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Aspargus Machine Cuts Harvest Time In Half
Hand picking his four acres of asparagus used to be a four or five-hour job for Fred Knapp and two other workers. Now the Nicholasville, Kentucky, farmer says they can do it in two hours or less.
Unlike some vegetables, asparagus doesn't lend itself to mechanical harvest, but Knapp figured if a machine could ca
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Aspargus Machine Cuts Harvest Time In Half MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 26-2-32 Hand picking his four acres of asparagus used to be a four or five-hour job for Fred Knapp and two other workers. Now the Nicholasville, Kentucky, farmer says they can do it in two hours or less.
Unlike some vegetables, asparagus doesn't lend itself to mechanical harvest, but Knapp figured if a machine could carry pickers as well as the harvested asparagus, it would save time. While discussing his idea with other growers, Knapp learned of a former asparagus grower in Oklahoma who had already made the kind of machine he envisioned. Since it was no longer being used, Knapp was able to buy it.
It was made from the wide front axle off an Allis Chalmers G tractor and the rear end of a pickup, complete with differential and 16-in. wheels and tires. It's powered by a 12 hp Kohler single cylinder engine, with built-in alternator and electric starter. The engine is coupled to a three-speed transmission by a V-belt and pulleys, with a belt-tightener clutch. A chain and sprocket drive connects the transmission to the differential.
The machine has seats and foot rests for three pickers. The center picker operates the machine, using hand levers for the clutch, engine throttle and brakes. He steers it by pushing on the left footrest to go left or the right footrest to go right.
It has a canopy to keep the rain and sun off workers. "We pick into plastic grocery store type bags. When a bag is filled, we put it on a rack behind us," he says.
"It even has lights for night picking," Knapp says.
"We had to modify the machine a little, but it was almost exactly what I was looking for," Knapp says. "We widened the wheel spacing to make it more stable. And we beefed up the steering so it turns quicker and shorter."
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Fred Knapp, 2407 Vince Road, Nicholasville, Ky. 40356 (ph 859 887-2582).
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