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AMAZONE – THE PEDIGREE IS THERE WHEN IT COMES TO MINIMUM DISTURBANCE DRILLING

When it comes to what’s currently trending in crop establishment, the focus is very much on plant nutrition and the targeted application of N & P fertilisers along with the seed to bolster root development and to enable the plant to grow away strongly from pests and diseases. Multi-hopper seeders now offer that flexibility of being able to combine different seed types, add a starter fertiliser or the addition of slug pellets or a micro-granular herbicide simultaneously with the drilling operation. Seeding depth can be split into different zones as well by the addition of a second or third material entry point.

In the area of reduced tillage drilling, three drills stand out strongly in the AMAZONE range, all featuring that multi-hopper format: the Condor direct tine seeder, the Cayena tine seeder and also the Primera DMC. Since the late 1970’s, AMAZONE have pursued their chisel opener philosophy when it comes to reduced tillage seeding systems. After numerous field trials in those early years, Dr. Heinz Dreyer, father of current joint owner of the AMAZONE Group, hit upon his successful formula of running a hard-faced chisel opener to place the seed in the ground rather than using a disc. This avoided crop residues being hairpinned into the seed slot and generated a slight tilth which improved seed/soil contact as well as mineralising some nitrogen in the seed zone to improve plant development. The principle of the NT chisel opener continues today in those Condor, Cayena and Primera drills.

The Con-dor, with three stagger of coulters and a row spacing of 25 cm or 33 cm, makes it ideal for inter-row mechan-ical weed control and comes in working widths of 12.0 and 15.0 m. The Cayena, again with three stagger of coulters, a covering harrow followed by a targeted reconsolidation, is widely renowned for its low horsepower requirement and ability to run in many conditions, is in 6.0 m only whereas the Primera DMC is available in either 3.0 m or 6.0 m widths.

Featuring at Groundswell this year will be the Primera DMC 6000-2C The Primera 6000-2 DMC is more than just a direct drill as does what it says in the name, DMC – direct, mulch, conventional. Huge underbeam clearances, and the openers in banks of four rows, mean that copi-ous amounts of straw and cover crop can pass through the drill without any fear of blockage. Each chisel opener closely follows the ground contours via a parallel linkage – guided by individual hoop rollers behind the coulter with the depth set mechanically on a spindle. The narrowness of the chisel opener means that little soil is disturbed but the seed slot is left clean for good seed / soil contact and the micro-tilth generated by the chisel action can then be pushed back into the groove by the angled hoop rollers following. On the rear, a choice of either the Roller harrow, for light dry conditions or in the spring where moisture conservation is cru-cial, or the wellknown universal Exact harrow, is used to finish off the seedbed profile.

The 4,200 litre split hopper, carried on flotation 700/45 -22.5 tyres with its twin electrically-driven metering systems, can feed both seed and fertiliser down to the coulter. The Primera 6000-2C weighs in at just 6,500 kgs and pulling power is a modest 180 hp for the 6m drill and, due to the little amount of soil-engaging parts and the robust-ness of the construction, the drill suffers from little wear and tear.

New for 2022 is the option of the GreenDrill 501 catch crop seeder box which now can be added to make a third hopper. The GreenDrill can be specified to broadcast seed on the soil surface ahead of the Roller har-row or can apply a third material down the sowing coulter. The electrically-driven metering system is com-bined with the other two hoppers and is controlled via the ISOBUS software and can be run off a third VRA application map. On the headlands the three hoppers can switch off at different times using the unique Multi-boom software.

INDIVIDUAL PLANT DETECTION – CAMERA SYSTEMS WITH A FUTURE?

Camera-based plant protection – the technology already exists but where do we stand when it comes to using it in practice? HORSCH LEEB has been carrying out tests in this respect for quite some time. Theo Leeb tells us about the challenges and the chances.

What is the state of technology with regard to individual plant detection?

‘Theodor Leeb: At the Agritechnica 2019, some startup companies already presented camera systems for spot spraying weeds. This made the expectations of customers, manufacturers and also of political decision-makers rise.

In the past few years, we tried to shed light on this topic and to test where we actually stand. To begin with, spot spraying with optical sensors or cameras is not basically new. This method has already been used for about 20 years in the typical no-till regions with low rainfall like Australia, Russia or Kazakhstan – namely in the “Green on Brown” sector. Another method is “Green in Green”. So the technology already exists. The question is which system really makes sense when and where.

What does “Green on Brown” and “Green in Green” mean?

Theodor Leeb: There are two principles: “Green on Brown” and “Green in Green”. Brown corresponds to the arable soil and green to the plant – whether cultivated plant or weed. The topic Green on Brown has been existing for quite some time. Among others, some manufacturers offer systems for the application of glyphosate before sowing. This method is mainly used in no-till regions. With the Green in Green method, you have to differentiate between cultivated plant and weed. And partly you also get the information what kind of weed it is. With regard to the question how far we have come with this topic: We carried out some tests this season and also last year. With regard to Green in Green we for example tried to spray thistles in wheat. Thistles normally appear in nests and not on the whole field. This would be a typical application for spot spraying. With the test, we wanted to find out how exactly the system detects the thistles and what hit rate we would achieve. We basically can only say that the system works. The thistles were detected but only partly. The hit rate ranged between 40 and 60 %. The question, of course, is if this is enough. In my opinion, it still is far from being field-ready. Moreover, as a farmer you wonder about the weeds that still are on the field – are they tolerable or not? This, of course, also depends on the kind of weed, but it should be clarified.

Were the thistles not detected or did the system not react fast enough and the thistles,
thus, were not hit?

Theodor Leeb: In the test, we differentiated between “detected but not hit” or simply “not detected” and ogically not hit. But this also is a question of the calibration of the system. AT a 36-metre boom there are a total of 12 cameras which are mounted every three metres facing forward with a slanting angle. And the nozzles are assigned to each camera according to the spatial arrangement. It is a rather complex procedure to calibrate the individual camera positions to make sure that the appropriate nozzle opens at exactly the right time.

But the real problem rather is that the thistles indeed are not detected by the system. The biggest challenge are the different lighting conditions. I.e. there is a difference if it is cloudy or sunny, if you have to work with or against the sun etc. And the weather conditions in turn influence the shape of the thistle. The leaves for example roll up a little bit in case of a high solar radiation resulting in a significantly lower detection rate. So what we found out was that there still is need for optimisation.

How could the system Green in Green be improved to make it work?

Theodor Leeb: You have to know that there is an AI behind it. An incredible amount of training data is required to make sure that the system always detects the thistle. You need photos and data from thistles in all shapes, in all lighting conditions, growing stages, from all different thistle varieties etc. We are talking about thousands of photos that have to be analysed and labelled manually. Every pixel has to be assigned correctly. This is an enormous manual effort and finally the crux of the matter. The more labelled photos there are, the more exactly and reliably the system will work.

And a thistle is rather easy to detect compared to other plants.

Theodor Leeb: Exactly. The human eye can detect it rather easily and a human can also differentiate it. The difference between monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants is quite obvious. But if you want to differentiate for example black-grass from wheat it is getting difficult. This is where we possibly reach the limits of what is feasible.

But there are further technical restrictions. An important point is the spot size, i.e. the smallest possible area that can be sprayed. In theory, the biggest savings potential would be if we treated every little weed with an effective spraying area of for example 5×5 cm. However, as we work with sprayers where the nozzles are mounted with a spacing of 50 cm or 25 cm, there is minimum spot width of approx. 60 cm respectively 35 cm depending on the nozzle layout. As the nozzles cannot switch infinitely fast, the spots in the direction of travel are about 50 cm long. If the distance between the weeds is smaller than 50 cm, the system will not turn off. Thus, for the savings potential the ratio of spot size and weed infestation is essential.

Physics respectively optics are two other limiting factors. Let’s take beets as an example: It is important to detect weeds at an early stage, i.e. when the size is one centimetre or even smaller. In theory, it is possible the detect this tiny plant with the system if you drive very slowly and can really look at it from all sides. But in practice, operational speeds of 10 km/h and more are common. To achieve a sufficient reaction time, the cameras face forward at a slanting angle. But if there is a large clod in front of the small weed or if another bigger plant hides the weed, the camera will not be able to detect it. So you cannot achieve a hit rate of 100 %. Now the question is what is acceptable. Are 90 % enough? At the moment, we simply do not know.

As thistles do not grow in the whole field but in nests, they are ideal to carry out tests with spot spraying. In the test, we analysed the hit rate of the system and if the thistles were detected.

So at the moment the topic is limited by the training data and physics.

Theodor Leeb: Yes, but there is another exciting question we have to clarify. In many row crops it is good professional practice to apply a soil herbicide after sowing. This guarantees a basic protection for a certain time. The weeds that emerge after two to three weeks then are treated with foliaceous agents. If you decide to do without the soil herbicide you logically have to wait until the weed has grown so that a camera can detect it. Let’s assume that we use the spot spraying method to apply a foliaceous agent on the emerged weeds: The problem is that the foliaceous agents affect the development of the cultivated plant. You cannot avoid spraying on it if the weed for example is close to the beet. Moreover, new weeds are constantly emerging all along. So the question is: How often do we have to spot a certain area to make sure that for example a beet field remains clean? We have not yet tried to do without the soil herbicide. But in my opinion, for beets, it does not make sense to do without it.

A reasonable solution would be a combination, i.e. a soil herbicide as the first measure and the other treatments with camera-based spot spraying systems. Another rather exciting idea is to accept a certain economic threshold respectively to tolerate certain weeds that are classified by the camera as they do not pose a problem in the next season due to a cleverly chosen rotation or because they are easy to treat. I think this might provide the biggest savings potential. However, it still requires a lot of development as the weeds do not only have to be detected but also have to be classified.

You have just been talking about herbicides. Can you image other sectors where this
method could be used?

Theodor Leeb: In case of plant illnesses for example you could apply fungicides or even growth regulators in cereals in a site-specific way. However, this does not require such a finely itemised spot spraying system as in this case we are talking about a larger area. For this application we use our pulse system PrecisionSpray with a variable application rate per 3 metre boom section. But there are approaches to use the cameras to detect illnesses. The question rather is if it is not too late at that time. In my opinion, the approach via biomass and weather models would be more productive. 

How does “Green in Brown” work?

Theodor Leeb: Together with a manufacturer from France we carried out tests. The method is based on a mere differentiation of colours, i.e. you have a camera image and analyse which pixels are green or brown, thus plant or field. The green areas are sprayed. This worked quite well, however this system is not of major importance in Central Europe as we usually carry out tillage and as the conditions are wet.

Could you explain this in more detail?

Theodor Leeb: On the high-yield sites stubble cultivation is usually carried out after the harvest to mix in the straw. After a few days or weeks volunteer crops and weeds emerge. I.e. the field more or less is green all-over. Spotting does not make sense as the plants are too close to each other. So you would have to treat the whole area and could not rely on point application. In dry regions where no-till farming is very common this is different. There is no tillage after the harvest. As it is very dry there are little weeds or catch crops. And in this case, you can – instead of spraying all over – work with a camera system in a targeted way for example to save costs when using glyphosate for spraying the individual plants.

In addition to Green on Brown and Green in Green there is another differentiation: offline and online methods. What I have described so far are online methods, i.e. the camera is mounted on the boom and while driving the system decides whether to spray or not. With offline methods you get the information by means of a previous scanning. You normally fly over the field with a drone that is equipped with a high-resolution camera and scan the field from a height of approx. 20 m. At the moment, an algorithm is used to differentiate weed from crop in the high-resolution photo. This system provides an application map with the sections that are to be sprayed. This information then is loaded into the terminal of the machine and the field is treated. It works similar to the application maps for fertilisation.

Together with a start-up company we also have made tests with offline system for quite some time. The system basically works, but there also are a few obstacles. For example if you want to spray you have to have current data. There is little point in flying over the field with the drone 14 days in advance as in the meantime the weed infestation will change. The other obstacle is a physical one. Because of the offset method the spots have to be larger to hit the weeds as the GPS tolerances of the drone and the sprayers add up. Larger spots in turn mean that the sprayed area is larger, too, and thus there is less savings potential.

The extremely high data volume is an additional challenge. Endless gigabytes per hectare are generated that are sent to a server for calculation. This often takes the current internet connections to their limits. On the other hand, the application maps have to be sent back to the terminal of the farmer. Depending on the number of polygons (spots) the current ISOBUS terminals only allow for applications maps with a size of less than 5 hectares.

This means: From a technical or technological point of view the offline method can be displayed. For practical use, however, some more time is required to optimise the processes. And first of all, we need solutions for the high data volume. We possibly even have to find a parallel solution to ISOBUS.

What is your summary?

Theodor Leeb: In my opinion, spot spraying is the next logical step to meet the future requirements with regard to Green Deal, environmental protection and sustainability. Consequently, we come from an all-over treatment over band application to small-area spot spraying. The objective always is to apply the agent only where it is really required. In this respect, a camera-based system – whether online or offline – can make a valuable contribution.

We are intensely working on an optimisation of these systems and we will continue to carry out tests to gather more experiences. Our task is to transfer everything that is possible from a technological point of view into practice in such a way that the farmer can safely and simply use these methods in his everyday working like. Thus, spot spraying can become another component with regard to the optimisation of conventional crop care. But I also see the limits of what is possible as in the field we do not have standard, industrial and constant conditions.

My summary is: nature still will be nature. And nature cannot be constrained by industrial or digital standards.

JOHN DEERE SEE & SPRAY™ ULTIMATE – TARGETED, IN-CROP SPRAYING

With See & Spray Ultimate, you can gain cost efficiency in your herbicide applications by reducing your spray volume, which in turn enables you to use more advanced tank mixes. We have added to the previously launched See & Spray, to allow in crop targeting of weeds (See & Spray was for fallow ground only). See & Spray Ultimate currently only detects weeds among corn, soybean, and cotton plants. It uses cameras, processors, a carbon-fiber truss-structure boom and a dual product tank. It enables targeted application of non-residual herbicides on weeds within corn, soybean and cotton fields. It can also be used for traditional broadcast application, as well as targeted and traditional spray combined. This strategy reduces crop stress by providing an effective weed-kill strategy, eliminating the chance weeds will rob plants of valuable nutrients and moisture, thus enabling crop roots to thrive. Plus, when using AutoTrac™ technologies, the sprayer will stay between rows and off the crop further reducing potential crop damage.

The dual-tank configuration lets you apply targeted spray and traditional broadcast at the same time, combining two passes in one to save you time and money. Target spray weeds and broadcast fungicide, or better manage weeds by applying a non-residual targeted spray and residual broadcast, all in one pass. Using Targeted Spraying to kill weeds, it can be done at a lower cost by applying only what you need – when and where you need it. Or, with the dual-tank capability of See & Spray Ultimate, use different chemical mixes independently of each other and at different target rates – all on the same pass. Plus, the amount of herbicide saved during Targeted Spraying can be used for a second and third pass during the growing season to address weed control all season long.

MEET SEE & SPRAY ULTIMATE

The cameras and processors are just the beginning. Discover how this See & Spray technology works.

Vision Processing Unit

Multiple processors across the boom use camera vision technology and machine learning to detect weeds from plants, and activate sprayer nozzles all within 200 milliseconds. 

Cameras

36 cameras mounted across the boom scan more than 2,100 square feet (195 m2) at once.

Dual Product Solution system

The tank is split in two, with either 1,000 gallons (3,785L) or 1,200 gallons (4,542L) total capacity. Use two independent tank mixes simultaneously with targeted spray and traditional broadcast spray, or a single, combined tank mix for either targeted spray-only or broadcast spray-only.

ExactApply™ Nozzle Control System

Individual nozzle control with ExactApply offers precise droplet sizing for a consistent targeted spray that also reduces over-application and off-target drift.

Carbon-Fiber Truss-Style Boom

The new, 120 ft. (36.6 m) carbon-fiber truss-style boom is lighter than steel, providing the stability needed to enable targeted spray.

BoomTrac™ Ultimate Height Control

BoomTrac Ultimate ensures consistent height control when traveling across uneven fields for precise application, with 25% better spray accuracy* than the next best manufacturer. *Based on Iowa State University testing; scores represent composite data over a variety of terrains at factory-calibrated settings. Performance varies based on user-specified settings and adjustments. BoomTrac Ultimate tested on MY 2023 412R Sprayer with 36.6-m (120-ft) truss-style carbon fiber boom; NORAC installed on MY 2022 John Deere 4 Series Sprayer with 36.6-m (120-ft) steel boom; Raven AutoBoom XRT installed on MY 2022 John Deere 4 Series Sprayer with 36.6-m (120-ft) steel boom. Operated at 12mph and 30-in.

See & Spray™ Ultimate Agronomic Trial: Target Spraying with Dual Product Solution System for Waterhemp in Soybeans at V5 growth stage 

Our study was conducted in an Illinois soybean field at the V5 growth stage to target spray for waterhemp in the summer of 2021. Using an enhanced herbicide program consisting of both targeted spray (non-residual) and broadcast (residual) tank mixes, and with higher sensitivity settings to study weed efficacy, See & Spray Ultimate delivered 7% better weed control with 47% less herbicide volume used. These results are made possible by the dual product system, which eliminates in-tank herbicide antagonism that reduces herbicide efficacy. Our agronomic and product experts have and will continue to partner with state universities on additional trials, plus we’ll continue to conduct our own strip trials to ensure our products and technologies help you gain improving yields, cost efficiency, and profitability in your operation.

Questions:

What’s the difference between See & Spray Ultimate and
See & Spray Select?

See & Spray Ultimate detects weeds among corn, soybean, and cotton plants. It uses cameras, processors, a carbon-fiber truss-structure boom and a dual product tank. It enables targeted application of non-residual herbicides on weeds. It can also be used for traditional broadcast application, as well as targeted and traditional spray combined. See & Spray Select is for use in fallow ground only. It uses a colour-detecting technology to identify and target spray green on brown soil. See & Spray Select can also spray both targeted spray and traditional spray in one pass, with a single tank mix. Reference chart above for features:

Can I add See & Spray Ultimate to my current Sprayer?

No. See & Spray Ultimate is factory installed on new Sprayers only. It is not available as a Performance Upgrade Kit. What model Sprayers is See & Spray Ultimate available on? See & Spray Ultimate is only available on the 410R, 412R and 612R Sprayers.

What boom sizes are available on See & Spray Ultimate?

The 120 ft (36.6 m) carbon-fiber truss-style boom is the only boom size available for See & Spray Ultimate. What are the dual tank split sizes available on See & Spray Ultimate? The 410R Sprayer has a 1,000 gallon (3,785.4 L) tank with a 650/350 gallon (2,460.5/1,324.9 L) split. The 412R and 612R Sprayer have a 1,200 gallon (4,543 L) tank with a 750/450 gallon (2,839.6/1,703.4 L) split. 

HIGH HOPES FOR HARVEST

With crops on the farm showing great promise, output prices at record levels and the family’s agricultural machinery business operating at capacity, Suffolk arable farmer and inventor of the Opti-Till® direct strip seeding system Jeff Claydon is optimistic for the months ahead. But it is tinged with caution, the watchword in today’s topsy turvy world.

25.05.2022

Whilst drafting my last article for Direct Driller, Russia had just invaded Ukraine, provoking military conflict and war in the country. Almost three months later, the catastrophe and humanitarian crisis continue with thousands killed, homes and cities destroyed along with millions displaced and seeking refuge. Global supply shortages have caused sky-rocketing prices with far-reaching and dramatic impacts. In the agricultural sector, global uncertainties and a tightening of exportable surpluses have pushed combinable crop prices to previously unheard-of levels, with wheat currently trading at north of £300/t and oilseed rape over £800/t. Whilst this will benefit the arable sector, those in the livestock and poultry sectors are struggling.

Higher prices are quickly being reflected in the cost of food in the shops and if there is any positive to come out of the current situation it will be to make consumers reassess the importance of farming and what they eat. Back in the 1970s food accounted for a substantial proportion of a typical family’s budget, but over the years governments of all persuasion have prioritised cheap food and it has fallen down the list of most people’s’ priorities. For decades, the public has given little thought to food security, where it comes from or how it is produced; perhaps this will provide a wake-up call and encourage them to focus on the things in life which really matter.

Global agricultural production is forecasted to need to increase 60 per cent by 2050 just to keep pace with population growth. But, even as governments around the world stress the need for farmers to produce more, the legislation which they and other bureaucrats devise and sanction is restricting our access to inputs and stifling yield growth. During the last decade production has plateaued and the current UK five-year average wheat yield is just 8.3t/ha, so something has to give.

A busy time

So much has happened here during the last three months that it is difficult to know where to start. Having just looked around the building site outside my office which will shortly form the new production and assembly area of the Claydon factory that is a good place to start. 

With demand for Claydon products at record levels and our order books full for months ahead, I am delighted to see work on the new building progressing apace. Just this morning, for example, the four 3.2t gantry cranes which will move components and completed machines around the factory were delivered and installed. Measuring 36m x 36m, the clear-span building will add 1300m2 to our factory space and double production capacity. The plan is for it to come on stream in the summer, but we will announce that nearer the time. In the meantime, I would like to thank all our customers for their continued support and enthusiasm for the Claydon Opti-Till® System which has helped to generate additional customers and created the need for the new building.

Invest in the future

With production costs skyrocketing and inflation at its highest level for more than four decades, farmers are looking to reduce costs whilst maintaining or increasing production. Rather than squandering any windfall from higher prices by continuing to operate inefficiently, forward thinking businesses recognise the need to invest in equipment and techniques which produce lasting benefits to help secure their future, so interest in Opti-Till® is increasing.

The was confirmed at the start of the week when I and my team welcomed representatives from our distributors in Denmark and Germany who brought with them 25 existing and potential customers to see Claydon products being manufactured and tour our farm. This visit follows a series of visits by our importers and customers from Lithuania, Romania, and Poland. It was organised by Simon Revell, our Export Manager, and was at an ideal time of the year for visitors to see how well Claydon-drilled crops are looking. 

As part of my presentation, I showed our guests a slide based on information produced by Harry Henderson, AHDB’s Knowledge Exchange Manager – Cereals & Oilseeds, showing the cost of establishing winter wheat on 20 AHDB Monitor farms and the yields achieved by various approaches. Farm 12, with one of the highest yields of milling wheat but lowest establishment costs, was Rick Davies, a long-standing Claydon customer, who invested in a 3m Claydon Hybrid drill (upgrading to a 4.8m Hybrid in 2015) and a 7.5m Straw Harrow in 2010. Costs will have increased considerably since this data was produced but the proportional costs are really telling the story. When discussing his reasons for switching to the Claydon System in an article published in Crop Production Magazine during 2015 he summed up a number of points so well that I have quoted him in the paragraph below.

“It is no exaggeration to say that the Claydon System has transformed the way we think about farming and how we actually farm. Having used conventional cultivations and become used to seeing perfect-looking seedbeds for so many years, moving to the Claydon System was a huge leap of faith and it took time to get used to the idea that it would look different. But the results prove that you cannot judge a crop by its initial visual appearance and what really counts is how much goes into the combine tank. Now that we have experienced the benefits we continually ask ourselves why we did not consider the move earlier. But had we not done so when we did we would not be in such a strong position today. I am very pleased that we made the transition voluntarily rather than being forced into it by a lack of profitability, as I suspect some will,”

With some customers savings around £250/ha on their establishment costs and enjoying a yield benefit of up to 1.5t/ ha the advantages are obvious. On the Claydon farm our goal is to achieve the highest outputs at the lowest cost, but that does not mean skimping on inputs; far from it in fact. Rather than spending vast amounts on unnecessary tillage we invest in wisely in inputs which enhance and protect the potential value of our farm and crops.

This season all winter sown crops were drilled by midOctober, helped by the fact that Claydon Opti-Till® enables us to establish the crop in 20% of the time, at a fraction of the cost and using 10% of the fuel (<15 l/ha) compared with a plough-based system. High productivity counts for a lot when the weather is catchy, the window of opportunity is limited, and the number of drilling days are limited, while saving fuel has become essential at today’s prices.

A dry start to the year

2022 has brought with it a very mixed bag of weather. Between New Year’s day and today our farm weather station has recorded less than 170mm of rain, much lower than the farm’s long-term average, while April brought more days with overnight frosts than without, slowing the crops’ growth. Despite very little rain since 1 April, they have caught up well, highlighting the benefits of establishing good rooting structures to make best use of the moisture which is in the ground. Whilst driving around the farm this morning I called in at ‘80-acre’, a field which has been managed using the Claydon Opti-Till® System for 20 years and featured in Direct Driller throughout the season. All of it is into LG Skyscraper winter wheat, which despite the lack of rain continues to look very good. To date it has received just 180kgN/ha, plus the T0 and T1 fungicides, but holds great promise.

In the last issue of Direct Driller, I highlighted the importance of drainage and talked about an issue in the corner of that field where a decades-old tile drain had collapsed during the winter, resulting in a significant area becoming waterlogged. I had planned to sort it out after harvest, but the very dry weather allowed local drainage contractor W. R. Suckling & Sons to come in a couple of weeks ago and install new plastic pipes at a depth of 1m. They did an excellent job, and we will cross mole the area in the autumn if conditions allow or go through the following crop of spring oats early next year.

I also called in to check on the progress of our DK Excited hybrid oilseed rape which was drilled within three days of harvesting the previous crop of winter wheat on 15 August. We went directly into chopped straw and stubble using a preproduction version of our new Claydon Evolution drill and a seed rate of just 2.7kg/ha.. Experience has shown that the sooner we can drill oilseed rape behind the combine the better, as the plants are stronger and more able to fend off the Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle. The damp weather and slightly cooler temperatures after drilling, combined with the extra vigour of the hybrid seed, resulted in excellent establishment. Despite having received just 150kgN/ha the crop has developed exceptionally well and looks set to deliver a very high yield at harvest. With rapeseed prices currently around £800/t that would produce a very attractive margin.

This season’s spring oat area is taken up by Lion, a new variety which, according to its breeder Elsoms, combines excellent kernel content and hullability, together with stiff straw and good agronomic package. With seed in short supply, we drilled the crop on 15 March at just 100kg/ha and to date it has only received 50kgN/ha, although another 50kgN/ha will go on shortly taking the total to 100kgN/ha. ‘Lion’, a new variety of spring oats, looks good despite a sowing rate of just 100kg/ha and little rain when this photograph was taken on 18 May.

Even with very little rain since it was drilled the crop looks excellent and last week I went through with a Claydon TerraBlade inter-row hoe to take out grassweeds growing between the band-sown rows before they had a chance to develop and compete with the spring oats. Growing conditions have been much the same as last year when this low input crop achieved over 7t/ha with excellent margins, so I am optimistic that it will produce excellent results.

And finally!

After 44 years’ service the roof at Gaines Hall, our Grade II listed 16th Century farmhouse, is being rethatched, this time with wheat straw supplied by accredited master thatcher Harry Roberts of Harry Roberts Thatching Services. Harry is one of the very few who grows his own straw, enabling him to offer a comprehensive field to roof service and ensuring the quality of materials is as high as it can be. He uses straw from Maris Widgeon, now a heritage variety, which was originally developed in 1964 by the Plant Breeding Institute at Trumpington near Cambridge and has traditionally been used for thatching in the UK.

We chose Harry to do the job because he specifies that his straw crops are drilled with a Claydon drill. When I visited the farm which his brother-in-law Sam Clear owns to see it being produced Harry explained that sowing the crop in bands results in the wheat stems being much thicker, more resilient and of higher quality than those drilled at the conventional spacing. The crop is cut with a binder, stood in stooks for two weeks, then threshed in the traditional way to produce the best quality straw for thatching.

Harry is due to complete the work at Gaines Hall in June, so I am looking forward to seeing the final result. I will include a photograph of the finished product in the next issue of Direct Driller, as well as discussing the harvest and our plans for the season ahead.

STRIGER STRIP-TILL FOCUS

In response to the growing interest in minimal tillage cultivations, KUHN has developed its Striger strip-till range and will be showing the machine at Groundswell 2022.

Available from 4 to 12 rows, the Striger 100 is designed around a parallelogram system that allows all elements to operate independently, ensuring excellent ground following characteristics. To achieve the optimum conditions for seed germination within the cultivated row, the Striger 100 comprises six key elements:

1. Ground following is achieved using the hydraulic parallelogram and the gauge wheels, with each element being independent of the frame and the other elements.

2. The opening disc cuts through any plant residues and creates a slot ready for the leg. As an option, a corrugated disc can be fitted which offers a better expansion of the furrow before the leg passes through.

3. Debris clearers remove any residue from the seed furrow to provide a clean seedbed. They can be lifted out when work is resumed in spring.

4. The leg and point cracks and loosens the seed furrow to allow good development of the roots. Working depth can be adjusted between 7 and 30cm without tools. To prevent soil ingress from the inter-row, the leg is independent from the deflector discs.

5. The deflector discs channel the flow of soil while creating a fine tilth. The inter-row remains intact and weed emergence is significantly reduced.

6. The rear press wheels reconsolidate the seedbed and avoid cavities in the seed furrow. The pressure is adjustable, and the press wheels can be raised during a pre-winter pass.

The Striger 100 can be adapted to work effectively in all conditions and can accommodate liquid, solid or slurry fertiliser applications. It can be used with varying inter-row widths and with a wide choice of working parts and equipment. It is available in 3m, 3.50m, 4.40m and 6m formats.

Yorkshire farmer, Chris Platt has improved soil health, reduced labour and fuel and saved time by choosing to strip-till his land. He has also introduced a way to use the machine to inject liquid digestate from his anaerobic digester before drilling maize.

Using the Striger, he makes only one pass before drilling maize which has brought huge time, fuel, and labour savings to the farm. “It is our primary crop, so any economies we can make will all be seen when it comes to harvest. We used to spread the digestate on the land first then plough and then do another pass with a power harrow before being able to drill. To drill he uses an 8-row KUHN Maxima TI L-E and alters the row spacings to enable it to follow the 6-metre Striger. “I can easily alter the row spacings from 750mm to 500mm. I have found this increases yield because the crop is competing for space, but still dies off in time for harvest. In the season to come we are going to use 12 rows rather than 8. This will make it slower, but we will still do more in the same time. 12 outlets will make it easier to regulate the slurry too because we will have more outlets to apply into.”

The one pass system also conserves moisture which is important when he moves from the water-hungry rye to maize in the summer. Making decisions on the farm has been made increasingly difficult by fluctuations in the weather. “2018 was dry, and we had to irrigate immediately after planting the maize. However, the one pass system conserves ground moisture, reduces machinery and cuts the reliance on labour by four men. This means I no longer need to work in slurry after a contractor has applied it, which helps to keep moisture in the soil.” The Striger has also helped Mr Platt to reduce the amount of diammonium phosphate (DAP) that he uses, because he is able to apply liquid digestate more accurately. “By using more liquid digestate we have reduced our DAP inputs. 30 cubic metres per hectare was the figure we settled on and my agronomist was very impressed with the way the Striger got the strips just right. He subsequently calculated that when we were spreading conventionally, we were losing 30% of the digestate compared to injecting it with the Striger.”

In the future he is looking to further utilise the Striger for oilseed rape (OSR) cultivation. “Growing OSR is becoming more attractive, and it will make use of the Striger in the autumn. I can use it to cultivate a harvested wheat field, and OSR can take more slurry which will help us to be more efficient as the windows for applying slurry are shorter,” he concludes.

SOLAR-POWERED SEED-N-WEED ROBOT WITH SIMPLICITY ON ITS SIDE

A fully autonomous, solar-powered robot capable of precision drilling and weeding has joined the OPICO line up and will be on display at Groundswell this June.

Offering pesticide-free weed control with zero fuel and minimal labour bills, the FarmDroid is the brainchild of two Danish farmers and takes a really simple approach to how it works. The FarmDroid uses ultra-accurate GPS to record exactly where it places each seed. Then on each subsequent weeding pass it has no need to identify what’s a weed and what’s not – it simply knows where the crop plants should be and works around them, hoes shares running between each row and blades slicing off anything between each crop plant, in the row. This approach means that unlike other similar machines, it doesn’t need to employ banks of high-definition cameras and complex computers to identify and target weeds. It also means the machine can start the weeding process before the crop has emerged because camera recognition is not required. 

Its simplicity is just one of a number of features that set the machine apart from anything else on the market. Being solar-powered, FarmDroid owners don’t have any fuel bills for the machine. Not only does this have a clear impact on the bottom line with today’s increasingly volatile energy markets, it’s also environmentally friendly. In a future where food retailers are progressively looking to be perceived as ‘green’ with carbon audits becoming more and more common, the FarmDroid can help provide one step towards energy self-sufficiency (and herbicide-free crop production).

With in-row and inter-row action it eliminates weeds both between the rows and between the crop plants. Capable of working right to up within 5mm of each seedling between the rows and 20mm in the row, the FarmDroid’s shares mean it does the complete job so there is no need for handrogueing problem weeds like fat-hen (saving c.£250/ha). Weighing just under 1,000kg, FarmDroid has the lightest footprint possible – good for soil health and the bottom line – headlands aren’t run down with the result that yields are maintained across the entire cropped area. In fact, organic growers across northern Europe – and in the UK – have seen some fairly dramatic results where they’re using the FarmDroid. They’re reporting increases in sugar beet yields of 40-60% over tractor-hoed crops and are putting this down to the combination of precise seed placement and intra-row weed control making for uniform crop development.

Combined with the savings in herbicides, fuel, labour and machinery costs (depreciation, maintenance, tyres, capital tie-up, etc…) – the financial argument for FarmDroid is a strong one, especially as the purchase price and ongoing running costs are a fraction of those associated with the traditional machinery used to do the job. The current sixrow FarmDroid FD20 retails at £59,500 with an additional £4,243 required for an RTK base station. Grant funding is likely to be available to assist with the purchase of this innovative seeding and weeding machine. “We believe robotics will form the backbone of the next major step in technological development for agriculture,” explains OPICO managing director James Woolway.

“FarmDroid has come up with a unique solution that is suited to large and small-scale farming systems. OPICO’s distribution network, parts and technical teams are more than capable of backing the product up so it’s a great fit.

“While it’s early days, we’re coming to the UK market with a product that is tried and tested. The timing couldn’t be better with rising energy costs, labour issues and environmental factors at the forefront of UK farmers’ minds. FarmDroid ticks so many boxes in all these respects.”

STRIPPING BACK ESTABLISHMENT COSTS

Looking to reduce the cost of producing grain maize, Andy Longman of Snagg Farm near Shepton Mallet, Somerset, has opted for a Kultistrip to develop strip tillage practices for the high value forage crop.

It followed a demonstration in 2021, where a six-row Kultistrip was put to work, preparing ground ahead of a contractor’s eightrow maize drill. “It was very much trial and error, but we liked what we saw,” explains Andy, pictured left. “So we bought the Kultistrip and a six-row Optima V from C&O Tractors, to precisely match-up with the cultivated strips. This season’s crop has gone in extremely well, saving time, fuel and establishment cost.” He says that of last year’s crop, those fields that were striptilled yielded 0.7t/acre more than the conventionally grown crop. “We weigh every load that comes off the combine,” he says. “I’m sure the yield difference came from the Kultistrip keeping moisture in the seedbed, compared to higher moisture loss from traditional seedbed preparation.” He says that weed incidence was reduced and has eliminated the need for a pre-emergence spray, enabling any weeds to be knocked out with a post-emergence application. “We’ll still need to plough periodically, but rotationally rather than as an essential part of maize establishment,” says Andy.

“This way, we can make the most of soil biology and microorganisms.” He says that taking control of the strip-tillage and drilling processes has created better timeliness, and the opportunity to experiment with pre-drilling cultivations. With the Kultistrip, the surface is stripped clean ahead of soil being loosened across a narrow 150mm strip, courtesy of front cutting discs, a loosening tine and side discs, before being crumbled and firmed by Farmflex rubber press wheels. “We’ve done a lot more preparation for this year’s crop by switching to two passes,” he says. “The first was at 6in to set the ground up, then a deeper pass followed a few weeks later at 9in, ahead of drilling.” “If we can get a front tank sorted, we’ll put fertiliser into the strips instead of broadcasting on top of the seedbed, to increase plant uptake,” he adds. “We’re looking for 1,000 tonnes of grain off 180 acres, using three varieties.”

Operator Chris Keen (pictured right) is impressed with the process.

“The Kultistrip is an impressive piece of kit, and then the Optima V just raises the bar another notch,” he says. “Seed placement accuracy – both depth and down-the-row-spacing – is amazing. And with RTK guidance, we can match up the six rows perfectly.”

Chris says the range of adjustment on both the Kultistrip and Optima V provide enough scope for the soil types and field conditions encountered.

“Sowing depth is as good as guaranteed, no matter what the conditions,” he says. “And without overlaps from electric drive and section control, we’re using less seed. Seed counts are typically 40,000 per acre, and we’re looking to cut back to around 37,000.” Chris adds that the Optima V’s hydraulically telescoping frame affords easy road transport, and total control of row widths from 40-85cm, handy when precision planting other seed types. “We bought beet discs too, which brings additional versatility from investing in the drill,” he adds.

Andy Longman is pleased with the changes made to maize establishment at Snagg Farm.

“We’ve just sown 65 acres of maize with one operator and tractor, in just three days and that includes the time spent making two passes with the Kultistrip,” he says. “Our Fendt 724 is burning just five litres/acre with the Kultistrip, and 2-3 litres/ acre when drilling, which means our diesel use is close to 25% of what we’d normally use for seedbed production.” He says the key to its success lies in effective cultivation of the area to be occupied by the rows of maize. “Why should we continue to move all the soil when maize is grown in 75cm row spacings?” he asks. “This is where strip tillage makes so much more sense. The untouched ground helps to carry the weight of machinery, which limits compaction. And not moving so much soil helps to discourage weed germination.” “With an increase in the cost of diesel this year, and a higher grain price, the Kultistrip should pay for itself in little over 200 acres,” he adds.

Come and see this combination in action at Groundswell, on 22 and 23 June, at Lannock Manor Farm, Hertfordshire.