GPS surveying orchard: cost, yield and practical examples

From guessing to knowing: this is how to plan your orchard without surprises

How do you know exactly where you stand before planting?

If you are planting a new orchard or redesigning an existing plot, you really want one thing: certainty. Certainty about how many trees you need. Certainty about your investment. Certainty that your infrastructure is right before the first stake is driven into the ground.

GPS surveying gives you that certainty. It provides an accurate blueprint of your orchard: block layout, rows, planting distances, and all infrastructure elements in the right place. This allows you to decide faster, compare variants, and avoid surprises.

Why should I have my orchard measured?

Short answer: Because you then work with concrete numbers instead of estimates.

A GPS measurement makes your plot measurable. You get:

• Exact area per block and row
• Number of trees per plot (to the tree)
• Infrastructure positions: where will there be paths, water pipes, and posts?
• Comparison material: quickly put different scenarios side by side

Practical example: a fruit grower wanted to expand his Conference plot. By measuring in advance, he saw that the land had 3% more surface area than estimated. Result: 240 additional trees planned, and the investment immediately calculated correctly.

What does a GPS drawing give me?

You receive a digital map with:

• Block layout: each plot with name, area and destination
• Row structure: planting distances, number of rows, start and end points
• Infrastructure: access paths, piping, anchor and post positions
• Numbers: how many trees fit in each block?

Bonus: You also get an A1 paper map. Handy to take to the plot, sketch and make notes on. Fruit growers like to keep thinking for a while with pen in hand - and you can just do that.

This map is the basis for everything to come:

• Your supplier knows exactly how much material is needed
• Your contractor can prepare the construction without surprises
• You can make calculation models for yield and investment

How does this help with decision-making and the overall cost picture?

Compare scenarios before you decide.

With a GPS blueprint, you can make quick calculations:

• Plant density: What if you take 3.0 metres row spacing instead of 3.2 metres?
• Infrastructure: How much extra does a wider access path cost?
• Phasing: Can you split the planting into two years?

Example cost comparison (traditional hedgerow system, 5.0 hectares):

Please note: All figures in this article are fictitious approximations for illustrative purposes. Each situation is unique and actual costs may vary. No rights can be derived from these examples. For a personalised calculation, please use our orchard calculator.

The trade-off: For €18,000 more investment, you get 231 extra trees (6.8% more). Those extra trees could produce 1,848 to 2,772 kg more yield annually (at 8-12 kg/tree). At a price of €0.70/kg = €1,294 to €1,940 extra revenue per year. Payback time of the additional investment: 9-14 years.

Which option suits your strategy? More trees = higher investment but more yield potential in the long term. Fewer trees = lower investment and lower cost per tree.

Fewer failure costs = more certainty

If you know in advance exactly what is needed, you avoid:

• Ordering too little or too much material
• Subsequent adjustments that cost time and money
• Discussions with contractors about "unforeseen circumstances"

How do I go from GPS data to yield thinking?

From trees to kilograms to euros.

A GPS measurement gives you the number of trees per plot. With that, you make a simple calculation sheet.

Calculation example (you can do the same for your situation):

Want to do the math yourself with your own figures? Use our orchard calculator for a personal calculation.

Parcel A: 3,651 trees

*Prices are indicative and depend on variety, quality, market conditions and marketing channel. Club varieties and top quality may realise higher prices.

This helps you:

• Recoup investment: How many years to break even at scenario X?
• Realistic expectations: What yield level is achievable for your variety and growing system?
• Substantiate financing: Concrete figures for your bank or investor

What does GPS measuring cost and what do I get in return?

Investment: €675 for the first hectare + €25 per hectare for each subsequent hectare

Examples:

• 1 hectare: €675,-
• 5 hectares: €775,- (€675 + 4 × €25)
• 7,3 hectares: €832,50 (€675 + 6,3 × €25)

You receive:

• Digital GPS map (CAD format + PDF)
• A1 paper map to take to the plot
• Overview of numbers (trees, rows, areas per block)

Discount when ordering:

Do you order your hail nets and/or mounting from FruitSecurity Holland after the measurement? Then you will receive the full cost of the GPS measurement as a discount on your order. The measurement is then effectively free of charge.

Extra advantage: even without an order, accurate planning can already save 5% material on an average project of €180,000 (€9,000 savings).

How does the process work?

Step 1: You contact us and send a rough sketch or cadastral map

Step 2: We schedule a measuring moment (duration: 2-4 hours depending on surface area)

Step 3: Within 5 working days, you receive the GPS map (digital + A1 paper) with a list of numbers

Case study: 7.3 hectares of Conference with traditional hail net

Situation: Fruit grower wants to convert existing plot to hail net system.

Approach:

• GPS measurement carried out → 5,320 trees counted over 7.3 hectares
• 3 scenarios calculated (different pole and anchor distances)
• Chosen traditional hail net system: optimal balance between investment and yield

Results:

• Investment: €262,800 (€171,550 material + €91,250 assembly)
• Price per hectare: €36,000
• Expected extra yield due to hail prevention: 15% (€11,900/year at 10 kg/tree)
• Payback period: 4.8 years

Without surveying, this grower had estimated 7.0 hectares. Difference: 0.3 hectares = €10,800 extra investment that otherwise would not have been factored in.

Ready to get started?

Schedule your GPS surveying and receive:

• Digital blueprint of your orchard (CAD + PDF)
• A1 paper map
• Overview of all numbers

👉 S chedule a surveying appointment or contact us for a quote.

Any questions? Call us: +31 318 301731

Or e-mail: info@fruitsecurityholland.com

FruitSecurity Holland - From drawing to turnkey orchard