Claydon developed its new 9m mounted Straw Harrow, being launched at LAMMA 2022, to bridge the gap between the company’s popular 7.5m mounted and 12.5m trailed models. Manufactured in the UK by Claydon, European market leader in direct strip seeding crop establishment technology with the Opti-Till^® System, it provides larger farms with greater flexibility and output, without incurring the higher cost of a trailed unit.

The Claydon Straw Harrow is simple, robust, and effective. It achieves the high working speeds (15 to 25km/h) which are necessary to create a micro-tilth in the top 30mm of soil, as well as breaking up straw so that it decomposes rapidly. It does so quickly and cost-effectively, typically using just one litre of fuel per hectare.

The new model incorporates 75 double tines, each of which is attached to the frame by a unique fixing that enables the tine to pivot and absorb shock loads when working in stony conditions or turning. As standard, it has five rows of heavy-duty 14mm-diameter tines, but 16mm tines are available as a cost option for exceptionally tough conditions. 

Their ‘wrap around’ design enables high-speed turning on the headlands, avoiding leaving heaps of straw behind that interfere with subsequent operations or crop development. Tine angle is hydraulically adjustable from the tractor cab for optimum tilth and straw flow, while huge inter-tine and under-frame clearances ensure that the implement will work without blocking.

Incorporating the same rugged design as other Claydon Straw Harrows, the 9m mounted version features a box section frame manufactured from high grade steel, while the wing pivot pins are greaseable and bushed to ensure a long service life. Twin hydraulic rams on each wing section enable them to fold vertically and remain level in work, creating a uniform tilth across the width of the implement even when operating at speed. 

High output and low fuel consumption are characteristics of all Claydon Straw Harrows; typical/suggested figures for the 9m model, which has minimum power requirement of 180hp, include an output of 12ha/h when operating at 20km/h.

The correct management of crop residue is particularly important when direct drilling. The Claydon Straw Harrow creates an even mulch which helps to preserve soil moisture and control persistent weeds. It also reduces slug populations by direct contact with the tines and breaks up their nests, disrupting their habitat and exposing their eggs to sunlight, causing them to desiccate.