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By Ramona Frances - The Madera Tribune

Farmer Steve Bolderoff stands beside his raisin paper shredder, put to use for the first time this season.

Photo by: Ramona Frances

Third generation farmer Steve Bolderoff is impressed by the efficiency of the latest model of Korvan, the Continuous Roll Machine. He used the machine for the first time harvesting 180 acres of raisin grapes in southwest Madera County.

Not only did Bolderoff purchase the Korvan, but he decided to add the attachable raisin paper shredder to the raisin pick-up machine that functions in tandem with the Korvan.

The shredder is new to the market this year and is designed to be used as a method of raisin paper disposal after the grapes that dry on the paper have turned into raisins. So far, there is only one raisin paper shredder in use in Madera County, and Bolderoff has it.

Typically, raisin paper is burned the same day the raisins are picked up.

Bolderoff considers the shredder as a viable alternative to burning paper.

"I don't want the hassle of no burn days," he said.

Since the Unified Air Pollution Control District restricts the burning of agricultural wastes, and Senate Bill 705 by Dean Florez passed prohibiting the burning of agricultural pruning by 2006, finding an alternative to burning raisin paper is not only timely, but critical. Instead of waste going up in smoke, paper can be recycled, adding essential nutrients that are often lost through burning. Paper, once it breaks down, adds nutrients that can enrich the vineyard soil.

"The machine's (capability) is awesome. It's easy to drive. Its got lots of bells and whistles," Bolderoff said earlier this season.

Before using the Continuous Roll Machine, canes are typically cut seven to 10 days in advance of harvest to give the stems time to cap and dry before the actual harvest.

"In my fields, canes are cut more like 10 to 13 days before harvest. I am using a single wire trellis," Bolderoff said. "The key to a good harvest is cutting the canes.

"I had been thinking about purchasing a Korvan for a while and came close to getting one last year but didn't do it," he said. "I have been following its progress, looking at other farmers fields; they use the harvester.

"There is a button for everything I need to do and, except for remounting the umbrella, I don't have to leave my seat," he said. "I don't stop it except to eat lunch.

"The buttons adjust the sweeper head, raise or lower the machine, speed up or slow down the header. If lots of leaves are showing up on the belt, I can adjust the blower from inside; it runs clean anyway.

"Only thing is, when I am coming up to the end of a row, I have to remember to shut off the conveyer so I don't dump grapes on anyone's head," he said. "I have done that twice already. I have to pay attention."

After the harvest is picked up, Bolderoff uses the paper shredder to drop shredded paper out in the fields. Bolderoff's father, John Bolderoff, follows behind with a tractor to disc the paper into the soil.

"The machine works fine, except when it picks up sticks," Bolderoff said. "That's a problem. Next year, I know what to watch out for, like long canes and an occasional rock or field trash in general."

How efficiently the machine does the job is "all in the preparation, the pruning," Bolderoff said.

Ramona Frances Ramona Frances is a staff columnist, writer and photographer for the Madera Tribune. You may contact Ramona at 674.8134 ext. 222 or by e-mail ramona (at) maderatribune.net The Madera Tribune online subscription To subscribe or log on, CLICK HERE. For more information first, CLICK HERE.