Thanks to VegetablesNZ for hosting the Vegetables Big Day Out in Pukekohe last week.

Even though the two day event focused predominately on outdoor vegetable production, their was some interesting technology including the presentation from Richard Beaumont Founder and Director of Agovor robotic towing machines.

Is a Well-Kept Orchard Worth the Effort?

Richard Beaumont

Founder & Director of Agovor

February 6, 2025

One of our growers recently hosted two seperate international visitors who were blown away by how tidy and well-maintained their orchard was—’Best I have seen in the world’ was the high praise.

That got me thinking: beyond aesthetics, what are the real benefits of keeping an orchard in top shape?

The Case for a Well-Kept Orchard

• Easier fruit inspections – A clean, organised orchard allows for quick and efficient fruit checks, reducing the risk of unnoticed defects.
• Faster access around the site – When pathways are clear and well-maintained, teams and machinery can move with ease, improving overall efficiency.
• Better pest and disease management – A well-maintained site is less likely to suffer pest and disease issues, as removing host material reduces breeding grounds for threats.

The Other Side of the Coin

• It’s costly – Keeping an orchard in pristine condition requires time, effort, and financial investment.
• It’s labour-intensive – Without the right tools, maintenance can take up valuable time, forcing teams to choose between routine upkeep and focusing on high-priority tasks.

That’s where automation comes in. When our robot started working in this grower’s orchard, no one lost their jobs. Instead, they could:

• Tackle time-sensitive tasks without falling behind.
• Do jobs properly—no more chopped-up weed mat from trying to control weeds with a mower.
• Use their expertise where human skills can’t yet be replaced.
• Focus on truly value-adding work while the robot handled repetitive tasks like weed spraying and mowing more often.

Curious about how automation could support your orchard?

Let’s talk about solutions that keep your farm productive without adding unnecessary workload.

To learn more about this product go to https://www.agovor.com/