Born in northern Italy just weeks after World War II ended, Enrico Billo grew up in a family that knew hunger, hardship and survival — and went on to build one of the orchard industry’s most respected labour platform companies. Today, Billo machines operate in orchards across Europe, Australia, Canada and South America, helping growers improve safety and productivity all year round. But the company began with almost nothing. 1970s one of the first Billo towed platforms “M

A review of 18 international scientific studies found that protective covers such as rain shelters, hail nets, shade nets and insect nets are transforming modern sweet cherry production. The research showed that these systems significantly reduce the major risks facing growers, including rain cracking, sunburn, heat stress, fungal disease and insect pressure.

CLICK ON THE POST TO VIEW This video which sets out the easy maintenance required for a Valente crop protection system. You will learn just how simple and cost effective it is in the long run to deisgn an orchard using Valente solutions as the backbone. Valente minimises labour needs while providing a durable, robust protection system for a wide range of crops and planting styles. A system that lasts for decades.

We are in Tortona, in the province of Alessandria, in a 5-hectare apple orchard at the De Giorgi farm, accompanied by Andrea Aiachini. The orchards are home to apple trees trained in the Bibaum system, i.e., double-tree, and equipped with anti-hail protection using Konnet netting, which involves the use of two half-nets joined at the ridge wire with special clips. This system is the ultimate solution for growers seeking unmatched strength and durability for protection from ha

For most growers horticulture isn’t just about growing fruit — it’s about solving problems you can’t control with tools you have to invent. This statement has guided many in the field, and for Alessandro Valente, 58, the testimony could not be more accurate. L-R - Chris Turnbull, Alessandro Valente, Cristian Ferrari “I was very young, still a kid, and I was thrown into the car to accompany my father (Pietro) on his visits to customers, which could last up to a week,” Ale

This thriving orchard near Bologna, Italy, reveals how modern growers combine tradition and technology to grow premium fruits. A combination of kiwi, apricot, and plum orchards span 100 hectares with almost half under anti-hail net to protect the orchard from damaging weather. The result is peace of mind and premium fruit quality for direct consumer sales.

By Andy Turner published July 22, 2025 We explain the mysterious red liquid being drunk by riders at the finish line In a race as brutal...

Shepparton apple grower Peter Radevski is embracing cutting-edge crop protection to elevate his BRAVO apples to the highest class. The Radevski family will begin to install four hectares of the Valente trellis system in 2025 for their new Bravo apple block in Grahamvale. “After pulling out old Cripps Pink Lady apples on open Tatura trellis and then looking at some of the other Valente structures that Chris and Alex had done in the Goulburn Valley, we decided that we had a cha

Meet Loris and Manuel Berdondini from Zani Group farms and see their unique pergola shaped solution to safe-guard a 50 hectare kiwi...

For Ardmona apple grower Matthew Lenne, carefully weighing the risks and rewards of every decision has become crucial when navigating a...

Learn how this grower uses an existing Valente hail net structure and design for a new planting. He was able to remove an old planting of...

"FreshSens technology has been a game-changer for our business, extending the storage time of our cherries and maintaining their...

Article from The Cherry Times 05 Mar 2025 The global cherry market size was estimated at USD 62.50 billion in 2023 and is expected to...

Check out this footage showing the set-up of a narrow orchard system under Valente crop protection in the Goulburn Valley, Victoria. It's...

#greengrannysmithapples Protected from extreme heat, wind and hail under Valente nets these Granny Smith apples could not look better....

Q. Horticulture provides $17 billion to Australia’s GDP and Nichols plays a hefty role in that. To this end, food is a big deal in our...

Studies show that growing fruit under protective nets delivers multiple benefits, including creating a more stable microclimate that enhances photosynthesis while reducing conditions that can trigger excessive vegetative growth in plants. Many growers around the world are now adopting these new orchard designs with protective nets and covers, or updating old ones. They believe these changes improve crop quality and yield. In the 1960s, Valente entered the market at a time whe

Wayki® is an automatic covering system created and developed in Chile and is perfect for protecting cherries, kiwi and berry fruits...

Consistent supply of high quality fruit is key to financial success for fruit growers says Andrew Maughan of Montague Farms. But, Mr...

If you are keen to add a new harvest labour platform to your team, then get in touch and order today so we can add you to our next...