Finnish-Built Wheel Hoe Speeds Weeding

2015 - Volume #39, Issue #2, Page #16

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Frank Hunter can get his vegetable beds weeded quickly with the Weed Master from Finland that he has used extensively on his organic CSA farm.
    “The Weed Master is a great tool for a small acre vegetable farm,” says Hunter. “We’re an organic farm, so mechanical weeding is a crucial part of the business. I’ve used the Weed Master with the finger weeder, goosefoot hoe and single disk hiller attachment, and they all worked great.”
    Hunter credits the parallel linkage design for mounting tillage tools. It allows the operator to easily adjust depth and drag on the tools, making it easy to walk at a normal pace.
    “The parallel linkage lets you roll the tool forward without stopping like other wheel hoes,” says Hunter. “With others, you’re constantly readjusting the depth. With the Weed Master, you set the depth and it stays there.”
    Eric Gallandt, associate professor, School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, was introduced to the Weed Master while on sabbatical in Denmark. “We’ve gotten very positive feedback,” says Gallandt. “I am surprised but no one has started importing it yet. Looking at the improved work rate versus other hand weeding tools, it should pay for its $2,000 cost in pretty short order.”
    Gallandt says the Weed Master with all tillage tools and the flamer sells for about $5,190, about half of that being the flamer unit. He notes that Petri Leinonen, the designer of the Weed Master, also attaches an Earthway Seeder to the toolbar.
    “It’s very intuitive,” says Gallandt. “You can pull up to a bed and quickly adjust the tools to match the row. It’s easy to do. I suggest growers make a few passes with the Weed Master before doing any hand weeding.”
    After extensive testing of the Weed Master, Hunter says he and his partner are considering a purchase. However, the cost plus importation expenses of almost $1,000 make it a difficult decision.
    “We have 100 families in our 2 ½ to 3-acre CSA,” says Hunter. “Imported from Finland, it would cost almost $3,000. That is a pretty significant investment for an operation like ours.”
    You can check out a video of the Weed Master in action at FARMSHOW.COM.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Eric Gallandt, University of Maine, 205 Roger Clapp Greenhouse, Orono, Maine 04469 (ph 207-581-2933; gallandt@maine.edu; gallandt.wordpress.com) or Elomestari Ltd.,  Koskitie 185,  FIN-95520 Kukkola, (Tornio), Finland (ph 358 40 5818477 petri.leinonen@elomestari.fi; www.elomestari.fi).

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Finnish-Built Wheel Hoe Speeds Weeding CULTIVATORS Frank Hunter can get his vegetable beds weeded quickly with the Weed Master from Finland that he has used extensively on his organic CSA farm “The Weed Master is a great tool for a small acre vegetable farm ” says Hunter “We’re an organic farm so mechanical weeding is a crucial part of the business I’ve used the Weed Master with the finger weeder goosefoot hoe and single disk hiller attachment and they all worked great ” Hunter credits the parallel linkage design for mounting tillage tools It allows the operator to easily adjust depth and drag on the tools making it easy to walk at a normal pace “The parallel linkage lets you roll the tool forward without stopping like other wheel hoes ” says Hunter “With others you’re constantly readjusting the depth With the Weed Master you set the depth and it stays there ” Eric Gallandt associate professor School of Food and Agriculture University of Maine was introduced to the Weed Master while on sabbatical in Denmark “We’ve gotten very positive feedback ” says Gallandt “I am surprised but no one has started importing it yet Looking at the improved work rate versus other hand weeding tools it should pay for its $2 000 cost in pretty short order ” Gallandt says the Weed Master with all tillage tools and the flamer sells for about $5 190 about half of that being the flamer unit He notes that Petri Leinonen the designer of the Weed Master also attaches an Earthway Seeder to the toolbar “It’s very intuitive ” says Gallandt “You can pull up to a bed and quickly adjust the tools to match the row It’s easy to do I suggest growers make a few passes with the Weed Master before doing any hand weeding ” After extensive testing of the Weed Master Hunter says he and his partner are considering a purchase However the cost plus importation expenses of almost $1 000 make it a difficult decision “We have 100 families in our 2 ½ to 3-acre CSA ” says Hunter “Imported from Finland it would cost almost $3 000 That is a pretty significant investment for an operation like ours ” You can check out a video of the Weed Master in action at FARMSHOW COM Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Eric Gallandt University of Maine 205 Roger Clapp Greenhouse Orono Maine 04469 ph 207-581-2933; gallandt@maine edu; gallandt wordpress com or Elomestari Ltd  Koskitie 185  FIN-95520 Kukkola Tornio Finland ph 358 40 5818477 petri leinonen@elomestari fi; www elomestari fi

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