Claydon, the European market leader in direct drilling technology with its Opti-Till® crop establishment system, will launch two new products at Cereals 2024 in Hertfordshire on 11 and 12 June.

The Claydon Evolution Front Hopper and Claydon Evolution Drill Toolbar will be seen for the first time on the company’s stand (No.1112). This will also feature other products from the Claydon range; a 6m trailed Hybrid T drill, 9m Straw Harrow, 4m TerraBlade inter-row hoe and 6m TerraStar® light rotary cultivator.

CLAYDON EVOLUTION FRONT HOPPER

With a total capacity of 2,750 litres, split 45/55%, the Evolution Front Hopper is pressurised to ensure reliable high-volume material delivery to the rear distribution heads. Twin metering units deliver either mixed or separated seed/fertiliser flows to the rear-mounted drill, a simple airline box selector diverting the flow of material to the distribution pipes or combining the total output into one pipe. An ISOCAN terminal controls all front hopper functions and allows variable rate seeding, depending on the task controller and licence key.

ISOBUS compatible, the Evolution Front Hopper is supplied with small, medium or large diameter interchangeable metering wheels to suit a wide range of seeds and fertilisers. Weighing 730kg, it measures 2476mm wide, 1803mm high and 1619mm long, incorporates two hopper sensors providing ‘low level’ and ‘empty’ warnings, work lights, two road vision cameras, a toolbox and foldable front footstep. Options include 550kg of ballast, plus packer wheels with passive steering and wheel scrapers.

CLAYDON EVOLUTION DRILL TOOLBAR

The Evolution Drill Toolbar can be used in conjunction with the Evolution Front Hopper and is available in widths of 3m, 4m, 4.5m, 4.8m, 5m or 6m. The standard specification includes one distribution head with 38mm seed delivery hoses, but a second distribution head can be optioned, allowing fertiliser to be supplied to either the front leading tine or rear seeding tine.

CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT

Claydon was founded by Suffolk arable farmer Jeff Claydon who designed the company’s first direct seeding drill to dramatically reduce the cost and time involved in establishing crops.

Since the V Drill was launched in 2003 Claydon has continued to develop and perfect Opti-Till®. This is a holistic approach to crop establishment which delivers consistent, high yielding crops at low cost for maximum profitability, combined with progressive improvements to soil structure and health.

Enabling farmers to meet their commercial, environmental and sustainability objectives, Claydon products are now marketed and sold to customers throughout the world. Approximately 60% of production from the company’s factory in Suffolk is exported to more than thirty countries, from Europe to New Zealand.

Increasingly relevant in the face of rapidly rising input costs, the Opti-Till® system is based around Claydon mounted and trailed drills from 3m to 8m wide, all of which incorporate the company’s unique leading tine technology, providing exceptional ability and versatility.

The Claydon range also includes 3m, 7.5m, 9m, 12.5m and 15m Straw Harrows which create a micro tilth in the top 30mm of soil for fast, even germination of weed seeds and volunteers. Robust, and effective, the Straw Harrow also rakes out and destroys weeds at the cotyledon/one‐leaf stage, removing a food source for slugs, breaking up their nests and desiccating eggs by mixing up and exposing damp chaff or straw to sunlight.

The 6m TerraStar® light rotary cultivator is a fast, effective stubble management and slug control tool which can also be used to level fields, improve drainage, and incorporate manures or residues.

Claydon TerraBlade inter-row hoes from 3m to 8m provide a low-cost, mechanical method of controlling weeds in combinable, band-sown crops, giving the potential to improve crop yields, drastically lower the potential carry-over of weed seeds and reduce the risk of more resistant types developing.

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