As herbicide resistance concerns remain a ticking timebomb coupled with regulatory unknowns, could the answer lie in mechanical weed control? CPM explores what the future might look like, plus the machines being introduced to help make that a reality.
“We require a cohesive, industry-wide approach to change which includes promoting the value of mechanical methods.” SAM SIEGLIN
By Janine Adamson
While the likes of stale seedbeds, delayed drilling, competitive seed rates and cultivation choice all play a role in integrated weed management, according to Zürn’s Sam Sieglin, potential still remains in making more of mechanical methods.
And now, with a range of innovative equipment to address weed control at various points during a crop’s life cycle, he believes it’s time focus shifted towards finally realising what’s possible. “We need to understand what’s sensible and realistic. Yes weed control can be driven by politics and regulation, but globally we have very skilled agronomists; it’s about providing them with the best tools.
“This involves offering alternative solutions that rather than replace plant protection products, support and help to protect them, so they remain effective both tomorrow and beyond,” he explains.
Sam believes that in terms of weed control, much education and industry messaging centres around herbicides and how to steward their best use. In contrast, knowledge about mechanical options remains niche, yet the topic presents a similar level of complexity that requires understanding.
SYSTEMS THINKING
“With mechanical weeding solutions, we’re not just selling a product, it’s a deeper application that’s part of a much broader system,” he raises.
For George Dance, UK sales manager at Zürn, while eking out the final few percent of weed control using chemistry is extremely difficult, there’s potential to achieve that final uplift using mechanical methods. “But equally, the cost of mechanical weeding is never considered on a per/ha basis, while for chemistry, that’s widely accepted as the norm. There just isn’t the same perception of value,” he suggests.
He believes a positive step would be to carefully and strategically use herbicides to mitigate the threat of resistance, supported by mechanical approaches. “I think this would be viable option for achieving a higher overall level of weed control.”
Sam points out that as nature and climate continue to shift, the same has to happen for weed management. “Why should our methods remain the same when everything else is changing?
“We have to diversify somewhat. Yes this may involve investment in machinery in the first instance, but diversity across all aspects of crop production is important. As such, we require a cohesive, industry-wide approach to change which includes promoting the value of mechanical methods. We have evolve and shift together,” he urges.
Looking at the options currently available, work begins in the autumn with stubble cultivation, notes Sam, although this can rely heavily on weather conditions. But then, once a crop is growing, innovation steps in. “Camera-guided hoes are a useful tool in cereal crops. Offered by our sister company Garford (see box), these effectively remove grassweeds before they mature.”
MACHINERY INNOVATION
Later, once surviving grassweeds are visible above a crop in spring, this could be a time to deploy the Zürn Top Cut Collect, he suggests. “Using a horizontal cutterbar, this simply cuts, collects and removes tall weeds and grasses before they have the chance to return to the seed-bank.
“There’s no other alternative tool that does this from a field hygiene perspective, for long-term weed control.”
Because many weeds shed seeds before harvest, cutting off the seed heads and removing them from the field before the combine rolls is an effective method, adds Sam. “The practice has proven its worth throughout Europe over many years and has been confirmed by various scientific studies.
“Critically, the machine was driven from the field up using feedback from farmers. So in essence, they’ve developed their own solution. As it continues to grow in popularity, we keep undertaking technical improvements to ensure it performs at its best in the field.”
In addition, George stresses that because the weeds targeted by the Top Cut Collect are ‘survivors’ post herbicide-applications, they’re the most resistant and problematic weed populations. “They’re the plants that you must tackle for long-term effective weed control. They’re non-negotiable.”
Closing the loop is the Zürn Seed Terminator, an integrated attachment for combine harvesters that kills weed seeds during the combining pass. It works by terminating the germination capacity of weed seeds with up to 99% kill rate, reducing spread and dramatically improving in-field hygiene.
It’s centred around two high-performance multi-stage hammer mills which process the residue coming from the sieves, and can be used with John Deere, Claas, Case IH and New Holland combines.
For George, this helps to start the next season with a ‘clean’ slate and minimal seed return. “Again, the Seed Terminator is a very powerful approach because it’s controlling the most powerful, strongest survivors. This then loops immediately back to planting in the autumn; in essence these solutions collectively present a continuous cycle of weed management.”
While the Top Cut Collect is favoured by contractors, the Seed Terminator is beginning to find a place on individual farms, he adds. “That said, take-up is still slow in the UK, while in Australia, growers there are further along in their adoption journey. It’s all about the commitment level and attitude to risk, and being able to see results year-on-year.”
Despite having the innovation now available, Sam stresses that for weed control, it’s likely there’ll never be a silver bullet. “Equally we mustn’t block innovation or progression, or be scared of change. We have to try and meet in the middle, using patience and understanding. After all it’s not experimental rocket science, it’s proven,” he concludes.
This article was taken from the latest issue of CPM. Read the article in full here.
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