The first Sky Jump at work in the Langhe, land of Barolo.
Only those who know these hills know how to work them. You need machines that can overcome major differences in altitude and at the same time be extremely manoeuvrable... and Sky Jump really surprised me.
In the Langhe, on the rugged hills of Monforte d’Alba, in one of the most sought-after “crus”, dedicated to the production of Barolo, for four generations the Conterno family has dedicated itself with passion and expertise to the cultivation of Nebbiolo, as well as Barbera and Dolcetto.
It is among the dense vineyards that wind for 10 hectares along the slopes of this hill that, since the last harvest, the first Sky Jump has worked assiduously.
And the results achieved by this tractor with its futuristic design and outstanding performance have even exceeded expectations.
“Only those who know these hills know how to work them,” Giorgio Conterno emphasises. “Here we have slopes ranging from 25 to 40% and there are no terrace systems; when it rains it becomes difficult to move on this type of terrain.
In addition, the rows are no more than 2.40 metres apart, so machines are needed that are perfectly adapted to them, that can overcome major differences in altitude and, at the same time, are extremely manoeuvrable.
And Sky Jump really surprised me”.
Giorgio Conterno was able to experience many advantages when working with his new Sky Jump during the last harvest.
“Thanks to the Dualsteer system, the turning radius is very small. With Sky Jump, steering between rows is made easier and the driver has a feeling of extreme stability.
Lastly, the track tensioning system and the excellent mud and soil drainage make it a far superior alternative to traditional tracked machinery”.
But Giorgio Conterno also appreciates Sky Jump’s versatility of use and ride comfort.
“Having vineyards far apart and having to use a trailer to transport the grapes to the winery, with Sky Jump, thanks to the rubber track and the 40 km/h speed, we were able to move from one plot to another without having to change vehicles and switch, as we did before, from a tracked vehicle to a tractor.
This means we can save time and cut costs by 10-20% per year”.
Introducing Sky Jump to farm owner Paolo Conterno and allowing him to test it was BCS dealer Borio F.lli of Alba (Cuneo | Italy).
“We have organised numerous field trials with the Sky Jump rubber tracks in the vineyards and steeply sloping hazelnut groves that characterise our hillsides,” explains Andrea Borio, owner of the Borio F.lli dealership, “and have obtained considerable positive feedback.
After all, today’s customer is looking for high-tech machines. And Sky Jump is definitely an example of BCS research and development”.
“We are proud to have been the first in Italy to sell a Sky Jump,” concludes Andrea Borio. “We have always been linked to BCS and appreciate the company’s commitment to research and innovation”.