Vineyard Under Siege
At Villa Rustica Vineyards and Winery in Dittmer, Missouri - owner Ryan Sneed faced constant challenges protecting his grapes.
"Everything around here wants to eat my grapes; birds and wasps to deer and coyotes."
For several seasons, Ryan relied on bird netting - seven massive 300-foot rolls imported from California.
While effective, the labour was exhausting.
"It’s not putting them on that’s the problem, it’s taking them off. The tendrils grow through the netting, rip holes, and it becomes unbearable every year"
With an expanding vineyard and no hired help, Ryan knew he needed a smarter, low-labour solution. In the same situation? We're happy to discuss this with you
Enter Smart Laser Protection from Birdzout
Ryan turned to Birdzout’s Auto Laser Ultimate MK2 - installing two units on the side of his winery building, 22 feet above ground.
The elevated setup provided:
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- Full power access (no need for solar panels or cables across the vineyard)
- Excellent coverage of his multi-zone vineyard layout
- Protection from weather under the roof eaves
The lasers operate automatically from 6:15 am to 8:30 pm, targeting the most active feeding hours for local bird species.
Ryan especially appreciated the technology and ease of control:
"It connects to my phone via Bluetooth. The zone setup, timer, random pattern, and pulsing mode are all excellent. As a former IT person, I can say the software is outstanding"
Custom Setup for Maximum Coverage
Ryan configured his lasers to run parallel to his vineyard rows, covering over 800 feet of vines.
The laser’s randomized beam patterns sweep through each zone, deterring birds across both one-acre and two-acre plots.
Even with some challenges in lower vineyard areas, where taller growth occasionally blocked the beam, Ryan found the Birdzout Ultimate Laser simple to adjust and fine-tune.
Next season, he plans to hedge vines more closely and may raise the mounting height for even better reach.
The Result: A Hassle-Free, Productive Harvest
The impact was immediate and impressive.
"This year we had our first large harvest after several years of challenges. The Birdzout lasers have been spectacular - they did exactly what they said they were going to do."
By replacing manual netting with automated laser deterrents, Ryan achieved:
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- Full-season protection with minimal maintenance
- Significant labor savings (no more netting install/removal)
- Visible, effective deterrence across the entire vineyard
- Reliable, weather-protected operation under the eaves
"It shoots all the way to the end of my 800-foot vineyard - you can even see it during the day. It’s powerful, easy to program, and just works"
"It’s Been a Really Solid Product"
For Villa Rustica Vineyards, Birdzout’s laser technology transformed an exhausting annual task into a simple, automated defense system.
"Super encouraged by what we got this year. If you’re considering lasers - take a look at this. It’s pretty darn good."
Hear more from Ryan - view the full video testimonial
Protect Your Vineyard the Smart Way
Stop losing grapes and time to bird pressure.
See how Birdzout’s Auto Laser Ultimate MK2 can protect your vineyard effortlessly and gain the same results that Ryan did - labour saving bird control.
