Onion Lifter Cuts Roots of Onions

Onion Lifter Cuts Roots of Onions PLANTING EQUIPMENT Interseeding 17-6-37 We've had tremendous interest in our new "onion - lifter" designed to cut the roots of onions so skins will set for harvest. Most growers use rod weeders to lift onions but those who've tried these blades (we've al-ready sold them in 8 states) say they will never go back. I think the blades have many other applications since they can be used anywhere you might use a rod weeder. We've used them to remove old crowns in an alfalfa field, to cultivate weeds in vineyards, and to "lift" edible beans before harvest. Blades are 55 in. wide and are hard-surfaced with chrome. Half blades are 27 in. wide. They're tilted slightly so only the leading edge of chrome will wear. Normally, the chrome edge will last from 2,000 to 3,000 acres. Cost to replace the chrome edge per blade is $175 for a full blade and $125 for a half blade. Blades mount on 1 by 3 by 30-in. shanks that clamp to 2114-in. solid toolbars. Front-mounted depth gauge wheels keep the blades from dropping below the desired depth. On extra hard ground extra weight is needed to keep the blades in the ground. We normally set 30 or 50-gal. water barrels between the two toolbars. A 9-ft. wide model requires just 75 hp. to pull. (Lance G. Mueller, Rivercrest Farms, P.O. Box 320, 489 NE Olsen, Boardman, Ore. 97818 ph 503 481-6619; fax 503 481-6621)

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