Camera Keeps Cultivator On Row

High speed cultivating without crop damage is a reality with the Einbock Row-Guard and Roe Hoe Chopstar cultivator. Einbock's Tined Weeder (Vol. 33, No. 2) stirs every inch of the soil, but the Roe Hoe Chopstar offers sweeps, finger weeders and more. The Row-Guard camera system keeps the crop safe at speeds of up to 9 mph, depending on conditions.

"The camera system lets you get much closer to the row," says Jim Possin, New Richmond, Minn. "On soybeans, finger weeders get to within 1/2 in. of each side of the row. We can get within 2 1/2 in. of the plant with sweeps. It doesn't take out any of the row, but it does get cocklebur and ragweed."

Possin's Chopstar is equipped with 3 sweeps, row shields and finger weeders. The Row-Guard system steers the cultivator with its hydraulically controlled side-shift frame. The 2 lenses with different exposures reduce the impact of shadows. The system captures the concentration of green pixels in multiple rows for highly accurate row identification.

With row spacing and number of rows entered in the control unit in the cab, the cultivator constantly adjusts left or right over a 20-in. range to protect the row crop while digging out weeds. When equipped with the rubber finger weeders, shallow weeds in the row are first disturbed and then covered with dirt.

Possin and his son Tom farm organically and practice full tillage. They credit their 16-row, 30-in. row Einbock with making weed control much easier in their corn and double crop peas and edible beans. "We usually walk our fields, so this really cuts down on labor," says Possin.

"With a combination of the Row-Guard and our GPS guidance for the tractor, you don't even touch the steering wheel." Wisconsin farmer and Midwest BioAg president and founder Gary Zimmer practices no-till. He is trying to make his Row-Guard equipped Einbock work in heavy residue. Those conditions have required adjustments, he notes. "The cultivator is built for moldboard plowed fields and has difficulty getting through the heavy residue," he says. "I'm not ready to endorse it yet, but I still think it has potential. If I can make it work, it will be well worth it."

The Einbock Chopstar is available in 3 models with row spacings of about 10 to 23 in., 24 to 35 in. and 36 to 59 in. It can be equipped with a wide variety of cultivating, hilling and other options. "It does an excellent job at speeds of 7 to 8 miles per hour. Drivers tire less quickly," says Clyde Morter, Guy Machinery, an Einbock equipment distributor. Check out a video of day and nighttime cultivating with Row-Guard at www.farmshow.com.

Want To Read More?
Recieve FARM SHOW's unpublished stories & archived favorites delivered directly to your inbox!
CLICK HERE to Sign-Up for FARM SHOW's NEWSLETTERS!

Want even more FARM SHOW?
CLICK HERE to quickly & securely Subscribe for 12-months of FARM SHOW Magazine!