Tech focus: Two knives better than one for New Holland

The standard header cuts the upper section of the crop, while the second bank of knives operates at normal stubble height,

The middle-section of ‘double stubble’ straw is spread uniformly across the entire header width rather than entering the combine.

This reduces the quantity of straw brought into the combine, for easier threshing, while boosting capacity and cutting fuel use (the second bank of knives needs only 3hp, which barely affects fuel consumption).

New Holland claims up to 15% higher harvesting capacity, whilst reducing fuel consumption as much as 15%, and say the Dual Stream increases the harvest window, minimises grain loss, and results in higher quality straw.

Combine operators can start earlier in the morning, because only the upper, drier, portion of the crop is threshed.

The wetter part is processed as ‘double stubble’ without entering the machine.

Grain losses are reduced, because less green straw enters the combine.

The entire unit can be hydraulically lifted from the harvester cab, to speed-up end-of-row turns.

The entire header can be loaded and transported simply and easily, on a double steered axle trailer.

Even after straw is baled, up to 15% of straw remains in the field and it is both cleaner, and drier — which farmers with no-till and min-till operations will welcome.

Growers can benefit by using the new Dual Stream system on a smaller combine, rather than buy a bigger machine.

EU cereal growers could benefit most, because they have high straw loads passing through combines, and minimising the load improves efficiency and capacity.

In the cultivation equipment category of the IMMAs, Kverneland’s Kultistrip was the gold award winner, a strip-till soil management system said to improve yields, cut production costs and prevent soil erosion in varying climatic and agronomic conditions.

IMMAs judges said it offers a particularly versatile system for farmers wanting to cut fuel use and look after their soil.

The tractors category prize went to Valtra’s T-Series, already a Machine of the Year winner at the EIMA show in Italy.

The judges said, “Valtra’s new T4 tractor range brings new comfort, power and sophistication to the Finnish company’s offering. Cab and control layout, in particular, are greatly improved.” The manufacturer claims new levels of reliability, ease of use and low cost of ownership.

In sprayers, the gold award went to Micron’s Varidome S3 100Hi-Flo, a shielded band sprayer for cereals, root and other narrowly planted row crops, with patented double membrane Varidome 100HiFlo shields to eliminate product transfer onto the crop.

It has a three-star rating in the UK’s Local Environment Risk Assessment for Pesticides (LERAPs) system.

IMMAs judges said, “The Varidome’s inter-row shielded band sprayer gives drift-free spraying of weeds without affecting crops. This is certainly a technique that offers a lot of potential for the future.”

The silver award IMMAs winners include Holmer’s Exxact self-propelled sugar beet harvester, with a new row-independent, easy-lift system and fully automatic depth control.

The judges said, “Holmer’s latest beet harvester is a giant of a machine with prodigious throughput and the extra bonus of row-independent lifters.”

Another silver award winner was Vaderstad’s Tempo TPF & T c/w E Control, a precision seed drill capable of drilling at high speeds, up to 18km/hr.

With four to 12 rows, it can drill more than six seed types, including maize, beet and rapeseed. The judges said, “Vaderstad has produced a high-output piece of equipment with the added bonus of easy, iPad-based operation.”

Kubota’s M7001 series tractor got a silver medal, with judges saying, “Kubota’s latest M7001 tractors now go up to 175hp and give the driver comfort without being cumbersome.” The range goes from 130hp to 175hp with good road and field comfort.

Househam Spirit sprayer was a silver medal winner, mainly for its high-tech controls, including individual nozzle shut-off. and the option of auto nozzle selection.