2021 - Volume #45, Issue #6, Page #11
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Combcut Weed Cutter Works In Standing Crops
This innovative farm tool is produced by the Swedish company Lyckegard. Thanks to its adjustable blades, weeds that are stiffer or thicker than the crop are mowed down while slender crops pass through the machine unharmed.
“Timing is crucial when selectively cutting weeds,” shares Elin Laxmar, agronomist and marketing specialist for Lyckegard. “It matters both when it comes to the growth stage of the crop and weed and the relation in growth between the two.”
By cutting weeds early in their growth stage, farmers can prevent them from going to seed and spreading throughout the field. And, because the Combcut takes weeds down during their weakest stage of development, it reduces the amount of weed biomass above and below ground over time.
Farmers can adjust the Combcut’s knife angle and tilt angle based on the height and density of their crop and weeds. This makes it possible to use the Combcut in early summer and again later in the season to cut weeds that grow above the crop.
While the Combcut is primarily marketed towards organic farmers, it’s an effective cultivation strategy for any grower who wants to reduce their herbicide use. It’s also possible to use the Combcut within spray-free zones like lakes and sensitive habitats and as a weed-removal solution in rainy and windy conditions when spraying isn’t effective.
The Combcut is best-suited for stiff weeds such as thistle, charlock, rumex, sow thistle, dandelion and lamb´s quarters that tend to flourish around cereal crops and in grassland. It’s also possible to use it in corn during the early stages and for potatoes, root vegetables, and legumes, so long as it’s used above the crop.
According to Laxmar, Lyckegard is continuing to explore the Combcut’s effectiveness for other forms of weed removal.
“There has also been some testing done on blackgrass in cereals by customers in the Netherlands and the UK, but that’s something we need to evaluate further.”
The Combcut is currently available in working widths of 18 to 28 ft. and can be mounted to either the front or rear of a tractor. The tractor must also have two double-acting hydraulic outlets for brush/reel operation and folding during transport.
Contact the company directly for pricing information.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lyckegard, Trollebergsvägen 102-28
245 61 Staffanstorp Sweden (ph +011 46 708873320; www.lyckegard.com).
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