One Machine Doing Two Jobs

Neil Bailey who grows some 300 acres of winter and spring cereals at Trethwel Farm, Saint Eval, Wadebridge bought a new set of HE-VA Rolls with Shatta-Board last summer and was able to use the combination to prepare seedbeds in the autumn and this spring.

The land is light in this coastal area enabling the OPICO machine to go straight into the plough, with the drill following.

"It worked well last autumn and this ring, despite the very wet conditions. One field I wanted to re-seed with grass, and I went over that twice with the rolls and Shatta-Board. It produced a very impressive seedbed," he says.

Before buying the rolls and Shatta-Board, Mr Bailey used to roll the ploughed land and then go in with a cultivator. Now one machine is doing the two jobs. "Plus the fact that when you've drilled the corn you just lift up the Shatta-Boards and you've got a nice set of rollers."

After 500-600 acres of work on cereals and grass, Mr Bailey admits he is enthusiastic about the new system. "It is paying for itself in saved fuel and saved time. It does a proper job!

Article by Dominic Kilburn Arable Faming June 10, 2001

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