{"id":310,"date":"2016-09-26T17:58:55","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T17:58:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ironwolf.com\/?p=310"},"modified":"2016-09-26T18:31:21","modified_gmt":"2016-09-26T18:31:21","slug":"orchard-recycling-700b-empowers-almond-growers-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ironwolf.com\/orchard-recycling-700b-empowers-almond-growers-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Orchard Recycling with the 700B Empowers Almond Growers with Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"orchard<\/p>\n

The use of the IronWolf 700B<\/a> to clear orchards has the potential to completely change the environmental impact of California\u2019s almond growing industry for the better. Equipped with the versatility and power that IronWolf industrial-grade machines are known for, the 700B is a purpose built crawler that was designed to serve a range of heavy duty functions within the agricultural, forestry, and construction and development industries. The 700B has become the master crawler for everything from concrete recycling and site excavation to flawless orchard clearing and tree mulching.<\/p>\n

What sets the 700B apart is that it is even more productive than previous versions. It operates with both Slasher and Crusher attachments, providing growers with that extra boost of efficiency that they need to make the switch to the more environmentally-friendly \u2013 and cost-friendly \u2013 process of grinding whole trees and reincorporating the valuable organic matter into the soil. It can move quickly, devouring large, older almond trees with a \u2018one pass up, one pass back\u2019 movement. This machine was designed to handle any challenge, and is proving to be an ideal solution for California\u2019s almond farmers.<\/p>\n

The Problem with Pushing and Burning<\/h2>\n

Almond growers are constantly seeking that perfect balance in order to get the most out of their orchards and to sustain their businesses. Almond trees have to be spaced appropriately to ensure healthy growth. This means that older, unproductive trees regularly need to be cleared away to make room for new trees to be planted. In times of drought<\/a>, some farmers make the decision to also clear trees before they pass their prime in order to save their resources for the most robust trees and most promising yields.<\/p>\n

In the past, to manage their orchards, almond growers were utilizing the very cumbersome and inefficient practice of pushing out older trees and then grinding the fallen trunks and branches into wood chips. The chips would then be transported and sold to be burned as biofuel energy in power plants. This process was robbing the orchards of valuable carbon and nutrients. It is also associated with serious problems with the health of the orchards including poor soil health and stunted growth.<\/p>\n

Another issue is with the burning itself; the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District sets a limit on how much agricultural waste can be burned in order to protect the environment.<\/p>\n

Transforming from Wasteful to Beneficial<\/h2>\n

The 700B is changing the game for California\u2019s almond growers. The IronWolf is a massive machine, capable of crunching rocks and large trees almost effortlessly. The result is a clean removal of the trees, leaving the sites enact and encouraging the health of future trees. The ground down organic matter is then recycled back into the soil; this is the true gem of the 700B\u2019s work. According to research performed by Dr. Brent Holtz, Farm Advisor and County Director of the UC Cooperative Extension in San Joaquin County this leads to:<\/p>\n