crops--often leading to more pest and disease problems, poor quality and flavor, declines in soil structure and long term productivity and inefficient uptake of applied nutrients, sometimes leading to soil or water pollution. Wine growers have shied away from excess nitrogen for years, but often lacked a sound methodology to fertilize for quality fruit. Expanding on William Albrecht's mineral balancing principles, the manual describes how to use this approach with modern agronomic principles to produce tree fruit and vine crops of the highest quality and resistance to pests and diseases. It demonstrates step-by-step instructions for interpreting soil analysis results and forming recommendations. The manual was written for use by pest control advisors, farm managers, winemakers, researchers, landscapers and horticulturists who need a good practical knowledge of applied soil science to recommend or apply fertilizers. Although written for tree fruits and vines, it can be used in the production of most crops in all soils below 8.3 pH. The manual is available through mail order directly from the author (PO Box 246, Talmage, CA, 95481). For more information, call 707-463-1899.

Minolta Introduces New Colorimeters Featuring Stand-alone, Hand-held Measuring Heads

Minolta Corporation Instrument Systems Division (Minolta ISD) has introduced a new line of portable, hand-held colorimeters featuring compact, full-function, stand-alone measurement heads for convenient color measurement anywhere in a plant or in the field. The new Minolta CR-400 Series portable colorimeters are engineered for ease of use, reliability and durability in product color inspection, sorting, selection, classifying and grading applications in the agriculture and food processing business, as well as several other industries. Colorimeters are used in the wine industry to compare and adjust the color and color intensity of wines. The new CR-400 and CR-410 are completely data compatible with the Minolta CR-300 and CR-310 colorimeters. The CR-400 Series measurement head provides true Tristimulus Colorimetry of color and color difference for 14 standard color scales and six user specific indices; pulsed Xenon d/0° measurement geometry; choice of either an 8 mm (CR-400) or 50 mm (CR-410) measurement aperture; on-board memory for up to 1,000 readings; lighted LCD data display; touchpad control of all functions; RS-232C up/download interface; six language support and AAA battery or AC operation. For more information, call 888-473-2656 or visit: www.minoltainstruments.com.  

Shuttleworth Introduces Anti-Microbal Conveyor Rollers

Shuttleworth, Inc. recently introduced a custom compound co-polymer developed by Shuttleworth using RTP Company and AgION® anti-microbal compound. The anti-microbal compound can be used in Shuttleworth Slop-Torque conveyor (including the new Easy Clean^TM conveyor system designed for food processing applications) to inhibit the spread of growth of bacteria, mold, mildew, yeast and other unwanted organisms. Shuttleworth wanted conveying equipment that would fight Listeria and other bacteria. The company's first response was the new Easy Clean^TM conveyor featuring stainless steel construction without horizontal surfaces to collect contaminants and allows fast and easy cleaning. Shuttleworth worked with RTP on a custom compound with exact loadings of PTFE and silicone. For anti-microbal properties, Shuttleworth relied on AgION for their silver-based additive to fight Listeria and other bacteria that is approved for food contact by the FDA and the EPA. For more information or to see an independent study verifying the effectiveness of the new system, call 260-356-8500 or visit: www.shuttleworth.com.  

KEM Portable Digital Brix Meter

CSC Scientific Company brand KEM has released the new handheld Digital Brix Meter. The product is designed for quick and accurate sugar content measurements of grapes and wine alike. Users apply a drop of their sample to the built-in sensor and with a single-button operation, the digital reading of the Brix percentage is displayed. The unit provides automatic temperature compensation, and the convenience of both a wide range and high resolution and offers reliability through its drip-proof structures. The Digital Brix Meter is lightweight and compact for convenient field and cellar use. For more information, call 800-458-2558 or visit: www.cscscientific.com.  

RWE SCHOTT Solar Introduces SunRoof^TM FS-Free-Standing Solar Electric System for Commercial Applications

RWE SCHOTT Solar introduces the SunRoof^TM FS, a freestanding solar electric system for flat-roof commercial and public buildings. The new system allows users to maintain the integrity of their roofs by eliminating roof penetrations while providing an economical means of generating electricity. By choosing to install solar power technology, commercial building owners can produce their own electricity with a clean and renewable resource, allowing them to have fixed electricity pricing for the next 25 years. The system's lightweight mounting structure (less than 4 lbs per square foot) is comprised of rugged materials and a stainless steel base that will withstand UV radiation and extreme temperatures as well as high winds or earthquakes. The SunRoof^TM FS system's tilted solar arrays provide power generation with maximum cooling and drainage. The open-air structure of the system allows for air circulation and cooling beneath the modules and easy access for inspection and roof maintenance. The SunRoof^TM FS has a 5-degree tilt angle, even on flat rooftops, which improves system performance, generating up to 4% more energy than a flat array. It also has increased output due to cooler operating temperatures. For hassle-free installation, the system comes with all the necessary components. It is available in standard 30, 45, and 100 kW sizes and can be customized to meet any energy requirements. For more information, visit: www.rweschottsolar.com.  

A New Method of Frost Control for Radiation Frosts

Although this is not the time of year for growers to normally be concerned about frost damage, SHuR Farms Frost Protection has released a new system to fight radiation frosts that Wine Business Monthly wanted to bring to our readers attention. The SIS (selective inverted sink) system developed by SHuR is touted as "the first totally new method of frost protection in decades." When conditions exist that create an inversion layer (the coldest layers sitting close to the soil surface), the SIS works to selectively drain those cold layers from the property, expelling it upwards out of the plantation area at a height of nearly 300 feet, where it is dispersed in the inversion layer. The warmer air can then move down and replace the cold air. The device is capable of draining cold air from long distances, and expel it efficiently, by means of mechanical power. SIS was developed by engineer Dr. Rafael Guarga and has been the recipient of many scientific awards. Additionally, according to the company press release, "in study after study, using accepted scientific methods, the SIS has been shown to be effective against radiation frosts even when traditional methods have failed." SIS devices are easy to automate and can be adapted to different orchard infrastructures, as it can either work with an electric or explosion engine or by connecting it to a tractor power take-off. For more information, call 909-920-5707 or email: shurfarms@earthlink.net.  

AquaPro-Sensors Soil Moisture Sensors & Data Logging Systems

Aqua Pro-Sensors (AP) has released the Pocket Pro Logger and a Data Logging system. Users log all of their moisture readings on a hand held iPAQ Compaq Pocket Computer and "Active Sync" the data directly to their computer. The moisture sensor is attached to the iPAQ. Just tap the moisture reading that you see on the Compaq Pocket Computer and it is automatically logged along with the date, time, depth of reading and the location. Past data can be reviewed and compared on the iPAQ in the field as well as on your desktop computer. The system can be used with the company's AP Moisture Probe and AP Moisture Meter. The probe takes soil moisture readings in percentages, using only one moisture sensor for multiple moisture readings over the entire root zone, in any size area. The AP Moisture Probe will provide an accurate moisture profile, shown digitally in percent soil moisture, (100% is saturated and 0% is dry) over the entire root zone. The AP Moisture Meter and AP Moisture Probe are powered by one standard 9-volt battery. The AP Moisture Meter has a battery saving auto-shutoff feature. For more information, call toll free: 877-546-9991 or visit: www.aquapro-sensors.com.