Headlines

The perpetual squeeze on pesticides has claimed yet another casualty, the herbicide Dosaflo (metoxuron), relied on by vegetable growers to selectively control volunteer potatoes and other weeds in wide range of vegetable crops including onions, carrots, leeks and parsnips. Dosaflo is no longer available after 31st December 2007 and growers will be left with no selective, post-emergence herbicide for effectively treating some weed species in these crops.



An application innovation, born out of collaboration between Micron Sprayers and Garford Farm Machinery is, however, coming to the rescue of these stranded vegetable growers. The combined Varidome/WeedSwiper inter-row and over the row precision weeder allows the grower to selectively and safely control volunteer potatoes and other weeds with total herbicides e.g. glyphosate, using a combination of two novel application technologies.

This new machine combines and integrates two precise, targeted and safe application technologies - Microns' WeedSwiper and Vegedome. These proven methods are widely used elsewhere in agriculture and horticulture, including weed and bolter control in sugar beet (WeedSwiper) and inter-row weed control in vegetable crops (Vegedome).

Precise and safe non-drip WeedSwiper contact technology is used to target height-differentiated weeds growing out from and above the bed. The WeedSwiper technology is supplied to suit and cater for the actual number and width of beds, and each section is equipped with its own sensor-system all linked via a multi channel Hydrostat control box. This ensures constant WeedSwiper pad wetness across each bed, irrespective of weed density elsewhere. This in turn means the system automatically allows for variation in weed number (density) between beds when replenishing fluid to meet the individual requirements of each pad section. Vegedome controls inter-row weeds by a precise targeted contact low volume spray under a variable width shroud (80 – 800mm). All weeds, including those growing between the drilled rows of crop plants in the bed and those in the inter-rows (including the wheelings) between the beds are treated.

A specified number of WeedSwiper and Vegedome units, depending on the target bed design system, can be combined in this tractor-mounted 'Combi' unit. The technology has been developed by Micron with structural and mechanical design of modular and custom-designed units (according to farm requirements) undertaken by Garford Farm Machinery, who make a well proven frame to allow for precise height/depth control.

The first modular unit, for which orders have already been received from three major vegetable growers, is based on their requirement for comprehensive weed control covering 3-beds of crop in one pass. This particular Varidome/WeedSwiper unit comprises four Vegedome units, one each between the two inter-rows separating the three beds, with one to the left hand side of the first bed and the right hand side of the third bed respectively. These Vegedome units are combined and integrated with three sections of WeedSwiper technology, one over each bed. This deals safely and effectively with all height-differentiated weeds growing over the row inside the multi-row beds drilled with plants in lines a set distance apart.

All the Vegedome units are controlled independently of each other as are the WeedSwiper units. The operator may switch on or off and independently either the Vegedome or WeedSwiper and all individual units within each operation.


Specification of Varidome/WeedSwiper precision weeder

• Front or rear mounted on a tractor of suitable specification**
• Designed and provided in single or triple bed versions, with folding wings on the triple bed version
• Combines and integrates Micron's non-drip WeedSwiper Technology with the Vegedome adjustable-width, low volume and shrouded herbicide applicators
• Spray tank in a range of sizes all equipped with a 12v pump
• In-cab controls featuring completely independent control for each bed and/or inter-row (gap/wheeling).
• Features depth wheels to ensure precise height control
• Optional Robocrop Precision Guidance System

** Tractor requirements are:
• 12 volt supply,
• Front linkage (if mounting on the front of the tractor)
• Hydraulic spool valve requirements: none for the single bed system,
1 x double acting for folding the wings on the triple bed system.
NB. If front mounted then a spool would be required to operate the hydraulic lift arms
• Minimum hp requirement is 50 hp and 80 hp respectively for single bed and triple bed versions
• Maximum transport width is 2.70 metres

Micron is moving quickly to ensure product availability as early as possible in 2008. A version of the Varidome was on show recently at the Onion and Carrot Conference held at the East of England Show Ground, Peterborough, and the three bed combined Varidome/WeedSwiper unit will be on full view at Micron's stand at LAMMA 2008 (Hall 7, stand number 708) to be held at the Newark Showground on 16th and 17th January 2008.

The current modular unit with 4 Vegedomes and 3 WeedSwiper sections is based on the requirements of the growers placing the initial orders. Micron intends to cater for all variations on this theme, based on specific crops, spacing and relative depth/height requirements, and is confident it can fulfil most grower needs.

The new technology is initially aimed at growers of onions, carrots, leeks and parsnips immediately faced with the herbicide gap left by withdrawal of Dosaflo but Micron recognises the broader industry is faced with the same problem of volunteer potatoes and the impending herbicide 'hole' following disappearance of Dosaflo with interest already being shown by UK growers of other crops such as red beet, and by growers and farmers further afield in other European countries encountering the same weed problems and faced with similar herbicide use restrictions.

Micron has teamed up with Garfords to design and manufacture the mechanical structure of the 'Combi' unit. Garfords has experience over many years in the design and manufacture of inter-row equipment for a vast range of field crops and the Garford Robocrop Precision Guidance System is available as an option for the Varidome/WeedSwiper combi unit.

Development of the Varidome/WeedSwiper unit by Micron Sprayers and Garford Farm Machinery is a prime example of how pesticide application technology and innovation is increasingly required to satisfy on farm requirements as the noose continues to tighten around pesticides.

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