Self-Propelled Shelterbelt Tree Trimmer

Self-Propelled Shelterbelt Tree Trimmer MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 16-6-9 You've never seen anything like this shelterbelt tree trimmer built by North Dakota farmer Mario Sondral of Buxton to clean up the many rows of trees separating fields on his flat farmland. The big boom, fitted with a 30-in. dia. circle saw blade, reaches up as high as 20 ft. and about 20 ft. out in front of the self-propelled machine that carries it. "In our area we have half mile rows of trees planted every 40 acres to stop wind erosion. The trees are generally spaced 10 to 12 ft. apart and grow to 25-30 ft. high. Branches often hang out 8 to 10 ft. on either side of the shelterbelt. Keeping them trimmed improves the crops right alongside the trees, makes it easier for machinery to pass, and allows snow to pass through in winter to spread evenly across fields, providing needed moisture. "In the past I used a chain saw to trim them. It was slow, difficult work, and I could only reach up 6 to 7 ft., which wasn't high enough to allow machinery to pass. I tried standing on atruck box and driving alongside and cutting but this was dangerous so I decided to build a specialty machine. "With this machine I can trim a half-mile of trees on both sides, 20 ft. high, in 6 hrs. or less. "To make the machine, I stripped down an old Massey Harris combine and made a 3-sided boom which I raise up and down hydraulically. Then I installed a hydraulic pump and motor to run the 30-in. circle saw blade on the end of the boom. The main part of the machine is 9 ft. high, 13 ft. long and 8 ft. wide. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mario Sondral, Rt. 1, Box 113, Buxton, N.Dak. 58218 (ph 701856-3383).

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