"It's fantastic," is how Craig Gass, winemaker and vineyard manager of McCashins Wines, Main Road Hope, describes the 75HP John Deere 2250. Acquired from Agrimech in Blenheim just over a year ago it is the only tractor they have. "We purchased it with enough horsepower to do the spraying, the mowing and also if at a future date we took a harvester on, we would have enough horsepower to do that as well. We also wanted a fully air conditioned cab so that the spray operators are fully protected - which it has."
McCashins Wines have one of the biggest single block vineyards in the Nelson region consisting of 41 hectares of flat land on the Waimea Plains with a majority of savignon blanc vines, with chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot and one experimental acre of the french viognier variety.
This year will see the 3rd crop to come off 40 acres, with a second crop coming off 60 acres, representing ¾ of full production, which is expected by 2003. McCashins are using 2.7m row spacing and so the slightly wider wheelbase of the 2250 was narrowed up with a change of tyres and wheels, as part of the purchase price.
"It is also high enough up off the ground to get a good view over the vines, a good all round 360° view of what is happening in the vineyard while we are spraying or mowing and that's good from a safety angle with regards to personnel on the vineyard."
This is the winemakers 30th vintage, and part of Craig Gass's job with McCashins Wines is being in charge of vineyard management, which he feels keeps him in touch with what's going on with the fruit. "I manage a co-ordinated team between myself, Tasman Crop Protection who do our spray, chemical and advisory work, and David Pratt from Horticultural Services who supplies the labour and expertise. So in discussions between the three of us, we work out how the management works - quite an interesting idea, because it means we don't actually employ any staff, and its working very well."
With his many years of experience Craig knows plenty of contractors and staff around the region who praise the John Deeres so highly. "And I guess at the end of the day its not an entirely dollar thing, though dollars come into it. It's not saying we buy the cheapest we can find - we found the machine and equipment to suit the job."
