Mechanical harvesting of hops

There are different techniques for harvesting hops. This harvester cuts the bines off at the bottom, traps the ends of the bines and pulls on the bines until the suspension string they grew up snaps, releasing the bines into the trailer being towed behind the harvester. Another technique cuts the stems off near the ground and the bines are then draped along a harvesting trailer. A piece of equipment like a giant hedge clipper cuts the suspensions strings at the top and the bines fall along the length of the trailer. Whatever technique is used, harvesting hops is fast and an entire hop garden can be cleared in only a day or two.