Page 23 - Vol.39-No.5

HARVESTING AND STORAGE

ENTOMATIC™, SAVING LABOUR WHILE

DELIVERING EVEN DISTRIBUTION

Offering fast and even distribu- the day is the same; this can be challenging
tion of beneficials in a wide range of to achieve with manual applications.”
glasshouse crops, Entomatic™ is our “Entomatic™ runs very smoothly. Here
new adaptable automated dispenser. at Royal Berry, we’re continuously using it.
Designed to help growers improve The dispensing speed can be fully adjusted
efficiency, through reducing labour to suit the different ways of applying ben-
cost, it helps ensure even distribu- “Entomatic™ has several features de- eficials. You can even adjust the language
tion of beneficials in the crop helping livering benefits of great importance to on the display, which is highly convenient
optimise overall control. strawberry growers,” says Frank. “With for our non-Dutch speaking crop work-
Frank Selman is the Site Manager at less chemical crop protection products ers. All in all, we have nothing but positive
leading Dutch strawberry producer, Roy- available, biocontrol is becoming increas- feedback.”
al Berry. Established in 2010, Royal Berry ingly important in strawberry production.
operates from 55ha at Bemmel, in Gelder- More biology means you need more la-
land, producing over 8million kg of quality bour, especially when releasing beneficials.
ready-packaged strawberries. This is nicely tackled with the Entomatic™
automated biology dispenser. It applies
beneficials many times faster and is less
labour-intensive.”
“Compared to handheld devices, the
distribution of biocontrols throughout
the greenhouse is also much more even,”
he explains. “Employing Entomatic™, the
spreading pattern at the start and end of

Circle 27 on enquiry card
THREE-IN-ONE CULTIVATOR GOES

UNDER THE RADAR

The ‘Stealth’ variant of the ever-popu- versatility, making it a true low disturbance grass. The Stealth leg and point that HE-VA
lar combination cultivator gains ultra-low subsoiler with the added ability of being has developed allows deep soil loosening
disturbance legs and a choice of different able to provide some surface tilth creation whilst minimising surface disturbance and
points depending on the level of sub-sur- at the same time. preventing mixing of the soil profile.
face action required.
“With the increased focus on regener-
Now available in working widths from ative practices, we’re seeing a need for
2.45m to 5.25m in both mounted and cultivation kit that can reduce soil distur-
trailed formats, the Combi-Disc employs bance but still deal with compacted layers
two leading rows of soil-loosening legs in the soil profile to ensure decent drainage
followed by two rows of serrated Sabre and rooting to maximise crop potential,”
discs to provide a surface chopping and explains OPICO’s HE-VA product manager
mixing effect. This is all followed up with Glenn Bootman.
a V-profile roller to produce a corrugated, “With this new leg option for the Com-
weather-proof finish. bi-Disc we are answering that require-
It is this combination of soil-engaging ment. The basic principle is medium-depth,
elements that makes the Combi-Disc such low disturbance soil loosening combined
an adaptable tool. In normal circumstanc- with shallow surface cultivation. I believe The narrower legs are made from ul-
es the tines, discs and press are used in that now makes the Combi-Disc one of tra-strong Hardox steel and can be in-
partnership to turn previously uncultivated the most adaptable tillage tools on the terchanged with standard 25mm wide
ground into a seedbed in one pass. When market.” subsoiler legs as necessary. However, it is
conditions require it, the discs can be lifted The 15mm wide Stealth low disturbance the point that really makes the difference.
completely out of work, enabling the unit leg and low disturbance point are the The Stealth standard 120mm low distur-
to be used as a straightforward subsoil product of many years of development. bance point has a shallower wing angle and
loosener/pan-buster. Whilst large numbers of growers are now shorter nose that has been designed to
open up the soil to create drainage fissuring
Likewise, with the legs lifted out of con- moving towards reduced tillage systems without mixing the whole soil profile.
tention, the machine can be put to work as they appreciate that drainage is key to
Those wanting increased soil loosening
a straightforward shallow disc cultivator. crop development, allowing timely field across a wider profile can opt for a wider
The addition of new ‘Stealth’ soil-loos- operations and preventing the relentless 200mm point. Both widths are available
ening legs add further to the Combi-Disc’s progress of grass weeds such as black- with and without long-life tungsten facing.

Circle 28 on enquiry card Vol. 39 No. 5 21