Apple growers looking to adopt tractor-mounted camera technology to aid with orchard management could save up to 60% of the cost in the latest round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) grant.
The funding will cover any make of tractor-mounted, high-resolution sensors, along with an in-cab terminal to provide on-board data processing. Pricing is based around Aurea Imaging’s TMS TreeScout, which could see growers net £12,900 towards the cost of the equipment.
Agrovista Precision manager Graeme Barrett said: “This funding offers a great opportunity for orchard managers to take a big step forward in precision management.
“TreeScout, Aurea’s tractor-mounted sensor that was launched in the UK last summer, is owned and operated by growers and replaces drones as the primary source of information gathering.
“It provides a quick, reliable and economical method of collecting and analysing data, such as blossom density and tree vigour, to help growers pinpoint inputs to maximise production of first-class fruit.
“We are delighted that our efforts to obtain a grant has paid off, particularly at a time when interest in precision orchard management is growing quickly.”
Agrovista Fruit agronomist Tom Johnson added that the funding helps open the door to significant economic gains. “Managing each tree as an individual helps to create a more homogenous orchard. In collaboration with their agronomists, growers can more accurately match inputs to need using GPS-guided variable rates, producing a more uniform fruit set and improving quality and yield consistency.”
The potential benefits of the system are said to be significant, with precision thinning trials in the Netherlands showing a typical yield uplift of six tonnes per hectare, worth over £2,600 per hectare.
“With funding now available, the potential return on investment is even more impressive,” said Tom. “It could be the catalyst for a large increase in precision operations in UK apple orchards this season.”
Agrovista head of fruit Mark Davies added: “There is much activity in this precision orchard space at the moment for very good reason.
“But with Aurea, Agrovista Fruit has found a partner that has already completed the development work, with a ready-for-market solution to help growers optimise their orchard performance on a tree-by-tree basis, now.”
FETF 402
The expected average cost of the system is £21,500, meaning that a 60% grant would be worth £12,900. To be eligible, the system must meet the following criteria:
- be a tractor-mounted sensor for precision orchard management
- recognise individual trees
- record blossom level and fruit loading on trees
- be ISOBUS compatible
- have WiFi connectivity
- link to an existing GPS system
- provide data for blossom mapping, vigour mapping and fruit load mapping
The first application window runs until the 11th of April, with two more windows expected in 2024. The highest scoring applications will be allocated funding first.