Following the withdrawal of diquat in Britain, Standen says many potato growers are still seeking an effective solution in haulm destruction of their crop. This has prompted its importing division to start offering Dutch manufacturer Vegniek’s DiscMaster series of precision haulm pullers, writes Alex Heath in this article published by Lamma365.
While many British growers now use haulm topping as their preferred method to remove the bulk of the haulm followed with an application of a PPO inhibitor such as Spotlight Plus (carfentrazone) and Gozai (pyraflufen-ethyl) to control tuber size and achieve skin set, its effectiveness relies on sometimes repeated applications of these expensive actives to achieve the desired results, the manufacturer says.
The DiscMaster has been developed with a focus on reducing crop damage and ensuring that rows are effectively closed following the pass. The machine is carried on the rear of the tractor, and all elements are independently suspended for following of undulations. The haulm guides follow the rows and can be adjusted in all directions by a bolt. The speed of the pull discs is variable, adjustable from the cab and the working depth is adjustable via a spindle on the back of the machine.
There are 4 DiscMaster models to choose from.
The video below can also be watched on Vegniek’s YouTube channel here.
Source: Lamma365. Read the full article here
