how things work

Here's what I do.

I sign up for a row in the Black Book – about 220 – 260 plants per
row, depending on where it is in the block (section of rows). Rows
are split into bays, the areas between posts. There's 'highly
galvanized high tensile standard fencing wire' strung between the
posts, probably 5 rows of it but I'm only concerned with the lowest
two.

I stand facing the row with a vine in front of me. I'm working with
four-cane Sauvignon Blanc vines, about seven years old. I choose a
sturdy-looking cane and, using my secateurs, snip all the tendrils and
laterals (smaller canes off the main one) off the cane, and cut off
any part that's sticking above the top wire. If you're envisioning
nice green flexible vines with cute little soft tendrils like I was,
you're dead wrong. These things are brown, stiff, snap easily, and
about as thick as one of my fingers.

Once the cane is all trimmed up, I wrap it several times around the
wire – hard, because of the thickness, - and secure it with 3-4 wraps
of the twist tie. I also have to make sure all canes are between the
bottom two wires, so the grapes don't get knocked off by the tractor.
I cut off any excess, careful to leave only one bud past the tie,
butting it up against the adjacent cane. I repeat this three more
times – or four or five, if any of the canes snap. The pruners try to
leave two or three 'safety canes' to compensate for breakage. I cut
off any remaining safety canes, and then I've earned my 48 cents
(minus taxes!) for that plant.

The best wrapper can do about 18 bays/hour and makes $250+ in a day,
I'm more in the 7-8 range at top speed (started at 5/hour on my first
day) – about average or maybe a bit low for the "non-career" wrappers.
At least I'm making above minimum wage!