Crop Shield For Cultivators

Crop Shield For Cultivators CULTIVATORS Cultivators (58C) 12-3-23 A simple new attachment for cultivator shanks saves nearly 100 of the crop in an average field of corn or soybeans, according to the Iowa farmer who came up with new Crop Shields. Gene Mortvedt, who farms near Story City, says dirt, mud and slabs of ground thrown up by the rear cultivator shanks bury enough plants to reduce a stand of 27,000 plants per acre to 24,000 plants per acre in an average field, especially in compacted soil that comes up in slabs. His new attachment consists simply of a 5 by 12-in. metal plate mounted horizontal to the ground about 11 in. above the shovel. When the cultivator is in the ground, the plate is about 8 in. above the surface. As slabs and chunks of dirt come up off the shovel, they hit the plate and fall back to the ground between rows. Crop Shields attach to the shank with two bolts. Mortveldt says he's never had plugging problems with the shields attached. They can easily be removed in minutes and sell for $6.95 apiece. For more information, contact FARM SHOW Followup, Gene Mortvedt, Kemco, Story City, Iowa 50248 (ph 515 733-2009).

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