Labour management in modern orchards and opportunities for mechanisation

March 2015 | Presented by Karen Lewis, Washington State University | Future Orchards® presentation

Karen Lewis examines the labour challenge facing tree-fruit industries and the technologies being developed to help growers maintain productivity with a smaller and more expensive workforce. The presentation considers mechanised platforms, mechanical pruning and thinning, automation and emerging robotic systems.

A key message is that technology adoption often requires changes to the orchard itself. Row width, tree height, canopy depth and uniformity all affect whether machines can work efficiently. This means redevelopment decisions should consider future mechanisation needs rather than treating them as a separate issue.

The presentation also frames technology as a way to redesign jobs, not simply eliminate people. Skilled workers will increasingly operate, maintain and work alongside equipment, so labour planning, training and orchard-system design remain central to successful mechanisation.