New TerraBlade M6 to launch at Cereals 2017

The Claydon TerraBlade inter-row hoe is a low-cost, mechanical method of controlling weeds in combinable, band-sown crops. It provides an additional weapon in the agricultural industry’s weed control armoury at a time when the effi cacy of some herbicides is decreasing whilst the cost of control is increasing.

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Band sowing at 30cm leaves a 14-15cm-wide unseeded strip between the rows which can be mechanically hoed. The TerraBlade eliminates weeds from that area reliably, safely and without using chemicals. This clears up any weeds that were missed by ag-chems, or where such products cannot be used, greatly reducing the return of weed seeds and the overall weed burden. By keeping the unseeded rows clear of weeds during the early stages of crop growth, competition for nutrients, light, air and water is reduced and the young plants can grow away strong and healthy.

TerraBlade has the potential to improve crop yields, drastically lower the potential for carry-over of weed seeds and reduce the risk of more resistant types developing. The unit will give years of reliable service, has very low operating costs and offers great flexibility. It is designed for use on any tractor with a Cat II front linkage and travels at speeds of approximately 6 km/h and up to 30mm deep. It is manually steered and can be used whenever soil conditions allow, covering up to 40ha a day with a 6m unit. On farms that drill early, crops may be suffi ciently well developed in the autumn to start TerraBladeing then, and in the spring the operation can continue whenever soil conditions allow, up to the stage where the crop might be compromised by further passes.

The TerraBlade has been designed for use in all types of strip seeded crops.