A 3m ‘Less’ Lift Low Disturbance Soil Loosener with 6 Step Change Legs and rear Shark Fin Packer.

Cambridgeshire-based Cousins of Emneth has introduced price reductions on its full range of Cambridge rolls, having made savings on some of the main machine components, which are now being passed straight on to customers, said managing director Laura Cousins.

Cousins’ Contour rolls are available in working widths from 6.3m to 18.4m, weighing up to 15.9 tonnes and making them Cousins’ heaviest and widest rolls. However, there is more to big rolls than weight alone, the company says. Confronted with large acreages, drivers are often inclined to go as fast as possible to complete the job, but it is much more effective to set a steady pace with a heavier, wider machine, according to Cousins. The working widths on the Contour are also ideal for farms operating within a controlled traffic tramlined system.

An 18.4m Contour HD HZ Roll, complete with 24in plain Cambridge rings.

Cousins of Emneth says it always strives to offer its customers the best value for money. Another good example of this is the offering of low disturbance legs Step Change Legs and Shark Fin Rollers to be fitted to existing machines.

This is an ideal option for customers considering a move to a low disturbance system, offering a cost-effective conversion option before investing in a bespoke machine, the company reckons.

The Step Change Tine and Shark Fin Roller are offered as standard on the Less Lift Low Disturbance Loosener and as an option on all V-Form and Patriot models.

Cousins is a family run, agricultural engineering business founded on reliable, field tested designs and good old fashioned customer service. For over 70 years it has built tough cultivation equipment for British and overseas farmers and helped solve their problems in the field. Designs are continually reappraised and new systems developed to meet the changing needs of today’s farming industry.

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The Sumo product range consists of trailed and mounted seeding and cultivation equipment, covering min and zero till.

Established in 1992, Sumo and its product offering have developed greatly over the years, however the determination to make machines that are different has always been the same. The first mounted Sumo Trio was introduced in 2002. Although not the first implement of its type, it was the first that was designed for tractors of all sizes, compared to just larger, higher horsepower tractors.

The Sumo product portfolio is sold through an extensive dealer network, which extends across the UK and Ireland, Central Europe, the Baltics, New Zealand and Australia.

Sumo says it is pleased to be attending Tillage-Live 2023, at Atherstone in Warwickshire, where it will be demonstrating the Sumo Vaxio 6m, Sumo Multipress 6m and Sumo DD 3m.

You also be able to see more Sumo machines including the Quatro 4m, DTS 3m and LDS 3m on the static stand hosted by Sumo dealer, Sharnford Tractors.

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Simple, reliable, and efficient machinery has never been more important. Protecting and maintaining the soil structure, tackling blackgrass and weed control, and battling increased fuel and labour costs, are only some of the challenges of modern agriculture.

With a simple, straightforward concept, the Güttler Supermaxx could be exactly what you need.

Standard tine arrangement across the board

Standard to the whole range of Güttler Supermaxx models is the tine and tine arrangement. The 45 x 12 x 660mm sprung tines are all fitted with reinforced helpers and are tough and durable but, most importantly, allow a high frequency vibration. This produces an even tilth, will bring loosened weeds to the surface, and incorporate stubble, chopped straw and any other crop residue.

Tines can be set to work in very shallow conditions and increase incrementally by 1cm with a simple pin arrangement. Tine depth is maintained with front-mounted gauge wheels if there is no rear roller or by a rear mounted Güttler Rollfix Roller.

Whilst the tine spacing between the tines is set to an optimum 12.5cm, the tines of the Supermaxx machine are set over five or seven rows and it is this spacing between the rows that spaces the tines to allow trash and stubble to pass seamlessly through.

Customisable design sets machine apart from the rest

Rollers: The Güttler lightweight synthetic ultra-roller for soil consolidation. Well-known throughout the market, the unique hard wearing but lightweight option of the synthetic ultra Güttler roller can be fitted to all the five-row versions of the Supermaxx machine. Depth control of the tines will be controlled by the roller – if no roller is fitted, the depth of tines is accurately controlled by gauge wheels and the rear levelling tines.

Levelling boards and additional harrows: Whilst standard machines are supplied with a single levelling harrow of 12mm sprung tines mounted behind the tines, options are available to fit an additional harrow or parallel levelling board behind the tines in any configuration to suit. This may be directly behind the existing harrow giving a ‘double row’ effect, between the tines and roller or directly behind the roller.

Hydraulic ripper boards and paddles: Hydraulically operated paddle boards are fitted in front of the tines on the trailed 9m, 10m and 12m versions of the Supermaxx as standard. These can be modified and fitted with 12mm ripper board plates if desired, and hydraulically operated ripper boards can be fitted to mounted machines.

Tine options: A wide range of tine points are available for the tines:

• 8mm thick reversible points are fitted as standard
• Hard wearing, reinforced tungsten tipped points – approx. 5–6 times the longevity of standard points
• 200mm wide stubble point with double bolt attachment
• New hard wearing GF200 forged stubble point with double bolt attachment now available.

Patented lock washer: Patented Wox ‘lockwashers’ are available for the fitment of tungsten tipped points to ensure secure fitment of the point to prevent loss during cultivation operations as tine vibrations can easily loosen standard bolt and washer fitments.

Seeder options: Convert this machine to a tine seed machine by fitting a Güttler hydraulic seeder unit. The 410-litre seeder as supplied on the Greenmaster system is ideally suited to the Supermaxx system. Simple fitment of seeder and access platform will result in a system perfect for establishing cereal and cover crops. New patented direct seed coulter boots are now available to deliver seed directly into the tine slot.

Compatibility with the Güttler range: The Güttler range of consolidation rollers are a perfect complement to the Supermaxx range. In particular, the trailed Master and Magnum range fitted with 45/50cm cast iron rings in unique ground contouring framed – giving complete soil coverage, leaving an ideal loose crumbly finish with firm consolidation beneath.

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New cultivation techniques require new machinery

Changing weather patterns, an increase in the level of organic matter generated by cover cropping and the use of farmyard manures, along with a reduction in the availability of active ingredients in agrochemicals, has led to a need to adopt new cultivation techniques – in a bid to combat soil erosion caused by heavy downpours, as well as weed and disease carryover within the newly established winter crop.

Generating good weatherproof stale seedbeds in order to start the straw rotting process and yet, at the same time, leave the weed seed bank on or near the surface, has seen the depth of cultivation fall. Nowadays the trend is to move enough of the soil surface to encourage germination and yet leave a good carrying capacity for traffic within the soil.

Catros X-Cutter ultra-shallow compact disc harrow

Amazone is offering a choice of ultra-shallow compact disc harrows now in the form of the Catros X-Cutter. Available in working widths from 3m to 9m, the 480mm wavy-profile disc stamps down on and shreds the soil surface – intensively working the top couple of centimetres to increase seed/soil contact of volunteers and weed seeds – to be able to control these mechanically and chemically prior to drilling. The X-Cutter can be equipped with a front knife roller which shreds the surface residues allowing the wavy discs to evenly mix and distribute those residues thus interrupting slug habitats and reducing any toxin-release issues that could affect the cash crop germination potential.

Cobra shallow tine cultivator

The second option from Amazone, for those soils that don’t like a disc, is the Cobra shallow tine cultivator. Able to work from 4–13cm, the six rows of Eco leaf spring tines on a 16.6cm spacing shatter the immediate soil surface, leaving a broken top structure enabling good rain infiltration to prevent erosion. The tine design as well as the physical numbers means that there is an intensive mixing and crumbling effect across the working width.

The Cobra has a choice of 50mm chisel points for leaving a weather-safe stale seedbed, or the 220mm duckfoot share which is designed to cut the full surface allowing the loosened green material to dry out and die off ahead of the drilling operation. Again, the knife roller can run in front of the Cobra to shred any longer, laid material to allow good passage of the drill.

The Cobra is available in both 6m and 7m working widths.

This year’s Tillage-Live event will enable Amazone to showcase both machines, as well as the range of low-disturbance and direct drills from 3–15m.

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Megant 602R

Watch Kuhn machinery at work

Working machines on the day will include the Venta 3030 drill combined with the CD 3020 disc cultivator, the Espro 6000R drill, Striger 600R strip till machine, Prolander 6000 with TF 1512 distribution head, Optimer L12000 stubble cultivator, Performer 4000 Select cultivator and the VML Smart Plough.

The working machines will be joined by further products on the Kuhn stand including the Megant 602R drill, Maxima RXE maize drill, Cultimer L300T stubble tine cultivator, and the Aero 32.1 pneumatic fertiliser spreader.

The product selection represents Kuhn’s breadth of machinery featuring both min-till and conventional tillage machinery choices. Product specialist Edd Fanshawe suggests that the popularity of shallow cultivators reflects the desire to reduce soil disturbance. However, he says many systems still rely heavily on conventional ploughing methods.

“Kuhn has expanded the min-till range in recent years, with wider widths for the Optimer and Prolander. However, we are also focused on providing new solutions for those seeking to plough more efficiently. The VML Smart Plough is an example of how ploughing precision can be enhanced using GPS and Isobus to adjust working width, offset, working depth and levelling.”

The drills on show include the lightweight Megant 602R that can be operated by tractors with as little as 150hp. The latest Maxima RXE has electric drive and offers precision maize sowing at 10km/h. The 6m Espro 6000R will be working at the event to demonstrate how the versatile drill can work after the plough, min-till or directly in residues.

“The Kuhn drill range is one of the most comprehensive available, offering diversity for varying farming systems. We will also be demonstrating the 6m Prolander with a TF 1512 distribution head, which is suitable for the shallow incorporation of stubble and mixing in a break crop whilst also seeding the following crop in the same pass,” he adds.

Megant 602R

Kuhn’s lightweight Megant drill features new tine coulters, an updated terminal, and the option to add a second hopper. The Megant 602R shares functionality with the previous 600 model, but features half width shut off and can be specified with an additional SH 1120, 110-litre hopper to drill two crops in the same pass.

Due to its lightweight design, the Megant can be operated by tractors with as little as 150hp. Three types of tines can be specified on the Megant, including reversible forward action, straight, and a new narrow 12mm straight tine coulter which reduces soil displacement through improved penetration and also reduces wear on the tine thanks to the addition of carbide plated points.

The 602R has inherited some features from the larger Espro drill, including spring loaded nonstop track eradicators and side markers that are better suited to dry conditions. A new welded 1,800-litre hopper capable of holding 1,200kg of wheat and drilling 60ha a day replaces a riveted hopper on the previous model. The new hopper also includes internal steps to improve access to the distribution head.

The Megant has been fitted with Kuhn’s Vistaflow valves which can be configured and controlled from the terminal. This enables operators to program the flow of seed with the option to save settings for future use. Vistaflow also records tramlining configurations such as the working width and wheel track to enable more accurate use of sprayers and fertiliser spreaders which will help to reduce input costs.

Aero 32.1.

Aero 32.1

The Kuhn Aero 32.1 pneumatic fertiliser spreader is equipped with a 24-nozzle boom and is available in working widths of 27, 28 or 30m. The mounted machine application rate is precise and modular over four sections, and it has an integrated weighing system.

The 3,200-litre hopper (1,900 litres without the extension) and working width of up to 30m make the Aero suitable for heavy use operators. It is also easy to operate, with hydraulic booms that are easy to control from the tractor cab and fold to the rear for safety on the road, Kuhn says.

Each metering unit is connected to six nozzles which can be switched on or off and be adjusted individually. It is therefore possible to modulate up to four spreading rates and to shut off individual sections, in a single pass.

The Aero 32.1 provides precision application up to the field border. This includes fine, light, or compound fertilisers, such as urea, and bulk mixtures that are usually more difficult to spread over large widths with centrifugal spreaders.

Prolander

Prolander

Kuhn’s Prolander has the versatility to perform multiple cultivation operations, working at speeds of 12kph and with a power requirement of just 25–35hp per working width metre. It features five rows of staggered vibrating S tines with progressively increasing spacings to ensure unimpeded trash flow. The robust frame strength allows work in stubble or seedbed and tines can be fitted with 60mm shares (seedbed preparation) or 180mm duck-foot shares (shallow cultivation).

The Prolander comes with a choice of rollers, with the double-U being suited to stubble and general tillage work whilst the tube roller (with the option of levelling harrows) is ideal for fine tilth work on light soils for root crops.

Coupled with Kuhn’s TF 1512 distribution head, the Prolander can also plant crops, cover crops and apply fertiliser. The front mounted hopper is available with 1,500 or 2,000-litre capacities and can be controlled with Kuhn’s Isobus CCI terminal or a tractor Isobus terminal.

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With the harvesting season upon us, now is the perfect time to examine the risks of processing and storing grain.

Machinery has revolutionised farming by increasing production and reducing the number of hands needed. It has also created some of the highest risks of injury and/or death. The farming industry has a high rate of workplace accidents, so health and safety should be at the front of everyone’s mind.

With the harvesting season upon us, now is the perfect time to examine one of the lesser-known risks – processing and storing grain. Here are some of the main risks to be considered when working with grain.

Confined spaces – grain silos

Grain silos are dangerous due to the high risk of engulfment, a lack of breathable air, and the mechanical hazards of sweep augers. If possible, you must avoid entering these spaces. If the hazard is unavoidable e.g. for essential maintenance, a detailed risk assessment and Permit to Work are necessary to anticipate the many risks a worker would face.

A rescue plan should be outlined and rehearsed ahead of emergencies occurring to prevent rescuers from being overcome.

Grain goes through a vigorous process before it is ready for distribution, including ensuring the temperature is kept constant to dry the grain out. Climbing up onto the silo to check grain temperature carries high risk and even a small mistake could prove fatal.

Although the grain may seem solid, anyone stepping onto it risks being engulfed as the grain cannot support an average person’s weight. People have also slipped and fallen to their death while checking grain temperature. These incidents, although rare, have a high fatality rate. The suction-like action and weight prevents victims from resurfacing and makes rescue incredibly difficult.

Before inspecting grain silos, a rescue plan should be outlined and rehearsed.

Falls from height/slips and trips

Ladders and stair access to equipment present a high injury risk – falls from height are the most common type of fatal injury at work with 40 deaths in 2022. Added to this are slip/trip risks from obstructions and uneven floors.

Good housekeeping and regular maintenance of access equipment plus staff training on working at height safely reduce the risks considerably.

Harvest machinery

Machinery, such as screw conveyors, rotary valves, roller mills and mixers, can all cause serious injury if operators don’t follow all health and safety procedures.

Hazards with machinery usually occur during maintenance, cleaning or when refilling the silos. A detailed risk assessment must be carried out to identify risks and controls before anyone operates any machinery. These should be regularly revisited and updated. We recommend annual risk assessments as a minimum to ensure any damage is identified and additional controls are put in place where needed.

All machinery during harvest season can pose a danger to you and all others on your farm.

Transporting grain

Lift trucks and trailers when moving around site or tipping grain present high risks to pedestrians. A site-specific traffic management plan including vehicle/pedestrian separation and sufficient banksmen on site will control significant risks.

Manual sack handling

Heavy sacks should be mechanically lifted/handled wherever possible with manual handling kept to a minimum.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)

Noisy machinery and equipment can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss for workers. Aim to reduce exposure to as low as reasonably practicable by reducing shift lengths and modifying the plant, machinery, and working environment. Ear protectors are a last resort as the least effective measure.

Are protectors are the least effective measure to reduce hearing loss.

Hazardous substances

Commonly used chemicals such as chlorine, hydrochloric acid, and sulphur dioxide can harm workers. Tight controls and high awareness of how to handle, store and dispose of hazardous substances is essential.

Bottles require clear labelling with the relevant icons identifying the danger, i.e. ‘corrosive’ or ‘flammable’. This is a legal requirement.

Grain dust

Exposure to excess grain and flour dust can cause occupational asthma. This is a big one. 33% of all food industry compensation cases are to do with asthma contracted as a result of working with flour and grain dust. If not properly controlled, milling and other manufacturing processes can generate a lot of airborne dust. This is easily inhaled by workers, who are then vulnerable to asthma, rhinitis (runny/stuffy nose), conjunctivitis (watery or prickly eyes) and other irritant effects.

Good ventilation at source will prevent excess generation of dust.

Regular monitoring of dust levels is vital, as is maintenance of associated machinery and equipment. Health surveillance should be put in place for all workers exposed to dust hazards.

Plenty to think about

If you have made it this far, you’ll know that there are dangers in every part of the harvesting process. Make sure that the handling of grain is at the top of your priority list during this harvest season.

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To ensure exact field contour, the NZ Extreme has a five-section frame, able to adapt to the field surface and maintain the selected depth.

Setting the standard in seedbed preparation

NZ Extreme is a high-performance heavy-duty tine harrow that levels the field and creates an ideal seedbed for the coming crop. Available in working widths of 12.5 to 14.25m, the machine is able to perform high-quality seedbed preparation in a wide range of field conditions – from ploughed to cultivated land.

By combining unmatched capacity with a high-intensity work result, NZ Extreme reduces the passes needed and helps retain moisture in the ground. Its five-section frame is able to adapt to the field surface and maintain selected depth, which is further enhanced by an innovative weight transfer, ingenious wheel setup and heavy-duty machine design.

Meanwhile, wide wheels distributed across the machine length and width enable high carrying capacity and ensure equal conditions for each tine, which penetrate the ground up to a depth of 10cm. Mounted on 6 axles with a tine spacing of 7.2cm, the Extreme tine concentrates its intense vibration forwards, with minimum sideways movement.

Peak performance of the Extreme tine is preserved by carefully selected raw materials, while a unique construction enables the tines to focus all the power where intended, that is crushing clods and sorting the soil to create ideal conditions for the coming seeding operation.

Whereas, the machine’s front CrossBoard Heavy tines were designed to shift large amounts of soil, providing aggressive cultivation and ensuring that clods are crushed and the soil is levelled. A double-acting stabiliser bar ensures that all CrossBoard tines work together as one unit, preventing individual tines to move forward or backward.

The result is an extremely level outcome, saving passes and providing ideal conditions for the seed drill. The five axle models can be equipped with a rear CrossBoard for additional levelling, and working intensity is easily controlled hydraulically from the cab.

Last but not least, the rear working zone on the NZ Extreme offers the possibility to add features for improved finishing. The machine is suitable for operating with tractors of 300hp and above.

Combining precision with quality performance

Väderstad’s 12m pneumatic seed drill Inspire 1200C/S offers a high-capacity output at a low draught force requirement. Available as a seed-only or seed and fertiliser model, Inspire features an adaptive double disc seed coulter system which, paired with the highly advanced Fenix III metering system, results in even emergence and strong crop growth.

The machine’s double disc seed coulter system has an excellent ability to adapt to any irregularities on the field, thereby maintaining a constant seed depth. The result is precise seed placement and an even crop emergence across the field.

A unique precision feature in the 12-metre seed drill segment is the ability to control seed output in eight separate sections, enabling sectional control down to 1.5m sections.

Inspire 1200C/S is designed for high performance with minimised downtime in the field and features a large hopper with a low filling height and large opening.

The seed-only version, Inspire 1200S, is equipped with a 5000-litre hopper for seeds, while the combi version Inspire 1200C has a 7200-litre hopper holding both seeds and fertiliser in two separate compartments. Moreover, a large platform and open machine design allows for good access to all components throughout the machine.

Inspire 1200C/S is also equipped with hydraulic wing pressure, which transfers weight from the inner section of the machine to its outer wings. This enables the machine to respond to any irregularities on the field and ensure an even emergence.

To provide an aggressive working angle but with maximum penetration force, the seed discs are mounted in an OffSet position. As a result, Inspire is able to reach the desired working depth irrespective of soil type or conditions on the field while maintaining maximum precision.

Meanwhile, row spacing has been set to 125mm for maximum yield, with research showing that this results in 20% less weeds than 150mm. Moreover, a narrow row spacing allows for a larger seed spacing, thereby lowering the fungi pressure.

In addition, Inspire 1200C/S is equipped with the iPad-based control system Väderstad E-Control. Väderstad E-Control wirelessly connects to the Väderstad machine, enabling full access to its functions and data. Farmers benefit from a user-friendly remote setup and calibration, as well as real-time monitoring and control.

Inspire 1200C/S can be operated with tractors of over 170hp.

Väderstad’s 12m pneumatic seed drill Inspire 1200CS in action.

The post Väderstad NZ Extreme and Inspire now available to demo appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Now available in working widths from 2.45m to 5.25m in both mounted and trailed formats, the Combi-Disc employs two leading rows of soil-loosening legs followed by two rows of serrated Sabre discs to provide a surface chopping and mixing effect. This is all followed up with a V-profile roller to produce a corrugated, weather-proof finish.

It is this combination of soil-engaging elements that makes the Combi-Disc such an adaptable tool. In normal circumstances the tines, discs and press are used in partnership to turn previously uncultivated ground into a seedbed in one pass. When conditions require it, the discs can be lifted completely out of work, enabling the unit to be used as a straightforward subsoil loosener/pan-buster.

Likewise, with the legs lifted out of contention, the machine can be put to work as a straightforward shallow disc cultivator.

The addition of new ‘Stealth’ soil-loosening legs add further to the Combi-Disc’s versatility, making it a true low disturbance subsoiler with the added ability of being able to provide some surface tilth creation at the same time.

“With the increased focus on regenerative practices, we’re seeing a need for cultivation kit that can reduce soil disturbance but still deal with compacted layers in the soil profile to ensure decent drainage and rooting to maximise crop potential,” explains OPICO’s HE-VA product manager Glenn Bootman.

“With this new leg option for the Combi-Disc we are answering that requirement. The basic principle is medium-depth, low disturbance soil loosening combined with shallow surface cultivation. I believe that now makes the Combi-Disc one of the most adaptable tillage tools on the market.”

The 15mm wide Stealth low disturbance leg and low disturbance point are the product of many years of development. Whilst large numbers of growers are now moving towards reduced tillage systems they appreciate that drainage is key to crop development, allowing timely field operations and preventing the relentless progress of grass weeds such as blackgrass. The Stealth leg and point that HE-VA has developed allows deep soil loosening whilst minimising surface disturbance and preventing mixing of the soil profile.

The narrower legs are made from ultra-strong Hardox steel and can be interchanged with standard 25mm wide subsoiler legs as necessary. However, it is the point that really makes the difference. The Stealth standard 120mm low disturbance point has a shallower wing angle and shorter nose that has been designed to open up the soil to create drainage fissuring without mixing the whole soil profile.

Those wanting increased soil loosening across a wider profile can opt for a wider 200mm point. Both widths are available with and without long-life tungsten facing.

Visit OPICO at Cereals on the 13th and 14th June for more information.

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A new 7.25m version of the Carrier XL has joined the line-up.

The Vaderstad farm is similar to one owned by the company in Sweden and will be used to showcase the range of products and welcome customers, as well as for field trials of machines in development. The new farm is near Helmstedt in the Niedersachsen region. There are 50ha of land and an 800m2 machine hall which will be used for presentations and training. Vaderstad’s base is in Sweden, and the large hall contains a replica Swedish cottage in red with white corners, like traditional farmhouses close to the factory. The cottage will be used as offices.

Cultus HD

The Cultus HD is a tine cultivator, available in 4.25 and 5.25m working widths. Both versions are mounted, and Vaderstad claims that the design sets a new standard in the mounted tine cultivator segment, with no compromise on depth control and high field performance.

Maximum working depth is 30cm, and the tines are in three rows providing 27cm tine spacing.

“At the heart of the Cultus HD are the new heavy-duty Cultus HD tines,” explained Vaderstad director of tillage development, Wolfram Hastolz. “A key performance indicator for a tine is its ability to maintain high forces towards the soil. This is where the Cultus HD tines are unique. When they meet a heavy obstacle, the tine can fully release out of the soil to pass it, but on re-entering the soil it maintains full force to quickly return to its working position. This results in extremely accurate depth control, and excellent tillage results across the field.”

Welcome range addition

Vaderstad UK marketing development manager Andy Gamble said the Cultus HD is a welcome addition to the range. “At shows and dealer events, we receive a lot of requests from users of 3m machines for something larger and more capable, but who don’t need the ultimate performance of something like our TopDown or the Opus. The Cultus HD fills that gap in our line-up and provides a capable and cost-effective new option.

“There are also many situations where larger trailed cultivation equipment may be impractical, in particular where there are narrow lanes and tight field gateways to negotiate. Being fully mounted, the folding Cultus HD remains very manoeuvrable despite the wider 4.25m and  5.25m working widths.”

The new Vaderstad Cultus HD tine cultivator achieves excellent depth control.

User-friendly

Depth control is from the tractor cab, there is a hydraulic wing lock for transport and the new Dynamic Control levelling system ensures a good finish by ensuring that the levellers always operate in the optimum position – without requiring manual adjustment by the driver.

A wide range of Vaderstad points and MixIn shins can be fitted to the Cultus HD tines.

The Cultus HD enters full production in autumn next year.

Carrier XL range extended

A new 7.25m wide version of the Carrier XL disc cultivator has joined the line-up and, at the same time, all Carrier XL models have gained useful new features.

The new 7.25m model fills a gap in a range of working widths spanning from 4.25–12.25m. “The versatile Carrier XL benefits the farm by reducing the number of passes required, decreasing the machine cost per hectare and it provides the best possible start for the growing crop,” explained Wolfram Hastolz.

The Carrier XL is available with 510mm TrueCut discs, CrossCutter Discs or the new CrossCutter Disc Aggressive. It can be adapted  to suit different operating environments and  to produce different finishes by fitting any of a wide selection of front tools and rear packers,  and for convenient establishing of following crops – the Vaderstad BioDrill 360 mounted seeder is available.

Carrier XL models from 4.25–7.25m have all gained frame enhancements including a strengthened parallel linkage to hold the rear packer. New, clearly visible sight gauges display both the working depth and the front tool depth, and the XL 725 also comes with a unique high position scale for safe road transport.

Carrier XL 625 and 725 models can also now be equipped with a new wheel axle and 560/45R22.5 wheels and tyres approved for 40kph road transport.

The Carrier XL 725 can be ordered now, for delivery next autumn.

The new CrossCutter Disc Aggressive achieves intensive mixing even while working at ultra-shallow depths.

Ultra-shallow tillage

Available this month, the new CrossCutter Disc Aggressive extends the CrossCutter range of attachments. As the name suggests, the new version is designed for more aggressive operation and the discs feature sharpened TrueCut cut outs, for improved penetration capability in challenging field conditions and particularly in heavy soils.

The CrossCutter Disc Aggressive will also achieve better performance in heavy crop residues such as silage maize, heavy oilseed rape stalks or sunflower stubble, helping speed up decomposition.

Less power and fuel

Even though the shape is more aggressive than the original, the new version will still provide excellent performance working at ultra-shallow depths of 2–5cm and will move considerably less soil than conventional discs. This means less power and fuel is needed to achieve high working speeds and intensive mixing.

There are two sizes of CrossCutter Disc Aggressive – 450mm for a working depth of 2–3cm with the Carrier range of disc cultivators, and a 510mm version for working between 3–5cm with the Carrier XL. Both can operate at working speeds up to 20kph.

Each CrossCutter Disc is individually mounted on its own rubber suspended disc arm, ensuring excellent ground contour following capability and consistent results.

The post A completely new cultivator and updates to others announced at European press event appeared first on Farmers Guide.

The Koralin hybrid cultivator has an innovative tool combination consisting of discs and a tine with duckfoot sweep shares.

Koralin 9

The increasing restrictions of agrochemicals require machinery for controlling weeds with new combinations, to supplement previous procedures and secure crop yields.

For ultra-flat stubble working Lemken is introducing the Koralin hybrid cultivator with an innovative tool combination consisting of discs and a tine with duckfoot sweep shares.

This gives reliable control of weeds even in large areas or where straw has not been removed, the company says.

The symmetrical forward-running discs attached to secure leaf springs have already proved their worth as they are fitted to the Heliodor compact disc harrow. With a 510mm diameter, the disc generates an abrasive sub-soil profile, which prevents the share forming a layer of compacted soil below.

The discs can also be used systematically to perforate the soil at the bottom of the shares and promote drainage of surface water. In average to heavy soil conditions the discs improve the crumb structure of the soil during seedbed preparation.

The tines with duckfoot sweep shares have a 35cm cut and are arranged symmetrically in three rows with line spacing of 30cm and overlap each other by 2.5cm. They are secured to the main frame by a sprung overload device. This guarantees the necessary lateral and height stability, so that the shares can work over the whole surface for sustained periods.

At working depths of 2cm to a maximum of 10cm, the duckfoot sweep shares cut the roots of the weeds or cover crop horizontally like a knife. For this reason, the Koralin is best suited to repeated flat cutting at working depths, which are slightly increased each time. Shares are available with hard metal tips which increase life expectancy, reduce costs and subsequently reduce machine downtime to a minimum during the high season.

The depth guidance system fitted to the Koralin hybrid cultivator operates accurately by means of stabilisers within the device, which means that the roller can be replaced by a multi-row harrow for more effective weed control.

Heliodor 9

The Heliodor compact disc harrow can be used for both shallow stubble cultivation and for seedbed preparation. This makes the Heliodor 9 a versatile compact disc harrow with high working speed capability and low power requirement resulting in efficient cultivations, Lemken says.

The robust leaf spring elements ensure that the Heliodor works evenly and without blockage in high trash situations.

Farmers in the UK have found the Heliodor 9 extremely effective in the fight against blackgrass, according to the manufacturer. The machine has been used extensively where a shallow cultivation is required after harvest to get surface seeds to chit. The Heliodor 9 Disc harrow can do this ensuring all soil is cultivated across the full width of the machine. Even in heavy dry soils the individually sprung discs can use a shattering effect to penetrate the soil.

The mounted Heliodor versions with 3 and 4m working width, and the semi-mounted versions with 4–7m working width can be combined with Lemken’s pneumatic Solitair seed drill to create a cost effective and flexible cultivating and drilling system.

Larger farms and growers looking to a CTF system can achieve working widths of 8, 10, 12 and 16m in combination with the Lemken Gigant system carrier to achieve particularly high efficiency in cultivation operations.

The Rubin 10-disc harrow has proved popular for straw incorporation.

Rubin 10 disc harrow

The Rubin 10 has been well received by UK customers for primary cultivation work, especially where intensive straw incorporation has been required on a range of soil types, Lemken says.

The discs are arranged to produce symmetrical forces on both implement sides. The three central discs on the Rubin 10 have been offset along the longitudinal axis to ensure that they are able to work collision-free across the full width at a line distance of 12.5cm.

The Rubin 10 features surface-hardened DuraMaxx discs with a diameter of 645mm as standard. The new disc leg design with multiple bends provides plenty of clearance to prevent blockages. Each concave disc in the Rubin 10 is now equipped with an overload protection with dampened return to minimise frame loads. The overload protection pockets are welded to the frame to keep the discs perfectly on track.

An impact harrow behind the first row of discs improves the crumbling effect and distributes soil and organic matter in the direction of travel, while the rear impact and levelling harrow distributes the soil to form an even, level surface.

All folding versions feature hydraulic depth adjustment as standard. The semi-mounted compact disc harrows are optionally available with depth control wheels, which ensure even working depths in variable soils and precise pass alignment along slopes.

The Rubin 10 has working widths of 2.5–7m and available with a range of roller options to suit the customer’s requirements.

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