'Dealers Wanted'. The Serbian machinery manufacturer Axonmash is one of many suppliers of hoeing tools. Like the rest, the manufacturer is keen to take advantage of the market for hoes and harrows, which is expected to grow significantly. - Photo: Martin Smits.
Hoes and Harrows at Agritechnica Increasingly, machinery manufacturers are focusing on the market for mechanical weed control. At the Agritechnica trade fair in Hannover (Germany), hoeing machines were on display from at least 20 manufacturers.
In line with the hoeing trend, the number of providers of harrows is also increasing, as well as rotary weeders. Technically, rotary weeders are less different from each other and there is less innovation than in hoeing and harrowing techniques. Camera control is now indispensable. The number of in-row weeders is also increasing. There, AI technology is used for plant recognition through camera images.
The hoe from Samo has a very robust appearance. Noteworthy is the hydraulic width adjustment of the hoeing tools. – Photos: Mark Pasveer.
Zocon recently took over the production of the harrows from Geertsema. True to Zocon's style, these are fully galvanized. A special feature is the mounting of the springs to a frame made of cut-out plate. By pulling on the plate hydraulically, the springs are tensioned. Available up to 15 meters working width.Kverneland is also a newcomer to the market of mechanical weed control. The machinery manufacturer supplies hoes, rotary weeders, and now also a substantial harrow.Kuhn is also entering the field of mechanical weed control. The machinery manufacturer has entered into a collaboration with Einböck for this purpose. A number of hoes and harrows are planned for next year.A remarkable hoe at Garford: semi-mounted with hydraulically driven and steered wheels on an extendable axle. Displayed is a 12-meter (two times 6) version. According to Garford, the concept is suitable for working widths of up to 28 meters. The machine has been tested for the past two years and is now ready for practical use. With a complete option package, the price indication is over €300,000.Väderstad recently took over the production of Thyregod hoes and now supplies them in a towed version with a working width of up to 16 meters.There are now several in-row hoes on the market. Predominantly systems where two blades move back and forth per row, or, as with Garford, move in a circle around the plants. The German Photoheyler has been on the market for four years with a camera-controlled rotor system. This would be suitable for driving speeds up to 3.5 km/h. PhotoHeyler combines the rotor with a conventional hoeing element of its own manufacture. - Photo: Martin Smits
The young Dutch engineer Eerke Lauwen, in collaboration with Fendt, has developed an electric in-row hoe. At Agritechnica, there was a 6-meter version with elements at 75 centimeters. For each row, two electrically driven blades move in and out of the row. The first models will start operating next year.
The Steketee hoeing technology has changed from red to Lemken blue. Last year, Lemken had a zero series of the IC-Light Plus camera in the field. IC-Light has been around for a while. 'Plus' refers to a different camera and other software that better recognizes bluish colors such as in onions, leeks, or broccoli. The technology behind it is based on NIR technology that actually measures chlorophyll. The additional cost for the Plus variant is €12,000.APV calls its machine with the well-known Yetter wheels from the eponymous American manufacturer a 'rotary crusher'. The APV machine features hydraulically adjustable soil/spring pressure and is available in working widths of 6, 9, and 12 meters. It works best at a driving speed of 15 to 25 km/h.APV is also joining the ever-growing list of hoeing machine manufacturers. The HM and HS models (with Claas camera and optional section control) are available with working widths of 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 meters and row distances from 0.30 up to 1.50 meters. The linear shift frame with a range of 40 centimeters is only 25 centimeters deep.A special feature is that the working width of the hoes can be centrally adjusted hydraulically through an ingenious system. This allows you to adjust the width of the hoe not between but across the row. The downside of this construction is that you can only use the hoe at a fixed row distance.Treffler is known for its harrows, but has also developed a hoe: the 6 meter THP 600.Einböck offers the ability to perform almost all adjustments quickly with a single key by using a clamping system. Push or pull the clamp over the dead point and you can adjust the blades or the tine weeder. According to importer Reesink, there is no additional cost for this system.Specifically for grain cultivation, Carré introduces a 12-meter wide three-point mounted hoe with two separate side shifts. Twice 6 meters, making it suitable for 6-meter wide sowing. A special feature is the option to electrically adjust the blades slightly forwards or backwards to penetrate the soil well. The running wheels are also electrically adjustable.At Agrisem, the blade holders are clamp-mounted. Lift the lever up and the holders come loose, allowing you to set the width of the blades without tools. The running wheel is adjusted by placing a lever in different holes. This is a construction that Agrisem also uses in its seed drills for setting the sowing depth per element.A newcomer to the market for hoeing machines is the French company Agrisem. Here with a 6-meter wide hoe with elements at 50 centimeters apart.
