Farms growing ridge crops have faced a seemingly unsolvable problem in the recent years: more and more herbicides are being banned, and the market is now demanding as much chemical-free food as possible
At the same time, it has been almost impossible for farmers to keep ridge crops free from weeds without using agrochemicals. The Steketee EC-Ridger from the agricultural machinery manufacturer LEMKEN offers a modern solution to this problem. The implement, which is designed for a row width of 75 cm, works in three stages. The hoeing discs reliably cut weeds on the top and the sides of the ridge, spring tines loosen the spaces between the ridges and finally ridging bodies return the ridge to the desired shape. The implement is currently available in three variants:
• The EC-Ridger 5 has lightweight basic elements for removing weeds from the tops and sides of ridges. It can be front or rear-mounted and is suitable for use in light soils and with smaller crops which require little ridging.
• The EC-Ridger 7 is rear-mounted and features the TRS hoeing element which is particularly well suited for working in difficult conditions. A leaf guard can be added to prevent crops from becoming damaged or buried when the implement hoes along the sides and rebuilds the ridges. The ridging bodies can be replaced by ridging discs for use in light soils. A subsoiler can be added for more challenging conditions.
• The EC-Ridger 9 is also rear-mounted. It comprises a range of tool modules that can be used to adapt the machine to changing conditions and the various growth stages of the crops. There is a module with hoeing blades for hoeing on ridges and a module with hoeing discs for working in between ridges. Depth control wheels ensure that both elements maintain a precise working depth. Complementary tools in the range include spring tines, ridging discs and ridging shares. The quick-change system makes replacing the individual elements easy. If required, one can also add a subsoiler to the system.