Relying on rented land for production of its leeks, swedes, parsnips and potato crops, the firm is mindful of how it leaves land post-harvest for customers.
“As soon as our crops have been harvested, we place a lot of importance on how we then prepare the ground before we hand it back to customers, ready for them to plough and drill,” explains Richard Clarke, who handles the day-to-day running of the business with his brother, Matthew.
“Quite often, the ground needs to be moved to a reasonable depth to aerate and remove any compaction from harvesters and trailers, while leaving the surface level and open to improve drainage,” he says. “If it’s been a wet harvest, there’ll be some ruts to deal with too, but this is not a job that can be done with just a subsoiler-type cultivator.”
Opting for a 4m folding model rather than a trailed machine, provides in-field flexibility for the business.
“We can reverse into any badly impacted areas, rather than attempt to pull a trailed machine through and risk getting stuck,” says Richard. “If we’re working to an 8-10in depth, the Turbo moves a lot of soil. And with heavy duty legs, it certainly does pull through ground where you’d least expect it to. We’ve been impressed with it so far.”
He says the cultivator has proved so useful post-harvest, that it now gets used for seedbed preparation too, not just post-harvest, restorative cultivations.
“It’s particularly effective on headlands, and we’ve noticed it leaves an even, level finish,” says Richard. “It’s also a good tool to set land up, in readiness for destoning or bed forming.”
Email Adam Burt, Kverneland soil specialist: info-uksales@kvernelandgroup.com
