What Sets OVS Apart?

What Sets OVS Apart?
Convenient One-Stop Shopping for Specialty Ag
Growers Supplies ♦ Equipment ♦ Service ♦ Parts
Guidance ♦ Full Agronomic Services
OVS Aurora
19658 Hwy 99E
Hubbard, OR 97032
971-216-0111 ph
971-216-0112 fax
OVS Medford
OVS McMinnville
2700 St. Joseph Rd.
McMinnville, OR 97128
503-435-2700 ph
503-474-0476 fax
OVS Umatilla
Distribution Warehouse
Distribution Warehouse
640A Mason Way
Medford, OR 97501
541-613-7330 ph
COLO Logistics
30900 Launch Lane
Umatilla, OR 97882
800-653-2216
Local farmers turn to OVS because we:
Competitively price our products ♦ Research cost effective solutions ♦ Offer new and innovative ideas
Support industry events ♦ Serve on industry boards and committees ♦ Offer educational programs
Offer convenient outlet and delivery options ♦ Support our local communities
Work in partnership with university research and extension
As a 100% employee owned company, each and every associate works hard to earn and keep your business.
2
Table of Contents
What Sets OVS Apart .......................................................................................................................... 2
Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................. 3
New Planting Guidelines Good Sites & Grape Varieties....................................................................... 4
New Planting Guidelines Production Time ............................................................................................ 5
New Planting Guidelines Revenue Expectations .................................................................................. 6
OVS General Agronomic Protocol for Young Grape Vines (1st, 2nd & 3rd year transitional) .............. 7
Not All Wood Posts are Created Equal ................................................................................................. 8
All Wire is Not Created Equal ............................................................................................................... 9
All Metal Line Posts are Not Created Equal .......................................................................................... 10
Wine Grapes VSP & Scott Henry Trellis Designs ................................................................................. 11
Wine Grapes H-Brace, V-Sprawl & GDC Geneva Double Curtain Trellis Designs ............................. 12
Berries Blueberry & Blackberry Trellis Designs .................................................................................... 13
Table Grapes Trellis & End Post Assembly Designs ............................................................................ 14
Olive Trellis Designs.............................................................................................................................. 15
Orchard Trellis Designs ......................................................................................................................... 15
Livestock & Game Fencing ................................................................................................................... 16
Livestock & Game Fencing (con’t) ........................................................................................................ 17
Trellising Products .................................................................................................................................18
Product Descriptions ............................................................................................................................. 19
Product Descriptions (con’t) .................................................................................................................. 20
Top Selling Trellis System in Europe ....................................................................................................21
MacroBins® ........................................................................................................................................... 22
Authorized Felco Maintenance Center ..................................................................................................22
Other Offerings from OVS Ag Supplies, Agronomic Services, Specialty Equipment,
Parts & Service, Financing Options ...................................................................................................... 23
Measurement Conversion Chart ........................................................................................................... 24
Trellising and fencing are two of the most important investments you’ll make. With escalating material and labor costs, it’s
critical that you get the best value for your dollar. OVS realizes this and we’ve done our research. We stock quality
steel and wood at competitive pricing; with a focus on North American made products.
Please contact us for design assistance and a quote on your project.
3
New Planting Guidelines
Good Sites & Grape Varieties
Question:
Do I have a good site for wine grapes?
These guidelines are focused on development in Oregon’s
Willamette Valley. Our business scope now encompasses the entire
Pacific Northwest, as time and experience allow, we’ll update these
discussions for that entire area. Be advised that parameters and
results vary widely over the PNW. Nevertheless, much of what we
share here is germane information regarding vineyard development
anywhere.
Answer:
Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a marginal climate
for wine grapes. Most years, grapes ripen just as the season is
ending, which means we dance with fall rains. In order to assure
we harvest ripe fruit we need to plant vines on our warmest sites.
Generally speaking, wine grapes do best on hillsides facing east,
south or west. Hillsides are important because they allow for air
drainage, which reduces frost risk, and water drainage, which encourages deeper rooting and reduces vegetative
vigor. Hillsides also allow for better solar exposure because they tilt toward the sun (except for northern slopes).
Soil type is very important. Again, generally speaking, grapes do best on lesser quality soils. The richer the soil,
the more vegetative vigor is encouraged. Vegetative vigor requires more intensive management, including heavy
shoot thinning, hedging and leaf pulling. The most popular soils for vineyards in the Willamette Valley are: Jory,
Nekia, Willakenzie, Bellpine, Laurelwood, Yamhill and Steiwer. You can grow grapes on valley bottom soils like
Willamette, Woodburn or Carlton, but they require more intensive management to control vigor.
Additional site considerations include wind, precipitation, elevation, steepness of slope and rock content of soil.
Wind slows down photosynthesis and thereby often slows ripening. High winds also can cause trellises
(particularly those planted against the prevailing summer winds) to collapse under a full canopy. Excessive
precipitation (particularly above 55-60” annually) makes grape growing difficult. Vines require about 25-30”
annually to perform best. In the Willamette Valley, vineyards above 800’ struggle to ripen many years, and above
900’ they rarely ripen. The elevation ‘sweet spot’ is between 250’ and 600.’ Slopes over 20% require very careful
planning, because tractor work can be challenging. Some rock content in your soil is desirable because it
enhances water drainage and, generally, helps warm the soil. But excessively rocky soil leads to very expensive
development costs, and, sometimes, planting and driving posts is all but impossible.
Thus, for the Willamette Valley of Oregon, if you have an east, south or west slope on a hillside of less than 20%
slope (not too windy, rainy or rocky) and less than 800’ elevation, you’ve got an above average chance to grow
good wine grapes.
If you’re in eastern or southern Oregon (or elsewhere) these parameters can be quite different, but most of the
siting criteria will be very similar. Vines generally do best on sites that have excellent air and water drainage. Soils
should not be too fertile because this causes the vine to grow shoots and leaves rather than reproduce fruit.
Question:
Answer:
What kind of wine grapes should I plant in Oregon?
Tough question. In the Willamette Valley of Oregon, Pinot noir is king, and, probably always will
be. You can successfully grow many varieties. Any variety of Pinot, be it noir, gris, blanc or meunier, does well
here. Chardonnay, particularly the “Dijon clones” (76, 95, 96 and Espiquette 352) also make world-class wine. The
Germanic varieties, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Muller-Thurgau, do well. Gamay noir also does well here. The
Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petite Verdot do very well in southern
and eastern Oregon. Sauvignon blanc and, to a much lesser extent, Semillon have made exciting wines throughout
the PNW. The Rhone varieties, particularly Viognier and Syrah, are having some success in warm areas. In the
Umpqua region, Tempranillo is clearly successful. Grenache and Mourvedre are also showing promise. The best
wines may prove to be unique blends of these varietals and others, time will tell. Zinfandel has shown promise in
the Columbia Gorge and the Applegate Valley. Some impressive fortified wines have been produced in the
warmer regions as well.
4
New Planting Guidelines
Production Time
For those interested in plowing new ground there are several interesting opportunities. In red grapes, Lagrein
(a variety indigenous to the Alto Adige region of northeastern Italy) makes a deeply colored, heavy bodied wine.
St. Laurent is a variety planted in Austria that also has some promise, it’s early ripening with good color and has
characteristics similar to Pinot noir. Saverapi is a red grape native to the Republic of Georgia. It’s a teinturier (red
juiced) variety, so it’s very deeply colored, but its strong aroma can be off-putting to some people. Additionally, there
are countless Spanish, Italian and Slovakian varieties that have yet to be tested. There are many white varieties
worthy of an effort: Sauvignon blanc, Gruner veltinger, Siegerrebe, Ehrenfelser, Early Muscat, Albarino, Arneis and
others.
Some people have successfully experimented with French/American hybrids, such as Marechal Foch, Baco noir,
Chambourcin, Chancellor, Vidal, Seyval and others. These hybrid varieties do make some exciting wines, but they
are challenging to market. There are opportunities in these varieties for the enterprising grower and innovative
winemaker.
When we distill the discussion down to economics, the only variety
that comes out on top is Pinot noir. It represents 65% of the total state
production value. Pinot noir receives the highest prices in the market,
and it consistently ripens. It is reasonable to ask if the market can be
over-saturated with Pinot noir, causing the price to drop. Certainly, it
can. But Pinot noir is globally among the most coveted of wines, and
it doesn’t do well in very many places. Thus Pinot noir is likely to remain the most successful red variety from Oregon’s Willamette Valley
for many years to come. Some growers are planting other reds
(particularly those varieties with consistently more color than Pinot
noir) to blend into their Pinot noirs to provide color, body, aroma or
flavor enhancement.
As of the end of 2011, Pinot noir represented 62% of all wine grape
acreage in Oregon (12,560 out of a total 20,400 acres). Pinot gris was second at 2590 acres, and its acreage is actually shrinking. Chardonnay was third at 950 acres. Those three varieties together represent over 78% of all acreage
in Oregon. Source: 2011 Oregon Vineyard and Winery Report.
Question:
How long does it take to bring a vineyard into production in Oregon?
Answer:
In most cases it will take four to six years to bring an Oregon vineyard into full production. In year
one, you plant the vines and try to establish a healthy, vigorous root system. In year two, you develop a trunk to
support the fruiting canes or cordons, as well as build the carbohydrate reserves of the plant. In year three, you can
fruit many vines, but yields are usually around .75 ton per acre. In year four, you can increase production to about
1.5 to 2 tons per acre. In year five, you can reach full production of 2 to 3 tons per acre.
The above is an average scenario for a dry-farmed site in the Willamette Valley. In other areas, if adequate irrigation
is available, it is possible to accelerate this timeline by one year. The opposite can be true as well, if the soils are
nutrient poor, or you plant in a drought season, then it can take an additional two years or more to reach full
production. Vertebrate pests, mainly deer and elk, can also devastate a young vineyard by eating the foliage.
The first years of a vine and vineyard’s life are very important. It is important to not over-stress the plants by
over-cropping or under-watering. The vines need to be in nearly uniform growth in order to facilitate future
management. Vineyards with vines in many states of development increase costs and lead to inconsistency in
yields and overall quality. The adage of ‘do it right the first time’ is most important in vine and vineyard development.
5
New Planting Guidelines
Revenue Expectations
Question:
Answer:
How much can I make growing wine grapes in Oregon?
This question is first and foremost a question of how much does it cost to grow grapes in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The answer is: it depends. Secondly, it’s a question of how you chose to account for all your costs. Do
you amortize your land costs? Do you factor in the time value of money? Do you account for appreciation of your land?
Let’s make some assumptions:
You own 30 acres of prime hillside land.
You grow high quality grapes.
You run all your own equipment, worth approximately
$40,000 new.
You plant 20 acres of Pinot noir, all good clones.
You plant a moderate density of vines, say 1245 per acre
Your vineyard development cost was $20,000 per acre (you
did some of the work yourself, and you were frugal with
materials). Thus, not including land costs, you have
$440,000 invested in your vineyard.
Your vineyard is now in full production.
Annual cost of production is highly variable, but for the purposes
of this exercise, we’ll assume an annual production cost of
$4,500 per acre. This is the entire annual, variable expense,
including harvest and delivery of your fruit. Actual costs might run as low as $3,500 to a high of $6,000 per acre.
What price will you get for your fruit? For the purposes of this exercise, we’ll assume you’re growing only Pinot noir (or at
least a high demand varietal that will recover $1800 or more a ton). The National Ag Statistics report listed an average of
$2470 per ton for Pinot noir in 2010, but this is likely somewhat inflated by older acreage contracts set under stronger
market conditions.
Most wineries prefer a low yield of 2 to 2.5 tons per acre, and they pay a fixed amount per ton. At $2,200 per ton, and 2.5
tons per acre, your gross income per acre will be $5,500. Many wineries, with well established relationships with their
growers, prefer to pay a fixed amount per acre, rather than on a per ton arrangement.
Financial analysis on a per acre basis:
Annual variable expenses: $4,500
Depreciation of equipment: $286 ($40,000 on a 7 year schedule, divided over 20 acres)
Total cost per acre: $4,786*
Income per acre: $5,500
Net income, before tax, per acre: $784
* Not calculated in the scenario is the time value of the invested money; an important consideration.
In southern Oregon, eastern Oregon, Washington, Idaho and a few sites in the Willamette Valley greater tonnages per
acre are grown. In these areas the financial analysis looks more like this:
Annual variable expenses: $4,500
Depreciation of equipment: $286 (same as above)
Total cost per acre: $4,786
Income per acre: $9000 (Based on 5 tons/acre at $1800/ton)
Net income, before tax, per acre: $4214.
Suffice it to say, return on a vineyard investment is highly variable, the investment required is high and risks substantial.
However, if we factor appreciation of the land value (something that hasn’t happened over the past few years), the return
may be worthy of the risks. If you are planning to make wine from your own fruit, this analysis is still valid from the standpoint of growing the grapes.
6
OVS General Agronomic Protocol
for Young Grapevines (1st, 2nd & 3rd year transitional)
Conventional Farming
Pre-plant
OVS/Redox soil test, interpret and implement any deviations from the following with the help of an
OVS agronomist.
Dormant Rooted Vines 1st Year
1. Inoculate mycorrihzae by placing 1 tablespoon per hole of BioTerra Plus. Also, plant vine with 1 - 1.5
teaspoons per hole of Zeba, if dry formula.
2. Apply with a backpack sprayer, fertigate or drench 5 gallons/acre OVS BGS1000 mid-late April.
3. Apply with a backpack sprayer, fertigate or drench 5 gallons/acre OVS BGS1000 in late May to early
June.
4. If you have irrigation, apply 5 gallons/acre BGS1000 in mid July.
2nd Year
1. Apply with a backpack sprayer, fertigate or drench 5 gallons/acre OVS BGS1000 mid-late April
2. If not fruiting this year apply with a backpack sprayer, fertigate or drench 7.5
gallons/acre OVS BGS1000 in late May to early June.
3. If you have irrigation, fertigate 5 gallons/acre of OVS BGS1000 in mid July.
Green Growing Vines 1st Year
1. Inoculate mycorrihzae by placing 1 tablespoon per hole of BioTerra Plus. Also, plant vine with 1 - 1.5
teaspoons per hole of Zeba, if dry formula.
2. Fertigate, drench or backpack spray in 5 gallons/acre OVS BGS1000 at planting.
3. Fertigate, drench or backpack spray in 7.5 gallons/acre OVS BGS1000 in mid-late July.
2nd Year
1. Fertigate, drench or backpack spray in 5 gallons/acre OVSBGS1000 in mid-late April.
2. If not fruiting this year fertigate, drench or spray 7.5 gallons/acre OVS BGS1000 in mid-late May.
3. Fertigate, drench or spike wheel in 5 gallons/acre OVS BGS1000 in mid-late July.
3rd Year Transitional Spray Program Towards Full Production Vineyard
Weed Control: Early spring - glyphosate 1.5% v/v. Early summer weed burn down Rely 280 1.7oz per
gallon. Soil sample and leaf tissue samples should be done this year at bloom to establish nutritional
needs, and to discuss results with an OVS agronomist.
Consider a woolly bud spray for rust mites if needed (sulfur or PureSpray Green oil.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
12-15” of growth. TEB45 @ 4oz/acre
Three weeks later: Quintec @ 4oz/acre
Bloom: Pristine @ 18oz/acre
Three weeks later: Vivando @ 10oz/acre
Mid-late August: Regalia .5% v/v
Pre-harvest Botrytis if needed: Elevate/ @ 1lb/acre.
Formulated with a full micronutrient, phytohormone and organic acid package, BGS1000 also increases
N availability and utilization in addition to reducing phosphate fixation. It also has a lower salt index than
most dry fertilizers, therefore the risk of plant phytoxicity is greatly reduced.
7
Not all Wood Posts are Created Equal
This article is a rewrite of an article published in the OVS Outlook eight years ago. In that time, wood posts have diminished in
popularity and then resurged. Steel is still an excellent choice, but we like the look and feel of wood. More importantly, wood
posts represent a renewable resource that’s produced right here in the Pacific Northwest. But all wood posts are not created
equal. Proper wood selection and treatment are critical to overall performance.
In our humid soils, an untreated post would last anywhere from three to seven years. In order to gain greater useful
life, wooden posts must be treated with chemicals that inhibit rot and insects. In the past, oil-based treatments like
pentachlorophenol were popular, but those processes are now banned for environmental reasons. Today, all treatments are
water-based. The most common is CCA or chromated copper arsenate. The CCA process has been banned from use on
wood destined for use by homeowners, but is still the preferred process for agricultural use. Today, most lodgepole pine is
still CCA treated.
In 1998, after extensive research, we chose to exclusively represent posts produced by British
Columbia-based Princeton Wood Preservers. In the last fifteen years, we don’t have a single
documented post failure. British Columbia produces almost exclusively lodgepole pine
posts. It’s called lodgepole pine because it was the wood of choice for the homes, teepees and
traverses of Native Americans. Lodgepole is the strongest of all pine species with a tensile
strength of 6600 psi (that compares favorably with the strongest, common species, coastal
Douglas fir, at 8000 psi). Lodgepole pine makes great posts because it’s round wood with few
limbs (which means fewer knots to weaken the pole) and it’s straight with a very slight taper.
Also, lodgepole grows very slowly (a six-inch-diameter tree averages 130 years old), making its
wood very dense.
To produce a post, the tree is bucked into appropriate lengths, usually from 6 to 12 feet. The
bark is removed and then the posts are bundled and air-dried for up to eight months. In order to
properly treat the posts, the moisture level at the interface between the sapwood and heartwood must be 20%. If the moisture level exceeds 20%, the post will reject the water-based
treatment. Here’s where the greatest difference between producers emerges. If the air-drying
time is during the winter, when temperatures are often below freezing, the posts often do not dry properly. Thus the Princeton
mill kiln dries the posts to reach 20% moisture. No other Pacific Northwest post producer currently kiln dries. If you buy posts
that have not been properly dried, you risk that they were not fully treated and they may fail prematurely. Unfortunately, there
is no obvious visual evidence to identify an improperly treated post. This must be done by a lab assay.
Both the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the American Wood Preservers Association (AWPA) set standards for
proper treatment. For CCA, that standard is .4# per cubic foot. This means that there must be .4# of CCA for every cubic foot
of post, and 85% of the sapwood must be penetrated by CCA. Princeton’s target standard is .4# plus 100% of the sapwood
or 10mm of penetration, thus exceeding the standards of both associations. In order to assure quality, Princeton pulls core
samples from posts in every treatment charge and sends them to an independent lab for analysis. You will often hear vendors
say their posts are treated to .4# or refusal (or just “treated to refusal”). Buyer beware, because the post will “refuse” the treatment early (or immediately) if it has not been properly dried.
In the past two years, Princeton has taken another quality step. They now run each batch of posts through a “fixation
chamber.” Here the posts are subjected to a constant temperature, humidity and pressure to “fix” the CCA into the wood. If
all producers used this technique, we believe there’d never have been a ban on CCA treatment. Yet, no other wood preserver
in the Pacific Northwest is taking this step. Princeton Wood Preservers represent THE wood post quality standard for
the Pacific Northwest.
We know that warranties without branding are worthless, because we’ve sold such posts. When we had a failure, the producer said, “Prove they’re mine.” Without a branded identity it’s impossible. Buyer beware of “guarantees.” What’s more, the
guarantees cover only the prorated cost of the post, not the real cost. The labor and equipment to replace a prematurely rotted post are the real costs. We suggest you pay a little extra for a properly produced Princeton post and do it right the first
time. We’re proud to be Princeton’s largest American customer, and we won’t be undersold on a top quality Princeton post.
Accept no less, call today for a quote on your post needs.
2012 brought a wood post shortage in Oregon, Washington and California. As a result, OVS has chosen to stock a second,
more economical brand called Blue Ribbon. These posts are also harvested in the same forests as Princeton, and they are
also CCA treated. They should be considered more of an agricultural post, as the peeling can be a little rougher and the
posts are air dried, not kiln dried.
8
All Wire is Not Created Equal
This article appeared in the OVS Outlook newsletter last spring, but it bears
repeating because we’ve heard a good deal of misleading information being
offered by our competitors. If you’ve ever ordered wire from OVS, you should
have been asked several questions: What class of wire did you want? Laid
thread or catch weight? Import or domestic? Classes of wire refer to different
amounts of galvanization (zinc coating). Zinc resists oxidation or rusting, hence
the wire lasts longer. Wire failure costs far more to fix than installing it right the
first time. Generally, there are three classes of wire: commercial, class 1 and
class 3. Commercial grade wire has no minimum requirement for the amount
of zinc per square foot of material, but most of the time such products will have
between .20 and .25 oz. of zinc per square foot of steel area. True class 1 wire
must have a minimum of .27 oz. of zinc per sq. ft. of steel area. Class 3 must
have a minimum of .80 oz. of zinc per sq. ft. of steel area. Thus there’s as
much as four times the amount of zinc on class 3 wire as there is on commercial grade wire. In damp environments, this can make a huge difference in the
useful life of any wire product, including fencing. Unfortunately, zinc prices
have soared faster than other metals over the past few years. Zinc is now so
expensive we’re seeing some manufacturers add aluminum (which used to be
far more expensive) to the zinc coating. The aluminum/zinc coating combinations make very good wire as well.
Laid thread means the wire has been spooled tightly and accurately like a spool of thread, this makes the process of
uncoiling the wire much smoother. Catch weight wire is simply laid in a loose spool, many producers use this method
because it’s less expensive, but wire spooled in this manner has a greater tendency to kink causing more downtime
during installation. OVS offers both import and domestic wire to be price competitive. Generally, good import wire is
fine to use, but the galvanization standards are sometimes less rigorous so beware.
All Metal Line Posts
are Not Created Equal
Buying steel can be a frustrating experience because you
need to know what all the “lingo” means to be sure you get
what you want. It’s widely known that “high-carbon” steel is
the best steel, but this can get you in trouble. The higher
the carbon content of steel, the harder it is. But the harder it
is, the more brittle it becomes. High carbon steel is great for a knife, because it can be sharpened to a very fine edge
that holds. But, for trellis construction, you don’t want the highest carbon content.
The most common term to measure quality of steel is minimum yield strength (or min yield for short). This term refers to the ability of a steel product to carry a load. Min yield is the amount of pressure that can be applied to the
steel before it shape distorts. In other words, min yield measures the amount of force the steel can be subjected to
before it bends (not necessarily breaks). Steel used to produce trellis materials ranges from 40,000 min yield to
80,000 min yield; 100,000 min yield is better steel, but it’s too brittle for structural purposes. The best min yield range
for price and performance in trellis materials is 60,000-80,000.
The term “rail steel” is also tossed around a good deal when shopping for trellis materials. It’s widely held that “rail
steel” posts are better than “billet” (more on this in a little bit) steel. But that’s not always true either. “Rail steel” posts
are indeed made from used railroad rails. These “recycled” rails are cut, heated and reformed into posts. Rail steel
has a min yield of 60,000, certainly better than 40,000, but they could be better.
9
All Metal Line Posts
are Not Created Equal (con’t)
Billet steel today is mainly made from scrap steel. The scrap is melted and then tests are conducted on the melted steel to
determine its quality. While in the melt pot, additional metals can be added to give the steel various properties, thereby improving its usefulness. Billet steel used for trellis materials can often grade out at 80,000 min yield. This is the best quality to
use for constructing trellises. But some billet could also be low grade as well; it all depends on the mill and their intents. Thus,
some billet steel would be lower grade than rail steel and some could be much better. You need to know the mill, or at least
your supplier. At this point, it’s largely a matter of trust. Nucor (one of the mills OVS buys from frequently), produces 80,000
min yield billet steel (the best). Franklin (another steel mill) produces 60,000 min yield billet steel.
Gauge is another factor in structural strength, but it too can be confusing
and is often abused in the sales process. Gauge is the thickness of the
steel at a particular point and is usually measured with a micrometer.
Most vineyard line posts are 12, 13 or 14 gauge. Gauge can be translated into decimal equivalents of an inch thus:



12 gauge is .1046”, but the allowed range is from .0986-.1106
13 gauge is .0897”, but the allowed range is from .0847-.0947
14 gauge is .0747”, but the allowed range is from .0697-.0797
Given this rather wide range allowed for each gauge, mills will roll near
the bottom tolerance of a gauge to use less steel. Thus gauge is not the
best way to compare posts. What’s more, if the post is galvanized, the
thickness of the galvanization must be taken into account before the
gauge of the underlying steel is meaningful, because galvanization doesn’t really add to the strength of the post.
Today, steel rolling machines can be highly accurate, so many mills will now quote “nominal thickness,” or just nom for short.
When a mill quotes nom, they are saying that’s the minimum (nominal) thickness of the steel used to roll the post. This is
more accurate than quoting gauge.
The width of a post is another way to reduce the amount of steel in the post, and
thereby sell it for less. Depending on the design of the post, having less width may or
may not reduce the strength of the post. But this variability makes it difficult to evaluate quality of the post based upon weight. Weight does tell you how much steel you
bought, but it isn’t a great measure of the structural strength of the post. T—posts are
sold on the basis of weight per lineal foot, generally they range from .85 to1.33#/ft. Of
course, the heavier posts have greater structural strength, but mills are allowed a tolerance of +/- 5% on total weight.
The design of the post is a critical part of the structural strength. Just as corrugated
cardboard is stronger than flat sheets, curved or milled steel is stronger than flat steel.
This is why all rolled steel line posts have dramatic curves, folds or pleats in them.
When a steel post is rolled, the curves and creases add to the structural strength. All notches and holes reduce the structural
strength. Our experience has shown that when a notched steel line posts fails, it usually bends at the bottom notch. Design is
a critical factor in structural strength, hence many post designs are patented.
The final considerations on a steel line post is whether it’s galvanized or painted, and what’s the fit and finish on the post.
Galvanized posts are either made from galvanized sheet metal or are hot-dipped in a zinc or zinc/aluminum bath. Hot-dipping
is the superior approach, but it’s also very expensive. Fit and finish are important to the handling, but rarely have any impact
on structural strength. Some posts are finished with an oil coating, this helps the post resist rusting while in storage, but
makes the post nasty to handle. A few mills will pickle the post to remove all the oil and other materials that coat the post
through processing. These posts look nice, but may rust a little quicker than an oil coated post. However pickling does not
shorten the overall life of the post at all. Care should be taken when handling posts because there are sometimes burrs or
sharp edges created during milling. These imperfections can easily cut an unprotected hand.
10
Wine Grapes
VSP & Scott Henry Designs
4 or 5”
VSP Design
3rd Catch Wire
End Post Options:
4-5“ x 9’; 5-6” x 9’;
or 8’ or 9’ 3#/ft Rib-Bak
- 14ga Soft
2nd Catch Wire - 14ga Sof
t
e1&3
difference of Catch Wir
Center wire splits the
Soft
First Catch Wire - 14ga
18” Catch Wire Chain
Anchor Wire - 9ga Soft
or a gripple end assembly
Tensioner
30”
Fruiting Wire
- 12.5ga HT
24”
+/- 75◦
l
eve
Ground L
3’
2.5’
Most common trellis system for cool climate viticulture ♦ Excellent sunlight exposure ♦ Moveable
catch wires lift and hold leaf canopy ♦ Line Post Options: Rolled edge, Double diamond, Diamond
back, Profil Alsace, Super Grande (special order only), Wood 3-4” diameter, and T-Post
End Post Options: Wood, Rib-Bak, Oil field pipe, or 12 ga Profil Alsace
Scott Henry System
9’ Steel or wood line posts
tch Wires
14ga Soft Ca
(roll up)
atch Wires
14ga Soft C
e
ruit Wir
ga HT F
12.5
12.5ga
HT Fr
oft
4ga S
1
e
uit Wir
Catc
es
h Wir
(cane ti
(cane
e)
tie)
own)
(roll d
Four fruiting canes, two on upper fruit wire, two on lower ♦ Roll the canopy up or down;
primarily used in vigorous sites ♦ Produces higher yields.
11
Wine Grapes
H-Brace, V-Sprawl & GDC Geneva Double Curtain
H-Brace
5” Brace Pin
10” Brace Pin
In-Line
Strainer
or Gripple
Barbed
Staple
Wood Options: 4-5” x 10’ ♦ 5-6” x 10’ ♦ 3-4” x 8’ for
crossbar ♦ Used as corners for gates or gate attachments
in fencing, or as row ends in wine grapes
V-Sprawl Trellis System
7’ Steel Line Post Preferred, Wood Optional
14ga HT Wire
24”, 30” or 36”
V-Cross Arm
GDC Geneva Double Curtain
8’ Steel Line Post, T-Post or Wood
30”, 36” or 42” L-Style Cross Arms
12.5ga HT Fruit Wires
12” or 16”
L-Style
Cross
Arm
12.5ga HT
Fruit Wire
14ga HT
Irrigation Wire
14ga HT
Irrigation Wire
Increased afternoon shade ♦ Increased Photosynthesis ♦ Open canopy top for air flow ♦ Higher
trellis cost but lower canopy management expense
12
High yield sites ♦ Hanging canopy
Berries
Blueberry & Blackberry Designs
Blueberry Trellis
Line Post
Blueberry Trellis
.95# - 5, 5.5’ or 6’ T-Post
with or w/o spade
End Post
4-5” x 6’ End Post
14ga, Class I or
III Trellis Wire
24”
+/-75°
Ground
Level
3 Ft.
18” ,24” or 30”
Crossarm bolted to
T-Post w/U-Bolt and
2 nuts placed every 20’
24”
End Post Options: Plastic coated
WoodGard, organic ♦ Rib-Bak ♦ Rail Steel
Princeton or Blue Ribbon Wood Preservers
Blackberry Trellis
End post and line post
Line Post 3-4” Diameter, 8’ Height
End Post 5-6” Diameter, 8’ Height
2.5 - 3’
2ga Soft
1
10,11 or
m
or Mediu
2.5 - 3’
1-2.5’
20’
Heavier cropped berries might require a 10’ post ♦ Earth anchor
required if end post is shallow or row is long
13
Table Grapes
Trellis & End Post Assembly
Table Grape End Post Assembly
14ga HT Lyre Wires
Wire vise or end post Gripple
(6)
12.5ga HT Fruiting Wire
4-5” x 9’
9’ Rib-Bak
5’
Two end posts offer additional stability
Canes are held upright in the six lyre wires
Table Grape Trellis
“In Row”
14ga HT Lyre Wires
(6)
65
”
35”
12.5ga HT Fruiting Wire
8’ Rib-Bak or
Table grape lyres can be installed on either Rib-Bak or wood posts Be sure to request proper
mounting hardware ♦ Specs/Recommendations: row spacing 12’, plant spacing 6’, support
wire 14ga HT, fruiting wire 12.5ga HT, line post height 8’
14
4-5” x 8’ wood
Olive & Orchard Trellis
Olive Trellis
8’ T-Post
12.5ga HT Wire
12.5ga HT Wire
6’ Bamboo
Irrigation Wire
14ga HT
T-Post spacing every 50’ ♦ 9’ Rib-Bak or 5-6” x 9’
wood end posts ♦ Trees planted every 5-10 feet
14’ - 16’
Orchard Trellis
12.5ga HT Wire
4’-5’
30’
15’
2’- 3’
Available in metal or wood, 14’ - 16’ lengths ♦ Heavy duty anchors w/ cable anchor kits
Metal line stakes w/ built in wire catches
15
Livestock & Game Fencing
TOUGHSTRAND Fence Products for the Professional Rancher & Farmer
Fixed-Knot
Fence

Unique Fixed-Knot design is flexible yet firm.

100% high-tensile wire gives strength and
durability

100% class 3 galvanized brings longevity

Available in many sizes and spacings

Heights range from 42”-96”

Meets requirements for ASTM A116
Build a fence that will last for less!
OVS has offered the best quality and pricing on wood and steel posts for decades. Now we’re your onestop fencing supply provider. Best quality, best pricing. TOUGHSTRAND Fixed-Knot fencing is backed by
a full replacement warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions...
We have a long history offering top quality posts and wire for trellising. Now we feature Tree Island
TOUGHSTRAND Fixed-knot fencing. We have the right weave and height for your application: sheep, goats,
cattle, horses, game and more.
How much stronger is a TOUGHSTRAND Fixed-Knot fence than a normal field fence?
Other brands of field fence have horizontal and vertical wires with a tensile strength of 143-154 psi; this is
standard soft wire. TOUGHSTRAND Fixed-Knot features horizontal wires with a minimum tensile strength of
385 psi and vertical wires of 275 psi.
16
Livestock & Game Fencing (con’t)
Frequently Asked Questions…(con’t)
Why is my hinge-joint or stiff-knot field fence impossible to stretch consistently?
Regular field fence is made with soft wire that will bend in any direction it’s pushed or pulled. TOUGHSTRAND
Fixed-Knot vertical wires do not move or bend when the fence is stretched, allowing the fence to stretch consistently from top to bottom.
Why is my 939/1047 field fence rusted and broken after 5 years?
939 and 1047 field fences are typically coated with a commercial (.1oz/ft2) or class 1 (.3 oz/ft2) zinc coating and,
depending on the environment, can begin to rust quickly. TOUGHSTRAND Fixed-Knot has a class 3 (.8 oz/ft2) zinc
coating, allowing it to last for 25 years. Class 3 galvanization is exactly the quality of vineyard wire that we’ve sold
for decades.
If TOUGHSTRAND Fixed-Knot is stronger than regular field fence, can I set my posts further apart?
Absolutely, that’s how we can achieve the lowest cost per lineal foot of any field fence installation. In many applications, you can use up to 40% fewer posts. This not only reduces your materials costs, but it reduces labor time to
install the fence.
Since TOUGHSTRAND Fixed-Knot is so much stronger and stiffer, is it more difficult to install?
It’s actually easier to install TOUGHSTRAND Fixed-Knot fencing because the stronger, moveable, consistent crimp
in the horizontal wire allows the fence to form to the terrain and stand up, making attachment to fence posts easier.
Deer Fencing
Steel & Plastic Options
FENCING OPTION 1: Fixed Knot
 6.25’ or 8’ graduated woven wire, Tough Strand
FENCING OPTION 2: Hinge Joint
 6 1/2’ graduated woven wire,12.5ga HT fencing
with single strand wire installed above
FENCING OPTION 3: Plastic
 8’ 2x2” rigid plastic “invisible fence”
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS:
 10’ T-Post
 10’ wood posts
 H-Braces for corners
 Custom gate designs: 4’ to 30’ double or single
swing
 Post placement: For hinge joint fence, every 16’ if
wood, or every 12’ if using a combination of wood
and steel, for Fixed Knot fencing every 20’.
Please call for a quote!
17
Trellising Products
Largest inventory of trellis products in Oregon. Assorted sizes/lengths available.
Steel Line Posts






Wood Line Posts
7’, 8’, 9’ (12-14 ga) Rolled Edge,
AmeriTrellis & Jim’s Supply
8’ 13 ga Double Diamond, AmeriTrellis
7’, 8’ and 9’ heavyweight T-Post,
unpainted
Galvanized and custom orders available
7.5’, 8’, 8.5’, 9’ Profil Alsace engineered
posts
Super Grande, Jim’s Supply (special order)



(special order, minimum quantities required).
T-Posts




3-4” x 7’, 8’or 9’ Princeton Wood
Preservers & Blue Ribbon
2-3” x 7’ or 8’, Princeton Wood Preservers
and Blue Ribbon
Plastic coated Woodguard posts, variety
of sizes, organically approved
End Posts





Clips to Attach Wires
Import & American
5, 5.5’ and 6’, lightweight, both with or
w/o spades, unpainted
7’, 7.5’,8’,9’,10’ heavyweight
6.5’,8’,10’ heavyweight, painted






T-Post clip for wire or fencing
Notched line post clip
Bamboo clip, several sizes
Pencil rod clip
Catch wire clips
Grow tube clip







Zinc, Powder coated white or yellow




Grow Tubes



Paper vine protectors (milk carton):
12.5” and 20”
Plastic: translucent peach color,
24” and 30”
Tree Gard 12” x 16”
18
4” x 30”
6” x 36”
6” x 48”
8” and specialty anchors (special order)








Gripple
Swedge Sleeves, several sizes
Wire Links



7”, 8”, 12”, 18”, 24”, 30”, 36”, 42” (limited
stock in some sizes)
Mounting hardware
L-style adjustable and premier double roll
Nuts, bolts and hook bolts
Nails
Fence Staples
Planting cables
Ocloc post repair kits
Plastic deer fence, 2 x 2 mesh, 165’
and 330’ rolls, 8’ height
Galvanized field fence, hinge joint,
graduated weave, 330’, 6.5’ height
4-5’ or 5-6” by 10’ Princeton Wood
Preservers or Blue Ribbon posts
Livestock fencing, Fixed Knot ranging
42” - 96” vertical spacing. 3”, 6”, 12”
10’ heavyweight T-Posts
Custom made gates, single swing,
double swing
V-sprawl, 24” , 30” , 36”
Table grape: 65” sides
Mounting hardware
Staking



Miscellaneous





Ratcheting
Wheel
Gripples (end post and in-line)
Wire Vises
Open Lyre
Cross Arms
Earth Anchors





Joiners



2# rail steel, any length (special order)
Fencing
12.5 ga, high tensile, thread laid and catch weight, 100# rolls, ( 3600’), class 3 galvanized
(.8 oz zinc coating per foot)
14 ga, high tensile, thread laid and catch weight, 100# rolls, (5800’) class 3 galvanized
(.8 oz zinc coating per foot)
14 ga, low tensile (soft), both 50# (2900’) and 100# (5800’), and continuous coil
commercial (.25 zinc coating per foot)
12 ga, low tensile (soft), 50# rolls (1650’), and continuous coil commercial
(.25 zinc coating per foot)
9 ga, low tensile (soft), 50# rolls (850’), commercial (.25 zinc coating per foot)
Stands of continuous coil wire, 12.5 ga and 14 ga, high tensile,
Class 1 (.27 zinc coating per foot), stand weights vary 1500-2200#
10 & 11 ga medium tensile, continuous coil
Chain
Profil Alsace 12ga end post
Tensioners
North American Wire

8’, 9’ Rib-Bak, 3# steel per foot
4-5” or 5-6” by 9’ or 10’ Princeton Wood
Preservers & Blue Ribbon
9’ oil field pipe
Pencil rod, .21” diameter, 3’, 4’
Bamboo: Lengths vary from 18” to 12’
Diameters vary from ¼” to 1 ¼”
Metal training stakes
Sales Rental





Spinning Jenny’s
Post pounders
Nicopress tools
Anchor driver
Fence stretcher
Product Descriptions
OVS stocks North American posts and wire
Line Posts
OVS stocks several metal line stake options, as well as wood. Features and benefits of each are below:
AmeriTrellis brand: Rolled Edge, Diamondback and Double Diamond




Options for notch placement are available, along with holes for threading
the irrigation wire
Manufacturing process that reduces fatigue and creates a stronger, more
durable stake
Consistent notches, edges and shape
The Double Diamond is the strongest line stake we stock; best for windy
sites
Gauge ranges from .0747 to .086 NOM (inch dec. equivalent) with other
options available.
Jim’s Supply brand: Rolled edge and Super Grande
Stocking gauges include:
 .078-.082 NOM, the #1 standard weight stake.
 .086-.090 NOM is the heavier model.
 .092-.099 NOM is the heaviest model.
OVS can order any items found on the Jim’s Supply website or in their catalog.
Please inquire.
Profil Alsace
Standard, medium and heavy duty options available, see page 21 in the
catalog. These posts are made from “spring steel”, which bounces back when
bumped during machine harvesting.
Princeton or Blue Ribbon
Please refer to the wood post section of this catalog on page 8.
The most common sizes of line stakes in a vineyard or berry field
are 3-4 x 7’ or 3-4 x 8.
Woodguard Plastic Encapsulated Posts
A special order item, these organically certified pine posts are manufactured
here in Oregon. Multiple sizes and colors, with a twenty year written warranty.
19
Product Descriptions (con’t)
Bamboo




OVS sells the highest grade of agricultural bamboo available in the
market
The bamboo is farmed, not cut from natural forests
We import direct from China, and it’s fumigated to kill all pathogens
or insects
Tensile strength is three times that of a wood stake the same size
Gripples







Gripples are fast becoming the preferred choice for wire joining and
tensioning in many trellis systems. These units are releasable for
ease of repair.
Gripples join and tension the wire.
The GP1 can be used at an end post, where the wire terminates.
Gripple anchor kits include cables and gripples for attaching the end
post to the anchor. Available are a 15’ length and a 16.5’ length.
Soon to come is a longer unit with a thicker cable for use in apple
orchards.
Gripple anchors are similar to the Duckbill anchor; they work well in
rocky soils. Hammer them in with a special tool, pull back and they
remain solidly in the ground.
There are gripples that fit barbed wire, and a new T-clip gripple for
woven fencing that terminates and wraps around a wooden post
Special tools are required.
Post Repair System - Ocloc
OVS stocks a clamping repair system for wood posts and for notched line posts.
Developed in Australia, the clamps are easy to install in the vineyard, berry field
or orchard.



20
Save labor dollars and time...the system is much quicker than removing and replacing
broken posts and re-attaching all of the wire and related hardware.
The wood post kits are available for posts in these diameters: 3-4” 4-5” or 5-6”
The metal post kits will fit six different styles of posts.
Top Selling Trellis System in Europe
Now Available in the USA
Not all posts are in stock, please inquire regarding availability







Patented hooks
Patented crossarm CLICK Lock®
Mechanical harvester approved
Maintenance free
Most cost-efficient installation
No clips, bolts or nuts necessary
Environmentally friendly carbon footprint
21
MacroBins® Harvest Bins
Impact resistant ♦ UV resistant ♦ American-made ♦ Lightweight
Self-palletizing design ♦ Stack well ♦ Easy to sanitize ♦ Food safe
Season orders taken June/July each year.
Commonly used in the wine grape, berry, cherry & pome fruit industries
Oregon’s
industry standard
Model
Approx capacity for wine
grapes
External
Dimensions
16 solid
500# whole
47”L x 47”W x 21.5”H
16 vented
500# whole
47”L x 47”W x 21.5”H
24 solid
800# whole
47”L x 47”W x 28”H
24 vented
800# whole
47”L x 47”W x 28”H
48S
fermenter
1.5 ton crushed
48”L x 48”W x 52.5”H
Plastic lids for all models,
canvas lids for 48S
An economical option
for harvest totes
33S
$80 regardless of quantity
1000#
45.75”L x 48.8”W x 30.5”H
Commonly used in the Nursery industry:
33 vented
49”L x 46.25”W x 30.5”H
48 vented
48”L by 48” W x 52.5”H
330 shuttle bin, vented *
40”L x 48”W by 33”H
Best use for the Hazelnut processors; ensures sanitary conditions:
48 solid or vented
48”L x 48”W x 52.5”H
Best for Berry growers:
9-FV, vented
17”L x 11”W x 8.5”H
OVS is Pruning Headquarters for the Pacific Northwest
We stock hand pruners, loppers and shears, including replacement
parts for all the brands we stock. We also offer electronic shears from
Felco and Campagnola and pneumatic shears from Campagnola.
For the biggest jobs we offer Gillison Pruning Towers.
OVS is the authorized regional repair center for Felcotronic electric
shears, as well as for Campagnola pneumatic shears. Call our Service
Departments today!
22
Other Offerings from OVS
Ag Supplies, Agronomic Services, Specialty Equipment, Parts & Service & Financing Options
Ag Supplies
Financing Options
(Trellis materials - pages 18 - 21)

Bird Control


















Cover Crop & Turf Seed
Drosophila Traps
Fertilizer & Nutrition (conventional)
Fertilizer & Nutrition (organic)
Flagging Tape
Grafting Supplies
Herbicides (conventional & organic)
Humic Acid Products
MacroBins®
Pesticides (conventional & organic)
Pest Control
Pruners & Replacement Parts
Raingear & Boots
Ripening Sprays
Spray Protection
Tying Supplies
Shearing Knives
Fencing
Buy now. Pay later.
(Electronic, cannons, netting & more)
To help meet your purchasing needs,
we’re pleased to offer, in addition to
OVS financing, Farm Plan™ special
terms financing.
Already have a Farm Plan™ account
through another dealer? Not a
problem. Accounts are transferable
to any dealer which means you can
order the products you need from
OVS, when you need them, and enjoy
the convenience of Farm Plan™
financing. In some cases delayed
billing for up to 15 months!








Custom Fertilizer Blends
Custom Lime Application
Dust Control
Field Visits
Nutrition/Spray Programs
for a variety of specialty
ag crops
Personalized quotes
Scouting Services
Soil & Tissue Testing
Service & Parts
Specialty Equipment
Agronomic Services






●
●
●


Aerators
Deleafers
Electric & Pneumatic Pruners
Flail Mowers
Hedgers
Honda ATVs
Kubota Narrow Tractors
Kubota RTVs
Soil Conditioners
Sprayers
In-row Cultivators





Preventative maintenance
for large & compact tractors
Servicing all makes
and models of equipment
Sprayer inspection programs
Mobile service & hauling
capabilities available
Supported by a Parts Dept.
with over 500,000 items in
stock
OVS is a 100% Employee Owned and Operated company serving segments of specialized agriculture that include vineyard, nursery, hazelnut, berries,
Christmas trees, turf and other diversified crops adding to the economic vitality of the Pacific Northwest. Unique to OVS are the broad capabilities to
serve customers needs with agronomic consultative services, farm equipment (OVS is a Kubota equipment dealer), specialty nursery equipment, trellising
components, agrichemicals and supplies, custom formulated liquid fertilizer blends, full-service Parts/Service departments, agricultural labor services
through Results Partners (RP), the largest and most comprehensive vineyard development and management company in Oregon.
23
Measurement Conversion Chart
Fluid Ounces = Volume Measurement
Dry Ounces = Weight Measurement
Liquid Measurements (approximate):
1 TSP
1/3 TBSP
5 ML
1/2 fluid ounce
3 TSP
15 ML, 15CC
2 TBSP
1 fluid ounce
1/8 cup, 6 TSP
30 ML,30CC
1/4 cup
2 fluid ounces
4 TBSP
59 ML
1/3 cup
2 2/3 fluid ounce
5 tbsp + 1 TSP
79 ML
1 TBSP
1/2 cup
4 fluid ounces
8 TBSP
118 ML
2/3 cup
5 1/3 fluid ounces
10 TBSP + 2 TSP
158 ML
3/4 cup
6 fluid ounces
12 TBSP
177 ML
7/8 cup
7 fluid ounces
14 TBSP
207 ML
1 cup
8 fluid ounces/ 1/2 pint
16 TBSP
237 ML
2 cups
16 fluid ounces/ 1 pint
32 TBSP
473 ML
4 cups
32 fluid ounces
1 quart
946 Ml
1 pint
16 fluid ounces/1 pint
32 TBSP
473 ML
1 quart
946 ml, 0.946 liters
2 pints
32 fluid ounces
8 pints
1 gallon/128 fluid ounces
3785 ml, 3.78 liters
4 quarts
1 gallon/128 fluid ounces
3785 ml. 3.78 liters
1 liter
1.057 quarts
1000 ML
1 gallon
128 fluid ounces
3785 ml, 3.78
Dry Measurements:
1 OZ
28 grams
2 OZ
57 grams
3 OZ
4 OZ
85 grams
1/4 LB
113 grams
8 OZ
1/2 LB
227 grams
12 OZ
3/4 LB
340 grams
16 OZ
1 LB
454 grams
32 OZ
2 LBS
907grams
1 kilogram
2.2 LB/35.2 OZ
1000 grams
Nutrient Availability in Relation to Soil pH
pH and Fertilizer Efficiency Chart