Kverneland and AgXeed set world record for autonomous ploughing with AgBot in UK
While ploughing appears to become less fashionable than minimal tillage, it remains an important process in many areas.
Like every dairy farm, a good mower is an essential tool, whether it’s for cutting winter feed or topping and tidying paddocks that have got away from the herd.
In the Edmeades case, the job falls to a Kverneland 2828M mounted disc mower, featuring seven discs that deliver a cutting width of 2.8 metres. With two seasons under its belt, Hayden says the stand-out feature is the mower’s contour following ability.
“We have a lot of sloping ground on the farm, some it quite gnarly, but the mower follows the ground exceptionally well, with no scuffing or sward damage. Once set, I really don’t have to make any adjustments from there on,” he says.
Featuring a centre pivoting design that creates even weight distribution across the full width of the cutter-bar, the mower is carried at a fixed height by the tractor’s three-point linkage, while a hydraulic cylinder takes care of lifting and lowering into and out of work.
The design also incorporates an integral hydraulic suspension system that is easily adjusted to cope with changing ground conditions or working speeds.
Handled easily by the farm’s 4-cylinder 110hp tractor, Hayden notes the mower “uses plenty of steel” in its construction, in this case a hefty 805kg.
The driveline sees power being transmitted directly to the first disc, removing the need for an inner shoe, which in turn means crossing already mown swaths is trouble-free, with no risk of bunching.
During operation, Hayden reports that the cutting quality is always good, with blades lasting well, but easily changed with the dedicated tool if required.
The round discs mean that if any objects are encountered, they do not “pinch”, while peace of mind is also kept in check by the mechanical break-back system.
For transport, the mower folds vertically to around 125 degrees, meaning that the cutter-bar and top cover is pulled in behind the tractor’s rear fender, reducing the likelihood of getting “tangled” with gateposts or other road users.
