Kuhn showcased recent trial work on its Striger strip till cultivator that have delivered significant crop establishment savings compared with traditional methods. Reducing fuel use, lowering soil disturbance, creating a tilth, and maintaining soil structure, are all benefits that have been seen in the Kuhn Striger trials.
With arable margins tighter than ever, the potential to save fuel and other inputs by moving to strip tillage was of interest to Groundswell visitors. Edd Fanshawe, KUHN’s arable product specialist, explains.
“In two trials across the south and east of the UK during 2024, the Striger was evaluated against a two-pass min-till system and a traditional plough and press cultivation, to assess fuel and cost input along with end yield,” says Edd.
“Across both trials, the Striger delivered lower fuel use and comparable yields to the other two systems. In the eastern trial, the Striger cultivation used 8.6l/ha (£6.45/ha), whereas the min-till was 17.7l/ha (£13.28/ha), and the plough and press up at 28.1l/ha (£21.08/ha). This shows that significant savings in fuel and reduced number of passes are possible with the Striger, while preserving the soil structure through targeted cultivations.”
Alongside the Striger, Kuhn had its mechanical weeding range at the show. The company’s Tineliner, for weeding young broadacre crops such as cereals, and Rowliner with Rowlink camera guidance linkage for inter-row weeding in maize and sugar beet crops. Edd says the popularity of these machines is growing as farmers look to reduce inputs and the Rowliner and Rowlink are available for funding in the latest round of FETF grants.
“Our mechanical weeding machines can significantly cut herbicide costs in traditional cereal crops during the early growth stages. By regularly passing through crops, with varying tine aggressiveness, growers can disturb young weeds to prevent them outcompeting cereals and increase crop tillering. FETF grant funding can provide up to 50% of the machine’s total cost, to a maximum grant value of £25,000, to significantly help growers justify investment and improve productivity,” concludes Edd.
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