Mechanical pollination of date palms

Commercial mechanization of date pollination became a reality in 1973. Two men and a machine can service 60 to 80 acres applying pollen 12 times per season on a twice-weekly schedule. The unit is intended to supplement the decreasing labor force of experienced tree men while maintaining satisfactory grower returns on quality fruit. During other times of the year, the unit can be used to apply pesticide dusts.