Since switching from a chain harrow to a spring tined OPICO Grass Harrow and Air 8 pneumatic seeder Cumbria farming brothers John and Thomas Fisher have seen a significant improvement in their grassland.

Purchased to improve the grassland the OPICO Grass Harrow has been particularly useful for patching up and re-seeding small areas in March/April. Last year they did about 80 acres of re-seeding and about 300 acres of spring tine harrowing to clean out the dead grass and moss and renovate the pastures.

"Its very good for filling in the thin bits of grassland and weeding all the dead bits out of the grass. It's a lot better than chain harrows." said John Fisher.

They have also used the machine for drilling turnips straight on to winter barley stubble. "We went over the stubble once to get rid of the straw, then went over again with the grass harrow," said John. "It was quite good for that and the crop came through well."

"The machine has proved reliable and good value for money. Nothing has gone wrong with it over the two seasons and we have done over 700 acres."

February 2001