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Birds can easily ruin 10% or more of your grape crop in a given year. Exclusion has been proven to be the most effective way to save your grapes from bird predation. Gintec ProGuard has smaller holes in the netting, preventing birds from pecking at the grapes from the outside of the net. By installing the netting on the sides of the grapes, the birds can potentially get in from the top, but will spend the rest of their time trying to escape. It is possible to fasten the netting both above and below if desired. |
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Wind can be very destructive in the vineyard. Since the nets are installed on each side of the row, vines are given more support. ProGuard holds the vines compactly, protecting both the plants and fruit from wind. |
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ProGuard protects grape vines and fruit from hail by holding the vines compactly, sheltering them from impact. Damaged grapes will spoil, and risk ruining nearby grapes as well. With this added hail protection, fewer grapes are damaged, lessening the risk of disease and spoilage. |
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Didn’t think a net would assist in effectively spraying your crop? When spraying the vines, the net will shatter the droplets, dispersing the spray more efficiently over a larger area. |
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During the strongest sun in the summer, ProGuard reduces UV, which can damage your grapes. This helps the grapes thrive in the sunlight, but without the harmful effects of the ultraviolet rays breaking down the delicate flavors in the grape. At the same time, if you’re experiencing cold temperatures, ProGuard will warm up your vines and provide a thermal effect to protect your crop. Since they’re insulated, vines will get an earlier start, lengthening your growing season with no extra effort on your part. |
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| OTHER BENEFITS |
| ProGuard is easy to install and remove compared to standard netting, although it is made to stay on your grapevines all year long. Since you can leave it up all year, you begin saving labor costs immediately. If the netting is put down early, vines will automatically grow up the center, saving you more labor costs since workers will not have to tuck new shoots. Mechanical harvesting can be done while the netting is in place. Not only are you saving money not removing the nets, but by mechanically harvesting, you’re saving a lot of time and money versus hand picking. ProGuard can also be used when growing ice wine grapes. A special tape holds the bottom of the netting together, supporting the grape clusters over the course of the longer season and reducing waste. Ice grapes can also be mechanically harvested with the netting in place, saving money in harvesting costs and time. |
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| COST SAVINGS |
| Now its time to see what ProGuard can do for you. Will it truly return your investment? Taking the initial cost of the netting you’ll need for your acreage and any special equipment for installing it, spread this over the expected life of the netting. With ProGuard, that is at least 15 years. This calculation will give you your depreciation percentage. Usually 3-5% of your investment costs are attributed for annual costs of installing and removing the nets… but since ProGuard can be left on indefinitely, you won’t be spending that every year. There’s a return in labor costs right there. Be sure to add in a percentage for risk… is this crop a high risk or a low risk? Add a higher percentage if it is a high risk venture. Remember that ProGuard can reduce a lot of risks… it protects crops from the cold, wind, too much sun, hail, and birds. There are returns on your investment in safeguarding your crop for fewer losses. Now add up your depreciation, your annual costs, and your risk cost. Now add the expected return from your harvest, and subtract the costs of harvesting. Mechanical harvesting is possible with the nets in place, so that is yet another return on your investment in labor savings. Since ProGuard will increase your harvest, this will increase your profits, while you’re having to subtract less for harvest costs. |
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| Gintec ProGuard is worth consideration. Taking into account the superior quality of the netting itself, its ease of use, its ability to remain on the vines year round, and the ability to use faster harvesting methods with the nets intact… isn’t it worth it? |
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