Flapping, burning or pulling leaves. Growers are looking for alternatives to haulm killing now that Reglone (and Finale) have definitely disappeared from the scene. Because the ‘chemical cabinet’ is getting smaller and smaller, many arable farmers purchase a haulm topper or a haulm tractor.
Initially there were some doubts about the non-chemical haulm killing methods. Thanks to good (practical) results, more and more (potato) growers are changing tack. Haulm folding is a much used technique in seed potato cultivation and recently also for table potatoes. The pulling of the potato tops is not new, but after a long (almost) absence, this technique makes its appearance again and this time it seems like a definitive return.
Ropa haulm topper
The German machine manufacturer Ropa has put a lot of effort into haulm flaps. In order to provide their customers with a Ropa mitred (bunker) harvester with the best possible service, they have also been offering a haulm topper since this season. Machine manufacturer Vegniek from Noordoostpolder developed the ‘DiscMaster’ for leaf pulling. Owner Erik van der Vegt reached the development decision after the means for haulm killing became more limited and growers had to deal with an increasingly difficult and expensive haulm killing process. “Whether a grower chooses to just fold or to pull is on the one hand variety-dependent and on the other hand also soil-bound. We are convinced that haulm pulling will be used more and more. If only because it can be financially very attractive, ”says Vegniek machine building owner Van der Vegt.
Read the full article in Agraaf , Stal & Akker , Vee & Crop and Veldpost on Saturday 21 November
