Different antibiotics to treat citrus greening were used in a replicated test plot on Big Tank Road in Lakes Wales on June 6, 2015 and everybody could see the poor performance compared to steamed trees throughout the growing season. Only the steamed trees on this plot grew and looked very healthy. Remember, steaming stops all greening above the dirt line.
“The ScoringAg TreeSteamer© provides the best results,” according to William Kanitz with Scoring Ag. Technology breakthroughs include:
- A fast retrieve adjustable tree cover system that treats 2 to 3 trees at once to cut steaming costs and time in half or more.
- Dual stainless exhaust valves on the steam boiler vessel to vacate the steam faster for faster steaming times,
- Auto-lift frame side curtains for low wear-out efficiency and ground steam control on irregular terrain, also makes transport easier
- Multi-port steam exhaust distribution system that can have its trajectory angle changed in the field for different tree sizes and row spacing’s,
- Multi 3-speed 36 in. big fans above each tree during steaming to move the steam around the inside of the tree faster with better circulation and no leaf burning.
According to Kanitz there is nothing comparable on the market that can compete with the cost per tree for steaming with the ScoringAg advanced TreeSteamer© technology. $0.94 centsper tree or $0.58 cents when treating two trees at a time. By steaming three trees and using the TreeSteamer© Trailer model at 22 ft coverage, the costs is $0.29 cents per tree at current diesel fuel prices.
With the many demos of treating citrus in 2015 for greening, the steam systems stand out as the best option. They all show that less water is needed to treat trees using steam, the time of treatment is faster, and the TreeSteamer© from ScoringAg covers more trees per hour and per day with its multi tree technology. The TreeSteamer© can handle any size trees up to 14 foot tall and at any density rate to 500 trees to the acre. The optional custom made narrow units can travel in groves down to 16 foot travel row widths.
The TreeSteamer© models only need the driver and can be used with a common cab tractor and 4 wheel drive units in tough grove and weather conditions. The TreeSteamer© units have many options including tracks, even hilly terrain boilers, including a live weather station for changing conditions when operating day or night. They can be adjusted to tree size and hedging practices.
William Kanitz
President, ScoringAg
Tel: 941-924-3400