SELMA, Ore. – A new frost protection system from Belgium is helping Southern Oregon vineyards save crops and cut costs. A couple of weeks ago, a major frost event threatened to wipe out the vineyard’s entire year’s crop, but the new system helped save some vines.
“The technology uses infrared radiation that plants can absorb directly. The surfaces of the plant, the leaves and the small tender shoots can absorb that and it will warm the surface of the plant just enough to where frost can’t form on the plant,” said Kenan Hester, owner of Deer Creek Vineyards.
Frolight can protect crops down to around 22 degrees. The system runs off electricity, which can help cut costs compared to gas and propane.
“Instead of trying to heat the space and the air around the vine, you’re emitting the infrared radiation that the vine can actually absorb itself, making it more efficient from a power consumption standpoint,” Hester said.
Fuel costs aren’t the only savings for growers using this system. It can also dramatically reduce water consumption, which lets vineyards water their crops as opposed to using water to help fight frost.
“Running sprinklers can put out anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 gallons of water. When you add that up over the course of the spring, it puts vineyards in a situation where they’re very quickly depleting their pond resources. The Frolight system should in theory ultimately reduce the need to use sprinklers at all,” Hester said.
The system has been tested in France and Northern Italy before coming to Southern Oregon.
