The cost of grape mechanical harvesting is more economical than the manual harvest?

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the costs of mechanical harvesting and grape manual in commercial property of “Santana do Livramento”, “Rio Grande do Sul” (RS) – Brazil. The study was conducted commercial vineyard, over four years (2013–2016), throughout this period we evaluated 154.9 ha on the mechanical harvesting of grapes and; 366.7 ha on the grapes of manual harvesting; for both types of collection were recorded all costs thereof, including annual fixed fees (depreciation + maintenance), obtaining at the end the amount of crop expressed in real per hectare; also calculated the minimum required area vineyard justify mechanical harvesting. The cost of manual harvesting was 133.3% higher than the value obtained for the mechanical harvesting the studied time interval. Obtained the area of 41.92 ha, as the point of balance between the costs of manual and mechanical harvesting (equivalent costs), above this area (41.92 ha), grape mechanical harvest is economically justified. All conditions tested, it was concluded that preliminary cost per hectare of grape mechanical harvesting is lower than the cost per hectare of manual harvesting and vineyard areas plausible mechanical harvesting exceeding 41.92 ha, justify the use of the collection system grape mechanics.