BEI Harvesters

BEI International has a number of innovative harvesters.

Click here for a video of their Pull-Behind cost-effective harvester.
Click here for a video of their Rotary Head machine for gentle picking.
Click here for a video of the Tracks Harvester that offers zero radius turning capability.

Grape Harvester 3-in-1

Spectrum OTR Tool Carrier is designed to do three separate functions on two rows in one pass. The model shown above is set up to hedge, mow and spray herbicide. In addition to these functions it could be equipped to prune, disc, shred, dust or spray pesticide. The Cummins 155 HP 6 cylinder diesel power plant is standard. The hydraulics can be sized to fit your application.

Tractors, Application equipment, Robotics

Strong Roots: new irrigation system makes significant improvements in Washington grower's berry crops: Blueberry crops thrived this year at Sakuma Brothers due partly to the enhanced quality system now in place. Growing Produce~ May 2009.

Breakthrough in Strawberry Harvesting: A prototype of a low cost commercial robotic harvester that will be able to harvest strawberries, 24 hours per day in all weather conditions is now nearing completion in Australia. The Land ~May 2009.

Video: Building a Distributed Robotic Garden: A look at robots tending a garden. Potential future for robotics in agriculture? YouTube ~March 2009.

Video: Harvesting Raspberries: Using a Jovaras berry harvester to harvest raspberries near Warren, Manitoba. YouTube ~February 2009.

Video: Washington Red Raspberry Harvest: Washington red raspberries. A full year in the life of Lynden raspberries put to banjo music. YouTube~ October 2008.

Field force: Deere Makes Ag Irrigation Market Tighter for Toro: John Deere enters $1 billion micro-irrigation ag market, toughening drip tape technology competition. Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal ~June 2008.

Picky Robots May Someday Pick Fruit: In the coming years robots could be picking produce in groves and fields. Ventura County Star ~April 2008.

Video: WeedSeeker Orchard & Vineyard: WeedSeeker Automatic Spot Sprayer for orchard and vineyard weed control YouTube ~April 2008.

Japanese Company Working on Strawberrry Robotic Harvester: A Japanese company robot's color-sensitive camera checks on ripeness before plucking. There is a video (in Japanese). ~April 2008. Click here for video

Slideshow of Tractors, Harvestors, Sprayers: The Washington Red Raspberry Commission sponsored a tour of innovative machinery in the Lynden, Washington, area in February 2008. Click on the title to see a slideshow of the tour.

High-tech Harvester Cuts Labor Costs, Maintains Quality of Southern Blueberry Crops: Once-experimental "V45", proven effective as a commercial harvester for northern highbush blueberries in Michigan, now used for southern blueberry cultivars. Abstract from HortTechology published online ~January 2008. Click here for regional and preliminary report.

Video: Apple Harvester: Interesting method for apple harvest. YouTube ~January 2008.

New Washington Red Raspberry Commission Website: A quick, fun view of mechanical harvesting with a musical soundtrack! WRRC webiste~ January 2008.

Recent study: New irrigation system from England may assist against iron bacteria in PNW: Click link, then scroll down to Research to find report titled: "Boom-Type Carts vs. Big Guns in Northwestern Washington" ~Archived.

Emerging Change in Strawberry Harvest Technology: Recently developed machine alters harvest system in Ventura County, California; headed for wide adoption. Choices Magazine. Archived.

Adjusting to Technological Change in Strawberry Harvest Work: Machine used by many Ventura County strawberry firms in 2003 holds economic promise for adopters throughout California. Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics; Howard R. Rosenberg. Archived.