A local manufacturer is gearing up for the next vintage as farmers look to control weeds and grasses between vineyard rows.
AF Gason marketing and quality manager Graig Lennie said the companies twin rotor 6FT Rapier vineyard mower was purpose designed to mow a full inter-row width, a feature which had helped the company expand sales well beyond Australia.
Recently exported to premium and major scale vineyards as far afield as California, Mr Lennie said the company was in the process of fulfilling an export order for three forty foot container loads to their New Zealand distributors.
Features of the mower include an optional trash anvil attachment for shredding vine prunings, allowing mulch to be distributed along or below the vine rows.
Mr Lennie said the mowers use heavy duty premium Italian Comer gearboxes, PTO shafts and clutches which equips them for a heavier workload and drive line stresses.
The Rapier can be pulled by most tractors ranging from 33 to 100 kilowatts.