When considering your timber needs for various agricultural purposes, it’s important to consider whether you plan to use natural or pressure treated timber. Using pressure treated timber – such as with a CCA treatment – can offer significant benefits that can offset costs, offer longer lifespans, and can further improve growing conditions for various crops.

CCA-treated poles are the perfect choice for agricultural installations and are a superb choice to construct netting, trellises, paddocks, fencing, and more.

What is CCA?

CCA (Chromated copper arsenate) a preservative containing copper, chromium and arsenic that is designed to extend the lifespan of timber poles.

CCA is applied is applied using a vacuum and pressure cycle, and is intended to protect timber against a variety of threats – including the likes of inclement weather or pest infestations.

CCA treated poles have also gained popularity due to their low conductivity, low corrosion and combustibility resistance.

Typically, CCA treated poles have a greener hue, and thanks to their treatment are fire-retardant and moisture resistant. This major benefit means that CCA-treated poles are more durable and enjoy a longer lifespan when compared to natural wood. By using netting mounted on treated netting poles, farmers can ensure their produce is fully protected against not only the elements but further unforeseen pests or disasters.

R&B Timber group can supply poles in varying grades, lengths and diameters, depending on what the market requires. Normal lengths are from 1.2m up to 7.4m.

What can CCA-treated poles be used for? 

Fortunately, CCA-treated poles can be used in a variety of agricultural applications. These can include constructing fencing for security, cattle, or game, creating paddocks, playgrounds, or garden edging, and are also ideal for vineyard or citrus trellising.

Further, CCA-treated poles can also be used for thatching, constructing outdoor furniture, or even general construction purposes.

What are the advantages of CCA-treated poles? 

When considering the ideal timber for poles to construct orchards to grow citrus fruits or for other applications, it is worthwhile to consider that natural timber will need to be continually treated in order to preserve not only its lifespan, but its integrity.

While some may choose to provide CCA-treated timber poles with paint, this isn’t necessary – treated timber poles do not require further treatment and are ready for installation post-purchase.

CCA-treated timber poles are resistant to inclement weather and can survive extreme temperature variances, harsh sunlight, and can further withstand frost, hailstorms, or wind.

By design, treated timber poles are similarly resistant to insects, general pests, and fungi – vastly reducing the risk of spoiled crops. 

A significant advantage of CCA-treated poles is that with a 20-year warranty offered by R&B Timber Group, you can be assured that your treated netting poles will contribute to an exceptional lifespan and provide a significant crop yield over their lifespan.

Are CCA treated poles environmentally friendly?

CCA-treated timber poles do not leak residue when planted into earth, and neither do they leave a residue or an unpleasant odour – this is in contrast to many other treatments which could bleed into earth or require regular maintenance in order to retain their efficacy.

Given that fruits can easily be spoiled by contaminants in the ground or water, the added advantage of CCA treatments is that crops can be grown without any of these concerns. 

For those seeking to reduce or irrigation costs, CCA treated poles, when coupled with netting, can create what is called a micro-climate, and can effectively retain unspoiled water in the bedding system where plants are rooting.

The end effect is that the area remains more humid, retains moisture, and subsequently requires less watering over time.

Should I use CCA-treated poles to construct netting? 

Netting provides farmers with a range of advantages. Citrus fruits - including naartjies, lemons, clementines, mandarins, and oranges as well as macadamia nuts, mangos, avocados and even table-grape vineyards - can all benefit from netting.

Netting can function as both a windbreak and enrich soil with added humidity and temperature control – meaning that weaker orchards can benefit.

To create the most secure structure, the best option is to place netting poles in a diamond pattern, spaced between 12 and 16 metres in each row with wires running in between to support the netting.  

Using CCA-treated poles to construct netting can help enhance the structure’s natural lifespan, reduce wind speed through orchards by close to 50%, reduce water consumption by up to 40%, and can greatly improve yields.

Get in touch 

If you’d like to enquire further, please contact us today! R&B Group supply their treated poles to South Africa (and to the African export market (Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Benin, Cameroon, Dem. Rep. of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, Botswana, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Swaziland and Lesotho.)