Mr. Espinosa informs us that the total surface area planted with the “Solo Sunrise” variety of the papaya fruit amounts to 260 hectares.

Initially, two Martignani Whirlwind B612 600 l Turbo 2, trailer-mounted, electrostatic sprayers were used. These were purchased between 2002 and 2004 (the second one) following the advice of the “Martignani”  representative (UNIDECO SA – www.unideco.com). A further two sprayers were purchased in December of 2010, making a total of 4 units today.

Figures to hand, Mr. Espinosa explains the main advantages obtained since using the machines fitted with the “Martignani KWH” system, pointing out the considerable savings in operating times, labour, water consumption (low volume)  and chemicals.

To give an example of such savings, each machine is capable, on average, of covering 7 hectares of cultivation per day using 6 fewer workers than it was before.

Mr. Espinosa finds it interesting to reflect on that which he considers to be the most important benefit of using Martignani sprayers in the company. He tells us that over the last 5 years the machines have been used every day of the week, and thanks to minimal, yet accurate and well-timed maintenance, they have managed to operate them for a good 8000 hours.

Since the cultivation of the Papaya fruit is affected by changes in its size  (height) over a short period of time, the versatility of the “Martignani” machines has allowed the company to intervene during the growth of the plant itself by using simple and reliable adjustments. This has allowed a more uniform coverage of the product to be obtained as the rows of fruit are sprayed in a linear fashion without dripping onto the ground and with reduced air drift, resulting in a more  presentable and healthier fruit.

Both satisfied with the Martignani electrostatic sprayers, ourselves as the manufacturer and Terrasol as the user, we end our enjoyable conversation without ceremony but with the desire to do more to improve production while eliminating waste where possible, and at the same time, safeguarding the health of those engaged in the production and the consumption of the product once released onto the market.

…Back to today – a summary of the information on Wikipedia tells us:
“Cider is an alcoholic beverage obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of the fruits of any of the plants in the Rosaceae family, and the Pomoideae subfamily in particular, which includes apples, pears and quinces; its manufacture originates in the Middle Ages. More than 95% of global cider production is made with apples, but for connoisseurs, the cider with the best bouquet seems to be made from quinces, and is very rare. In France, the fermentation of pears produces a cider-like beverage called perry.

This drink is very popular in France, Spain, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland and Switzerland and production is particularly concentrated in Normandy and in Asturias. In contrast, its origins in Italy are difficult to determine …”
This is a useful means to introduce the pleasant conversation which we had with Mr Jean-Pierre Lebreton, the owner of a farmstead which covers a total area of 126 hectares, including almost 9 hectares of apple trees dedicated to cider production, which are the focus of our article below.

We are in the town of Rene, north of Mans, in north-central France. We are in a region called the “Pays de La Loire” in the department of “Sarthe” (NR 72).

Mr Lebreton owns a 1500-liter-capacity Whirlwind B612 Turbo 2 mist sprayer, to which he was first introduced and explained the benefits by the company CHABAS SA (appointed “Martignani-KWH System” distributor for France) during a demonstration event called the “Sées 61 Technical Day,” as the result of which, he bought a unit at the end of 2009.

The Whirlwind B612 Turbo 2 mist sprayer has since demonstrated its quality is on site and, according to Mr Lebreton, has enabled him to save 30 minutes in the treatment of 5.5 hectares of apple trees in comparison to the machine that he used previously.

He has also saved almost 780 liters of water per hectare and, with these results in mind, Mr Lebreton has decided to set himself a goal of achieving a mixture volume per hectare (mixture = water + chemical) of more or less 180 liters per hectare.

He has achieved a saving of 10% per hectare in chemicals during this first season (2010), and he has set himself another goal – specifically, he wants to progressively reduce the quantity per hectare, and thus achieve a 15% saving during his second season (2011), and a 20% saving in his third season (2012).

Mr Lebreton has also been impressed by the extreme ease of use, as well as the long-term precision and reliability of the calibration/volume per hectare adjustment and thus the general usage of the machine – facts that he has noticed for himself.

Finally, he praised the thoroughness of the local CHABAS technical sales team, who supplied the machine as well as professional assistance.

Not bad at all!

These are ambitious goals, but, knowing the Whirlwind B612 Turbo 2 mist sprayer, we have no doubts whatsoever that Mr Lebreton and his workers will successfully achieve these aims.

We have come to meet Mr Philippe Cimetiere, the owner of a farmstead which extends over a total area of 17.5 hectares, including 6 hectares for apple trees, 5 hectares for pear trees, and 0.65 hectares for cherry trees.

He tells us that he is the satisfied owner of a “KWH” Whirlwind B612 TURBO 2 mist blower with a 1,500 L capacity, which he decided to buy it in March 2009, after having first had the opportunity to find out about it and to understand its benefits thanks to the company CHABAS SA (appointed “Martignani-KWH System” distributor for France) during the well-known SIVAL trade fair, which takes place annually in the town of Angers (also in the Loire Valley).

Mr Cimetiere briefly lists the main advantages of using the machine during this first year:

• the volume applied per hectare was approximately 300/500 liters per hectare lower when compared to the traditional machines that he used previously, providing an overall saving of approximately 60,000 litres of water, as well as time savings due to the lower number of refills required.
• chemical product savings of 30% per hectare, especially fungicides.

In terms of the “KWH” Whirlwind B612 TURBO 2 mist blower, Mr Cimetiere tells us simply and kindly that he also appreciates:
- its extreme ease of use
- the long-term precision and reliability of its calibration/adjustments to the application volume per hectare, and thus the general use of the machine.

He expressed a few “constructive” criticisms about the intake filter, which he found difficult to unscrew, and the tank level indicator, in which there is no graduation for the first 300 litres.

We politely pointed out to him that the tank is large because it has a capacity of 1,500 litres, and it would therefore be difficult to have an extremely detailed, precise graduation for the first 300 litres; however, the problem was solved thanks to the addition – UPON REQUEST by the customer – of the optional “graduated level separator kit”, which is mounted on the front of the machine and thus provides excellent visibility from the operating position.

To know more:

EARL LA JONCHERE
138 Route D’Ouvrouer
45110 Sigloy (Orléans) – FRANCE
Tel. +3302.38.58.45.45
E-mail: philippe.cimetiere@wanadoo.fr

We are in South Africa in the Eastern Cape region, and precisely in the area known as Langkloof, a valley between the Kamanasie and Kouga mountains in the north, and the Outeniqua- Langkloof and Tsitsikamma mountains in the south. It is the second largest fruit production area in South Africa and apples and pears are the main agricultural products.

Mr. Rademeyer tells us that his farm is 140 ha in extent, of which 80 ha  are planted with apples and the remaining with pears.

He was introduced to Martignani electrostatic machines by their spray technical adviser of 30 years, Mr. Billy Swiegelaar.

After careful analysis of their requirements and of the possible choice of machines, they decided to purchase, within 6 months, 3 x 1500 litre “Martignani” Electrostatic Sprayer B612 Turbo 2, one in December 2009, and one each in February and May 2010, which are now working full time.

Mr. Rademeyer has supplied us with the results of his careful reports on the efficiency of the machines and on the advantages achieved by using the “Martignani” Electrostatic mist blowing system in his farm vs. the conventional air blast sprayers, and the numbers speak for themselves:

Time/Labour saving: 15%

Water Saving (l/ha applied with the Martignani): 40% (Important remark: Vast areas of Langkloof  valley are currently heavily affected by drought)

Chemicals saving: 15% (aiming to 35%)

Furthermore he kindly showed us the modification he had made to the spray heads lay-out and protection plates added to the machine for their orchards to avoid damages
to the heads (see pictures).

We thanked Mr. Rademeyer for his kindness and cooperation and for having shared with us the modification made to the machines, as we, at Martignani, appreciate very much the input
we receive from our clients concerning possible improvements.

For us it is of fundamental importance to constantly develop and improve our machines.

It is our mission to supply products that can help the farmer to achieve the best possible results according to the requirements of the person who has put his trust in Martignani
and our machines.

A few images of one of  Rademeyer’s farm Electrostatic mist blower

You can download the .pdf file clicking on the link:

Efficiency Comparison Table

Planting distance: 3×5 m – Average ground speed during the treatments: 3.5 kph Martignani-KWH Electrostatic Mist Blower used: Mod. Whirlwind B612  1500 l TURBO 2 with ELECTROSTATIC

The Randi Farms is situated in the municipality of Fusignano (Ravenna) and is managed by Dr. Massimo Randi with the collaboration of his brother Denis and father Luigi.

The vocation of the farm is decidedly viticultural, being about 25 hectares of vineyards, although other cultivation such as peach trees, wheat and beetrootin smaller quantities are not left out.

The technical approach of “Martignani” Electrostatic-Mist Blowers was integrated some time ago following a professional conference between Dr. Randi and Dr. Bellettini, the latter presently being an agricultural technician (Agronomist) and manager of the Martignani srl Italian counting house.

The contactwas concretised in the spring of 2005 with the purchase of the Mod. Whirlwind B-612 TURBO 2 Pneumatic Mist Bower with Electrostatic charged droplets.

At first the insecticide treatments were carried out by Luigi. It was then Dr. Massimo who dealt with thephytosanitary management of the family vineyards, personally carrying out the defence operations on board a tractor..

We have now come to the fourth season using the Martignani Mist Blower and Dr. Massimo tells us about the convenience of having invested in this equipment and how we have reached the optimization of the productive processes.

At the speed of 8,3 Km/h with a volume/ha of 200 litres, 7,5 ha are treatedin the morning and7,5 ha in the afternoon while the remaining hectares are completed the following day.

Previously, with a conventional atomizer (or Air Blast Sprayer) distributing 600 litres/ha, several refuelling and a total of 4-5 days of time were required.

Only some treatments , such as those against moth infestations of the grape-vines, are carried out at a higher volume (400 l/ha), while the remaining, and larger part, of the field is treated at 200 l/ha.

In these 4 seasons,the Randi family has certainly optimized the technical management of the vineyard in the best possible way, saving tons of water, hours of manpower and above all 20% of chemical product (or active ingredient) used for both contact and systemic chemicals, in every treatment.

Above all, they have reduced the phytosanitary defence operations to only 2 days, enabling them to concentrate and aim the remaining hours of manpower at other activity within the company.

Finally, it gives us great pleasure to report that, for some years, the Randi company has been part of the Bagnacavallo consortium which is the producer and distributor of the well known “Burson” (http://www.vinography.com/archives/2004/07/2000_burson_rosso_ravenna_cons.html ) wine obtained from “Longanesi” grapes.

For further information on the Randi company, visit www.randivini.it and/or send an email to info@randivini.it