Gratefully acknowledging support from the USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative
We aim to make apple and grape production more cost competitive and to reduce risk from insufficient labor. We will accomplish this by integrating engineering and horticulture to develop technologies that automate pruning.
We are describing optimal pruning practices of apple and grape so that this labor intensive practice can be automated. Our goals is to reduce labor inputs, and increase the competitiveness of American apple orchards.
By applying technology from other fields to agriculture, we not only address current production problems and limitations, but also lay the groundwork for future innovations and novel applications of technology.