British Companies Combine Tillage And Electrical Weeding

British Companies Combine Tillage And Electrical Weeding Garford and RootWave two British precision agriculture companies have partnered their tillage and electrical weeding technologies to create an eWeeding implement “We had an interest in taking electric weeding to both the crops and vegetable sectors ” says George Hall Garford Export Sales Manager “We already have great camera technology and this partnership creates an excellent option for both conventional and organic producers ” The machine will be marketed in North America through the existing Garford dealer network The eWeeder uses a PTO-driven generator that creates high-frequency AC power fed to pairs of electrodes applied to the ground Electricity moves into the electrodes and through the soil destroying the above-ground weed and its roots while keeping the crop safe This feature is unique among competitive electrical weeding technologies “We can efficiently guide a steel share between rows by cameras so the addition of RootWave electric weeding makes an extremely productive unit ” Hall says Studies haven’t shown any negative impacts on other soil biology such as microfauna fungi bacteria or nematodes The unit’s 18-kilohertz high-frequency AC power reduces the safety risk should a person accidentally touch an energized electrode While electricity passes through the skin it won’t affect internal organs or create a cardiac event like DC or lower-frequency AC power Weed growth and time of application are key to the amount of energy used As power is limited this relationship determines the maximum machine width Early weed growth will allow larger units for higher productivity The company offers 60 kW models but plans for 90 120 and 180 kW units on wider toolbars are underway Research is also being conducted to advance the software and make it capable of proactively estimating biomass to match electricity demands rather than continuously running at full power Plans are underway for a 3 m 10 ft front mount with a rear generator followed by a 6 m 20 ft rear mount with a front power pack Hall estimates the cost of their 3 m model will be approximately $216 000 while the 6 m will retail for around $347 000 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Garford Farm Machinery Ltd Frognall Deeping St James Peterborough England PE6 8RP ph +44 0 1778 342642; info@garford com; www garford com

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