Claydon Strip till: Increasing yields as well as cutting costs
10th October 2022
Farmers and growers are facing challenging times with high input and fuel costs. There are ways to dramatically cut these costs by switching from a conventional crop establishment system to a direct strip-till approach. And with Claydon direct strip-till, you can still maintain – or even increase – your yields, the company says.
The game-changer on the Claydon drill is the leading tine technology which allows direct drilling into stubble, saving on pre-cultivations and fuel costs, but also loosens and aerates soil in the growing zone, encouraging fast and healthy root and crop growth.
A recent study in Germany conducted by the State Office for Agriculture in Hesse (Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen) compared wheat yields from three different tillage types when used in conjunction with BASF’s Revystar, a systemic fungicide with protectant and curative properties for disease control in wheats.
In the three replicates (plough, min-till, Claydon direct strip-till), a conventional fungicide programme was used and on each of the replicates Revystar was added to the farm standard system. This showed a yield increase when using Revystar which translated right across the three different cultivation systems, with the Claydon-drilled crops achieving the highest yield in every case.
The results from this trial reinforce the experience of Claydon drill users over the years who have either maintained or increased their yields.
One Yorkshire farm has yielded well with Claydon drilling.
Wayne Turnbull, manager of R. H. Mason’s mixed enterprise in Yorkshire, commented: “The first year was very dry, but the drill’s leading tines broke the soil and seed went into moisture, so it got off to a flying start and yielded well. Although time and costs have been massively reduced, yields are on a par with conventional establishment, 12 to 13t/ha for winter wheat, which we grow alongside winter barley, winter oilseed rape and vining peas.” Read the full story here.
Yield improvements were seen at a Claydon-drilled farm in Worcestershire.
Matthew and Richard Bray in Worcestershire changed to Claydon strip seeding in 2013. Agronomist Paul Fisher says: “Since adopting the Claydon System, there has been much greater consistency in terms of field conditions, with noticeable improvements in soil structure, crop development and yield performance. Despite having just experienced one of the most bizarre seasons that any of us have ever witnessed, the crops came through the exceptionally wet winter and dry spring very well.” Read the full story here.
To find out more visit claydondrill.com or contact your local Claydon dealer
