Whats a Hail Cannon? How Can It Save Cherries

Whats a Hail Cannon? How Can It Save Cherries

Susan Allen
Susan Allen
05.04.16 Hail Cannons

You are going to upset your neighbors but you might save your cherries. I’m Susan Allen welcome to the Fruit Grower Report. We are constantly reporting on new ag technology so I was surprised to learn that a few Central California tree fruit farmers are using century old tactics to protect fruit from hail damage. They are rolling out the old hail cannons. The cannons shoot out a tremendously loud blast of compressed air which manufacturers say will reduce hail stones to the consistency of a snow cone. Here’s aginfo field reporter Matt Rice

Rice: The compressed air bomb is created when a small quantity of acetylene gas is put into the chamber in the cannon’s breach, then lit by a spark from a battery or other electrical source. Each blast travels up 100’s of feet to find it’s place among the hail clouds.

The cannons used in fruit orchards aren't much different than those used historically in battle they are 10-20 feet long and can be as wide as 2 feet across and if you would aim them horizontally they could easily stop advancing enemy troops.

A little Revolutionary technology for the 21st Century, I like it! Like with fireworks there must be a huge learning curve and a major handling risk but it might be one growers and packers are willing to take considering the damage early early spring hail storms can wreck havoc on orchards. last year near Chealn and Manson Washington hail storm create losses estimated in excess of $18 million ,hitting Manson Fruit Cooperative, Chelan Fruit Cooperative and Gebbers Farms extremely hard.

 

 

You are going to upset your neighbors but you might save your cherries. I’m Susan Allen welcome to the Fruit Grower Report. We are constantly reporting on new ag technology so I was surprised to learn that a few Central California tree fruit farmers are using century old tactics to protect fruit from hail damage. They are rolling out the old hail cannons. The cannons shoot out a tremendously loud blast of compressed air which manufacturers say will reduce hail stones to the consistency of a snow cone. Here’s aginfo field reporter Matt Rice

Rice: The compressed air bomb is created when a small quantity of acetylene gas is put into the chamber in the cannon’s breach, then lit by a spark from a battery or other electrical source. Each blast travels up 100’s of feet to find it’s place among the hail clouds.

The cannons used in fruit orchards aren't much different than those used historically in battle they are 10-20 feet long and can be as wide as 2 feet across and if you would aim them horizontally they could easily stop advancing enemy troops.

A little Revolutionary technology for the 21st Century, I like it! Like with fireworks there must be a huge learning curve and a major handling risk but it might be one growers and packers are willing to take considering the damage early early spring hail storms can wreck havoc on orchards. last year near Chealn and Manson Washington hail storm create losses estimated in excess of $18 million ,hitting Manson Fruit Cooperative, Chelan Fruit Cooperative and Gebbers Farms extremely hard.

 

 

 

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