Smart Machines: Oxin gains traction in the US
Marlborough-based agritech company Smart Machines has reached a significant milestone in its mission to revolutionise vineyard management.
Many farmers and growers are realising that early intervention can have beneficial results in the new crop, so are turning their attention to effectively dealing with stubble left from the previous crop. Lemken’s Rubin 10 compact disc harrows are said to ensure intensive mixing of soil and regrowth, even at shallow working depths and in difficult conditions.
The basic version of the headstock- mounted Lemken Rubin 10 MR is available in a rigid version with a working width of up to 4 metres. The series continues to feature proven equipment and technology. The semi-mounted Rubin 10 TF is available with working widths of 4 to 7m and now offers several new innovative features.
The toolbar spacing has been increased by 150mm to 1350mm to help ensure that organic matter settles further after the first row of discs, improving the cutting and mixing effect of the second row of discs, while also reducing the risk of blockages, even when operating in paddocks with large amounts of organic matter.
At the front of the main frame, a levelling tine section and a leading cutting roller have been introduced for the Rubin 10 TF in addition to the familiar straw harrow. In situations where straw is left as organic matter, the self-regulating straw harrow helps distribute lumps left by harvesting or baling into the disc section in a controlled manner, ensuring that the straw is incorporated more evenly across the field.
Using the levelling tine section from the Heliodor series of compact disc harrows, when the 10 TF is used for seedbed preparation, large clods are pressed into the soil, where they are better cut and mixed by the disc section.
Adjustment allows the tines to be used in the drag or grip position to vary the intensity of cultivation.
The cutting roller offers a new option that is particularly useful for canola or sunflower crops, using the six blades to cut and shred the organic matter before the disc section takes over.
The helical shape of the cutting roller ensures smooth operation, while the open design prevents any blockages.
To enable farmers to configure the Rubin for differing situations, the company is introducing a quickchange roller system for both the 10 MR and TF series, allowing switches between different single and double rollers, quickly and with even less effort. Rubin 10 MR and TF will replace the existing versions from 2025.
