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Spring is the ultimate stress test for fruit growers. While the rest of the world enjoys the first rays of sunshine, growers keep a wary eye on the thermometer. A single night of frost can wipe out a whole season’s work in one go. In a great WDR report we see how Bernd Schumacher (Apfelparadies) prepares. And we see why he relies on WolkyTolky data to do so.
Fruit growing is elite sport with nature as an unpredictable opponent. Bernd Schumacher, a fifth-generation grower in Tönisvorst, knows that better than anyone. In the WDR video (see below) he takes us into his world: from the meticulous pruning to get light into the tree to the huge wind machines that have to protect hectares of blossom.
The “specialist from Venlo” in practice
Around minute 9 of the video, the heart of the story comes into view for us. The voice-over calls WolkyTolky “the specialist from Venlo” for a reason. While Bernd is busy with the physical work in the orchard during the day, at night it comes down to one thing: reliable information.
In the report you see how our temperature sensors and the frost detection app are installed and tested. For Bernd this is not a gadget, but a necessity. WolkyTolky data allows him to:
- Know sooner when the critical threshold is reached.
- Act in a targeted way (such as switching on the wind machine or sprinkling in time).
- Create calm in a period that is normally full of uncertainty.
Craftsmanship strengthened by data
What Bernd shows so well in the video is that technology doesn’t replace craftsmanship, but strengthens it. Whether it’s the right pruning technique — essential for light and air in the tree — or using bumblebees for pollination, everything depends on timing.
We believe every grower deserves to get the call to get out of bed at the right moment. Not too early (needless stress), but certainly not too late. The report shows how that cooperation between the grower and our systems works in practice: measure on the plot, translate it into the app, and act on facts.
Watch the report (WDR)
In the video you see Bernd’s full story. Pay particular attention to the moment the equipment is set up for the season; that is where the basis for a good harvest is laid.
Straight to the key moments:
- The WolkyTolky setup: sensors & frost alert
Watch from 9:00 – Here you see the specialist from Venlo at work with WolkyTolky data. - Frost protection in action: the wind machine
Watch around 4:20 – Why this data is so crucial for switching on in time. - Craftsmanship: pruning for light and air
Watch around 1:17 – The foundation of a healthy orchard.
Our mission: helping growers get up in time
All credit goes to Bernd Schumacher and his team for their passion, and to WDR for this look inside the sector. At WolkyTolky we keep doing what we are good at: making sure growers anywhere in the world can go into the night with peace of mind, knowing they will be warned in time when nature needs their attention. Thanks to WolkyTolky data, night frost is no longer a surprise, but a manageable risk.
