Worcestershire-based veg kit specialist Edwards Farm Machinery has redesigned the tool-carrying units on its inter-row cultivator, allowing it to be armed with a wider range of tines, discs and spraying elements.
The new layout centres around two laser-cut carrying rails that replace the old box section frame.
These run front to back on each row and have square cut-outs through which the tool carriers can be slotted and clamped, meaning owners can quickly reconfigure the setup to suit the job in hand.
See also: Side-shift linkage options deliver pinpoint crop weeding
As standard, they are 830mm in length and can carry up to four banks of tines or discs, but there are also longer 1,480mm versions that are good for up to seven banks.
The latter may be of particular use to those looking to mount band-spraying hoods behind the soil-working elements, allowing the two jobs to be completed in a single pass.
© Edwards Farm Machinery
Cultivation options include A- and L-shaped blades, rear following finger rakes and in-row finger weeders.
Additional concave discs or furrow ploughs can be installed to rebuild the shoulders of vegetable beds following cultivation to ensure the shape is maintained after the machine has passed through.
For spraying, hoods can be mounted to work between the rows, or nozzles fitted above the crop.
It’s also possible to add a weed wiper to front-mounted versions, and kits are available for liquid fertiliser application.
The abundance of options means most implements will be custom-made, with buyers able to pick from front or rear mounting and fixed or folding frames up to 8m wide.
Steering options include manual control via an operator perched on a rear seat, which costs an extra £1,500, and Tillett & Hague camera guidance.
This adds £16,750 and features a more sophisticated side-shift system integrated into the frame.
Prices depend on the configuration, but a 6m model with 13 row units costs roughly £36,000.
