Wanting to limit passes in the field, reduce fuel consumption and compaction, one Yorkshire contractor has fitted a 6m heavy-duty straw harrow to the front linkage
Based near Otley, Leeds, Tom Dirom Agricultural Contractors is a significant enterprise, made up of 810ha of share farming agreements, 2,834ha of foraging work and an additional 607ha of chopping willow. That’s without mentioning the general agricultural contracting, man and tractor hire on vegetable farms, and the gritting work that supplies another income stream during the winter.
It’s a business that moves quickly, and Tom Dirom was keen to find more efficiencies in the way that cover crops and cash crops were established across the share farming enterprise. He looked for a stubble rake that he could front-mount and run ahead of the different 6m drills used, but quickly ran into an issue.
“The working width was important because we’re controlling the traffic across our fields. A lot of the companies were nervous about a 6m front-mounted machine, but when I contacted HE-VA, they seemed up for the challenge,” he says.
The concept wasn’t new to HE-VA, having been an option from the factory for quite some time; however, it was the first time the concept was being sold in the UK. The 6m Top Strigle was modified with a second linkage, allowing it to be front or rear mounted depending on the conditions. It also has depth control wheels, which help support the weight during operation. Beyond that, it is a standard unit, with five rows of 15mm diameter tines, with hydraulic angle adjustment to change the aggressiveness depending on the circumstance.
“Running straight after harvest, it helps to spread the chaff and the weed seeds across the field, which gives us a good flush that we can control ahead of establishment,” Tom says. “When mounted on the front and combined with a drill, it creates a small amount of tilth that aids germination.”
Covering ground
The machine was delivered by Chandlers in July, and when we visited Tom at the start of September, it had already covered more than 400ha. Mounted on a Valtra Q285 and combined with a Joskin toolbar and Zocon seederbox, it was evening out the chopped straw and creating a tilth while a cover crop mix was established.
“The efficiency benefits have been key,” says Tom. “We’re not only saving a full pass in the field but also limiting our fuel use because the extra implement on the tractor is not using as much fuel as running an additional pass. It also balances the tractor and helps us to limit compaction.”
While initially purchased to be used in combination with another machine on the share farmed land, Tom says that he quickly received requests from his contracting customers. This has been both an aid to the drilling operation and as an individual machine.
“People are really seeing the benefit of it, we’ve used it in combination with a rear-mounted set of shallow discs to break down stubble and germinate weeds and volunteers directly after the combine, or for more intensive work,” Tom explains. “We had one customer ask us about breaking down plough furrows with it, and I have to admit I was dubious, but it did a cracking job.”
He goes on to say that he has to put a good operator on the seat, not only because it’s a big machine to carry on the front of the tractor during transport, but also because adjustments occasionally must be made in the field.
“If it’s on a tractor that doesn’t have draft control, the wings do try to fold up, which means you have to pay attention to maintain the correct ground pressure,” he explains. “If you’re working in crop residues, and it’s a little bit damp, you also have to make sure that no lumps accumulate between the tines that could block the following drill.”
Beyond these minor concerns, he’s impressed with the unit. Not only because it has done the job he required, and more, but because it’s proven to be a heavy-duty machine.
“Even with the work we’ve done so far, we’ve seen very little wear around the tines,” he says. “I was expecting to have to change some, but we’re still running all the originals.
“We had tried alternatives before the HE-VA arrived, including a front-mounted set of discs, but nothing was able to give us the results that the Top Strigle has.”
A full lineup
The HE-VA Top Strigle will run with the Joskin/Zocon combination, as well as ahead of a 6m Horsch Avatar for cash crops. As required, Tom will also use the machine as an individual, rear-mounted unit.
“I’ve always liked the HE-VA kit,” he concludes. “We run a 6m Stealth, and that’s an excellent cultivator, and this has been another great addition to our fleet.”