Sun Harvest deep rips ground for permanent crops, using deeply penetrating shanks and wide, winged points that lift and shatter compacted soil. We rip down to 6′, with the depth set to suit each job, and we offer RTK row ripping on Trimble GPS lines accurate to about an inch. We’re a family business out of Linden, California, established in 1991, working for growers in Lodi, Linden, Stockton and across San Joaquin County, and throughout the Central Valley.
For a quote, call Robert Jr at 209-482-0226 or call the office at 209.470.8598, or email info@shi.farm.
What we do
- Deep ripping. Deeply penetrating shanks and wide, winged points for better lift, shatter and soil disturbance.
- RTK row ripping. Ripping guided by Trimble RTK GPS, accurate to about an inch, so the ripper runs right where it’s supposed to.
- Cross-ripping. Ripping the whole field instead of just the tree rows.
- Depth down to 6′. We set the depth to suit each job.
- 1 to 3 shanks on one toolbar.
- Wide constant winged ripping points, 16″ to 24″.
- Slip plowing. A wide, angled blade that lifts and mixes soil layers.
- Chiseling.
RTK row ripping
RTK row ripping rips along the future tree rows on Trimble GPS lines, accurate to about an inch, so the loosened soil sits right where the roots will grow. UC farm advisors recommend ripping down each intended tree row on hardpan ground.
We can rip on the tree row with RTK, or cross-rip the whole field.
When deep ripping helps
- Before planting permanent crops, to break up hardpan and compaction left by years of equipment traffic.
- Hardpan. Ripping shatters cemented, rock-like layers, and UC notes that cemented hardpan doesn’t re-form once it’s broken.
- Compacted layers from equipment traffic or after land leveling.
- Know the limits. Ripping fractures soil but doesn’t mix layers. For layered soils or clay pans, slip plowing is often the better tool, and we do that too.
Ground we rip
We rip ground for permanent crops.
Our equipment
We run four Caterpillar dozers for ripping:
- 2 Cat D11R
- 1 Cat D11N
- 1 Cat D9T with a LeTourneau pull ripper
Our rippers run 1 to 3 shanks on one toolbar with wide, winged points.
Where we work
Our home base is Linden, and we work for growers in Lodi, Linden, Stockton and across San Joaquin County. We also serve growers throughout the Central Valley, including these counties:
Shasta, Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Yolo, Sacramento, Placer, Solano, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern.
Once your orchard is in, we also do mechanical orchard pruning: topping & hedging.
Licensed and established
CSLB License #795664. Member of California Farm Bureau and AgSafe. In business since 1991.
Common questions
How deep do you rip?
Down to 6′. We set the depth to suit each job; the goal is to break all the way through the hardpan or compacted layer.
What’s the difference between deep ripping and slip plowing?
Ripping shatters hard and compacted layers. A slip plow uses a wide, angled blade that also lifts and mixes soil layers. Ripping is generally the tool for cemented hardpan; slip plowing is generally used for layered soils and clay pans. We offer deep ripping, RTK row ripping, slip plowing and chiseling.
What is RTK row ripping?
Ripping guided by Trimble RTK GPS, accurate to about an inch, so the shanks run right down the line where your trees will go. That puts loosened soil exactly where the roots will be. We can also cross-rip the whole field.
How far ahead should I book?
Call about 10 days before you need the work done.
Do you work in my area?
We’re based in Linden and work for growers in Lodi, Stockton and across San Joaquin County, and throughout the Central Valley, from Shasta County down to Kern.
Are you licensed?
Yes. Sun Harvest holds CSLB License #795664, and we’re members of California Farm Bureau and AgSafe.
How do I get a quote?
Call Robert Jr at 209-482-0226 or call the office at 209.470.8598, or email info@shi.farm. Your acreage and location are a great starting point.
Get a quote
Need ground ripped before planting? Call Robert Jr at 209-482-0226 or call the office at 209.470.8598 for a quote, or email info@shi.farm.