ISSUE 51
CLEAN-UP ACT With an increasing number of herbicides being withdrawn for vegetable crops, Spalding, Lincolnshire-based PC Thorold has invested in a 6.4m Kverneland Onyx inter-row cultivator, with Lynx guidance interface, to carry out mechanical weeding in a wide variety of brassica crops.
Now in its second season, the machine has already covered over 4,500 acres of inter-row cultivation. “With camera guidance controlling the side-shift function and RTK for tractor positioning, this is proving an extremely accurate and effective means of dealing with any weeds in our crops,” explains farm manager Steve Mayfield. “We’ll run through crops two or three times, depending on the growth stages, and the results we’re getting are fantastic.” Steve says that the Onyx inter-row cultivator’s two forward- facing cameras are equipped with interchangeable coloured lenses, to suit different crops. “Changing camera lenses is essential if we’re to get the best from the machine, particularly when working with both red and green cabbage crops,” he adds. “It’s easy to do, and it does relieve pressure on herbicide use – it’s another very useful tool to have in our machinery line-up.” Supplied by Irelands Farm Machinery, the Onyx 3064F is configured to work a nine-row format with 60cm row spacings. Used with a front tank for liquid fertiliser placement, Steve says the combination is also improving application accuracy, which has become more viable given the rising cost of fertiliser. “We’ve been swapping row spacings to suit crops grown in 480mm and 600mm rows, but longer term, we may end up with a second Onyx,” he says. “We’re producing three crops in two years, and experimenting with different points and shares to match changing soil textures throughout the year. We have also introduced small ridging shares, so we can put more soil against the growing crop, to improve shielding through the winter.”
Steve has also added a six-furrow LO plough to the mix, complete with No.40 slatted boards and 100cm point to point clearance. “Effective weed control starts with the plough,” he says. “We have a lot of trash and stalks to deal with, so a clean seedbed with 100% trash burial and a well crumbled finish, also helps to manage our weed burden. And the LO gives us the finish we require.”
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