Pruning Makako almond trees

In late December and early January, during some of the coldest days of the year, we carry out the pruning of our almond trees, as described below. These are tasks that we perform in our spare time left by our main crops, which are cereals and pulse vegetables. Moreover, this is the ideal time of year, as the trees are about to start blossoming and the work that follows involves applying plant protection treatments to take care of them. Almond trees are pruned twice a year. The work described here corresponds to winter pruning, while the second pruning (spring pruning) will be discussed in due course.

Regarding pruning, we apply two types of training pruning, as we have Makako almond trees planted in 2023 and 2024. For the younger trees, pruning is simple: all branches are removed and the main trunk is cut back to the height where we want the crown to form. From that cut, the tree will sprout and start producing new branches. This will become the first tier or set of main branches. Usually, three main branches are formed, although in some cases we have left a few more.

As for the trees planted in 2023, they are now more established. Pruning is still focused on shaping the tree, but the aim is to determine where the second tier will be formed. As you know, almond trees sprout where the branch is cut. New branches grow from that point, forming the next tier. As shown in the video, the idea is to leave a branch about 40 cm long and then cut it. In this way, the tree gradually develops the desired structure.

Versión en español.

FIMA 2026

FIMA 2026 closed its doors on 14 February with record-breaking figures: 187,875 visitors (a 12.5% increase compared to the previous edition), more than 1,200 exhibitors from 35 countries, and notable new initiatives such as FIMA Tech and FIMA Connects Talent, which enriched an already extensive programme of activities.

We visited the fair during the last two days, and feedback from exhibitors was consistently very positive, both regarding visitor numbers and the highly professional profile of attendees. One exhibitor jokingly mentioned that no one had asked for caps this year, which, in essence, means that professionals attend to see the machinery, not to collect merchandising.

From our perspective, FIMA continues to be a highly interesting trade fair for agricultural machinery and new technologies. It is true that tractor manufacturers have been absent for several editions now, which makes the exhibition somewhat less impressive. However, the large number of implements and technological solutions on display ensures that the fair remains very relevant. We did notice that some stands seemed slightly smaller than in previous years. Given the increasing cost of exhibiting, it is understandable that manufacturers may be optimizing stand space and the number of machines displayed.

Interestingly, one exhibitor shared that the absence of major tractor brands encouraged visitors to move more freely around the exhibition halls, benefiting other exhibitors. Distributors and dealers also appeared to dedicate more time to implement manufacturers, whereas in previous editions they focused heavily on meetings with tractor OEMs.

We also observed the absence of major implement manufacturers such as Amazone, Lemken, Maschio Gaspardo, Pöttinger, Krone, Väderstad and Kverneland. If FIMA aims to strengthen its position as a leading international trade fair for agricultural implements, the presence of these major players will be key. Otherwise, it risks becoming more regionally focused.

On a very positive note, we would like to highlight the strong presence, quality and innovation of Spanish manufacturers such as Ovlac, Gil, Bellota, Broch, Gaher Metalic, Solá and MañezLozano. These companies continue to demonstrate strong innovation capacity and consistently present interesting developments.

What innovations caught your attention at the fair?

Versión en español.