Weed Clippers Catching On

Weed Clippers Catching On CROPS Miscellaneous By Jim Ruen Contributing Editor Herbicide resistant weeds and expanded organic crop production are driving renewed interest in mechanical weed control A number of European companies are offering weed clippers of varying styles The CombCut from Sweden Vol 40 No 3 was introduced in the North American market several years ago The Weed Surfer has been available since early 2020 and the Top Cut Collect soon will be Zurn Top Cut Collect “My primary focus is bringing mechanical weed control systems to the U S ” says Michael Kathalynas Zurn USA Inc “That includes the Garford Robocrop Vol 40 No 3 previously introduced and the Top Cut Collect which we are planning to introduce this spring ” As its name suggests the Top Cut Collect trims grasses and weeds that have emerged above the crop It was developed by Zurn and Romain Bouillé a French farmer and technician It retains the trimmings for off-field disposal The goal is to reduce the weed seed bank in the soil Components include folding booms with double cut knives helical reels and conveyor belts The belts transport clipped material from each boom to a central conveyor that moves them to the trailing high-dump hopper The booms fold for transport Working widths include 30 40 and 60 ft with a transport width when folded of less than 10 ft Kathalynas says the Top Cut Collect will range in price from $65 000 to $85 000 with all widths available by late spring Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Zurn USA Inc 9210 Wyoming Ave Ste 215 Brooklyn Park Minn 55445 ph 618 218-3858; toll free 800 780-4872; michael kathalynas@zuern de; www zuern de CTM Weed Surfer The CTM Weed Surfer weighs only 1 500 lbs but carries ten 4-blade rotors for a 21-ft cutting width It is also available in a 30-ft wide model “It was originally developed to control bolting in sugar beets ” says Michael Scott who imported the Weed Surfer for use on his organic farm “When organic farmers showed interest the company added the extension kit to work with cereals and other crops I used it this year and was quite impressed ” The extension brackets give it an operating height range of 12 to 39 in It has an operating speed of up to 9 mph and can be mounted front or rear Scott imported 4 of the 30-ft models and has since sold one He has them priced at $35 000 Canadian FOB northern Alberta Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Michael Scott Weed Surfer Box 1279 Grimshaw Alta Canada T0H 1W0 ph 780 618-9212; mjscott318@gmail com; https://weedsurfer ca Bionalan SELAC Weedcutter The Bionalan SELAC Weedcutter can be mounted front or rear and is available in 5 models with working widths of 14 to 43 ft Hydraulic motors drive individual rotating knives Power can be provided by an optional pto-mounted hydraulic pump Cutting heights can vary from 6 in to 6 ft with ground tracking wheel heights adjusted manually Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bionalan 31 Grande Rue 08210 Euilly Et Lombut France ph 33 3 24 22 20 60; info@bionalan fr; www bionalan fr/en/ W-Cult W-Cutter Electric motor-driven rotors with 2 thin steel chains provide the cutting action on the W-Cutter from Finland The top cutter comes in 3 models from 25 to 40 ft in width with optional support wheels for the 2 side booms The center boom mounts to a tractor’s front-end loader or a front lift mount If needed electric power is provided by a rear-mount pto-driven generator Power needs range from 35 to 45 kW depending on the model The hydraulic side booms can be folded together for transit or separately when avoiding an object in the field When both are folded the W-Cutter has a transport width of less than 9 ft Contact: FARM SHOW Followup W-Cult Oy Luvian Kirkkotie 30 29100 Luvia Satakunta Finland ph 358 400 715 728; markku weckman@w-cult fi; www w-cult fi ETR Breton Topper French ETR Breton is marketing the ETR Topper Each 3-rotor section is powered by a hydraulic motor and housed under a stainless steel hood Rotors are fitted with 4 boomerang-shaped blades The Topper comes in 5 sizes ranging from a manually folded 15-ft width to an all-hydraulic 41-ft version The 2 larger models fold outer sections horizontally and then vertically for a 7-ft transit width Contact: FARM SHOW Followup ETR Breton 12 Rue Des Varennes 10140 Vendeuvre-sur-Barse France ph 03 25 41 36 65; www etrbreton fr Meneguzzo LOP The Italian company Meneguzzo offers a modular weed topper with a unique pendulum suspension-style front mount Toothed belts run from a hydraulic motor on each boom to that boom’s star-shaped rotors Each of the 4 tips on the rotors ends with a single cutter bar knife blade The base unit has a 21-ft width Extensions can be added for 29 and 40-ft widths Video avaliable at www farmshow com Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Meneguzzo s r l via Madonna di Poggio 5 40023; Castel Guelfo di Bologna BO Italy ph 39 339 6941881; www meneguzzo eu

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