Load cells automatically detect tension differences in grapevine trellis wires. For the last seven years, U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers at Prosser, Washington, have studied technology that provides grape growers with real-time data on vine development, a tool that could make crop estimation of juice and wine grapes easier. Funding is winding down on the project in Washington State, with hopes that a commercial entity will partner with the USDA. Dr. Julie Tarara, research horticulturist for USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, has been the lead investigator of the trellis tension monitor project, an automated system that uses load cells to detect […]