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OPICO inter-row cultivators are designed to accurately hoe between rows of growing crops to cut off the weeds just below the surface.
Almost any crop with adequate space between the rows can be tackled. Inter-row cultivators are fully adjustable and configured to suit any row width or combination of row widths. Front or rear-mounted versions are available, along with trailed semi-mounted versions.
GRANT ELIGIBILITY
As the application deadline has ended, now is the time to secure your purchase!
Inter-Row Cultivator
FETF6 / FETF7 - Inter-row Hoe 3m/6m
Eligible Items: Camera-guided Inter-Row Cultivator
Item must:
- be an inter row hoe
- automatically distinguish between the crop row and weeds between the crop rows using camera recognition
- detect the position of the crop rows and automatically adjust the hoes to only remove weeds between the crop rows
- have a minimum 3m (FETF6) or 6m (FETF7) working width
Percentage paid towards item: 60%
Percentage based on RPA expected average cost of item
If you're interested in this machine, the first step is to apply for the eligible machine before the 17th April 2024. Secondly, once you have your application approved, and you’ve accepted your offer, the next step is to purchase the item/machine.
If your application for the above machine is successful, then speak to your local OPICO dealer in good time, to ensure timely delivery before the end of the claim window which is midday on the 10th January, 2025. Find your local OPICO dealer here.
With many options available, creating a bespoke mechanical weeding machine requires technical expertise and know how. The process begins with a farm visit to understand the needs and any issues e.g. crop type, soil type, how the crop is grown, how high tech or low tech a solution is being sought.
After this initial visit a proposal is prepared recommending headstock type, share type, guidance system and other installation options. Once the bespoke specification is agreed, OPICO works closely with the factory to deliver and then install and support the machine.
FEATURES & BENEFITS
Configurations are endless!
- Suitable for combinable, root, salad and specialist crops
- 3m to 18m working widths
- 4 to 72 rows
- Front or rear mounted
- Fully or semi-mounted
- Manual, mechanical or camera-guided steering
- Available with seed or fertiliser application equipment
Heavy Duty Parallelograms
Parallelogram mounting frames for the hoe carriers maintain pre-set working angles and pressure whilst allowing accurate ground contour following.
Different numbers of shares are fitted to the hoe carriers depending on row widths and crop types, for example in cereal crops 3 rows are hoed per carrier with a minimum row spacing of 12.5cm.
- Box section parallelograms
- No twisting in work
- Bushed pivots
- Greased adjustable depth wheels
Steel Flange Wheel
Moving the hoe shares sideways to follow plant rows creates powerful lateral forces.
If side forces exceed grip from the tractor’s rear wheels, then the tractor could be moved sideways leaving the hoe position unchanged resulting in damage to the crop.
To prevent this, the headstock has a pair of large diameter flanged steel wheels which anchor the guidance headstock in line behind the tractor wheels. Thereby withstanding the side forces for perfect row following.
This is particularly the case with wider working widths, or when the hoe shares are working deep.
Bespoke Tube Profile
Hatzenbichler’s bespoke tube profile and locking mechanism ensures machines can be configured as required and all components are locked in position.
Spot Spraying
The camera software developed by Tillet and Hague allows for the addition of spot spraying technology to be attached to the cultivator if required.
Tillett and Hague are world leaders in the development of vision guidance and control technology for field scale precision crop protection, whether mechanical, chemical or biological.
GUIDANCE SYSTEM
The objective of camera steering is for mechanical weeding to be more accurate, efficient and easier for the operator. It requires a precisely engineered headstock for exact movement control, allowing the operator to work more effectively at higher working speeds. Camera guided machines can be operated much closer to the plant rows and hence provide improved weed control.
Guidance Headstock
The versatile Hatzenbichler headstock has an integrated hydraulic ram (1) to provide up to 250mm of side-shift in either direction, allowing accurate compensation for deviations caused by side-slopes, as well as errors due to drilling or driving accuracy.
A potentiometer (2) monitors movement to ensure precise positioning. Oil is sent to either left or right by the camera controller, ensuring the hoe shares run as close to the crop rows as possible without damaging the crop. As you would expect parallel side shift rails (3) are greased and bushed.
Three options of headstock are available from lightweight 450kg to heavyweight 1300kg for cultivators over 12m (see back page for headstock details).
Camera Guidance
Camera controlled guidance is attached and integrated with the headstock, the system developed by the UK specialists Tillett and Hague is the most accurate camera guidance on the market.
The Tillet and Hague guidance system has three distinct advantages that set it apart from other systems:
- It is able to take a feed from two or more cameras which means it is able to provide a higher level of accuracy, particularly at row ends and where there are drill misses or overlaps.
- The software is able to derive a speed measurement from the cameras, called visual odometry, so that it is not dependent on a GPS or radar feed.
- Optional lights for night working.
- Tillet and Hague technical specialists are UK based for unrivalled support.
Isobus Section Control
To bring an extra level of precision there’s also the option of ISOBUS controlled sprayer-style GPS section control.
With individual hydraulic rams on each parallelogram linkage, the Muller ISOBUS controller is able to lift individual row units as they reach previously cultivated ground.
This is a particular benefit when working in fields with angled headlands – the system is able to detect when the hoe shares are reaching the end of the run and automatically lift them out of work to avoid hooking out plants on the cross-drilled headland bouts.
CAMERA GUIDANCE HEADSTOCK
The camera-guidance headstock is available in three different models. Discover more about each headstock below, or if you'd like to discuss you requirements in more detail, please speak to your local OPICO dealer, your OPICO Territory manager or OPICO's Mechanical Weeding Product Specialist.
Light Model
- For inter-row cultivators with simple tube frame
- Up to 6 row machines
- Side shift with hardened chrome tube 60mm
- Dual hydraulic cylinder
- Optional stabiliser wheels
- Weight approx: 450 kg
- CAT II linkage
Standard Model
- For inter-row cultivators with double tube frame
- Up to 8 row machines
- Side shift with hardened chrome tube 60mm
- Dual hydraulic cylinder
- Stabiliser wheels
- Weight approx: 1,150 kg
- Wheel centres 1,400mm up to max 2,100mm
- CAT III linkage
Heavy XL Model
- For inter-row cultivators with double tube frame with XL-distance
- From 8 rows upwards
- Side shift with hardened chrome tube 80mm
- Dual hydraulic cylinder
- Stabiliser wheels
- Weight approx: 1,300 kg
- Wheel centres 1,400mm up to max 2,100mm
- CAT III linkage
OPTIONS & ACCESSORIES
Optional rubber finger weeders can be attached to the hoe carrier and are used to weed in between the plants. Rubber fingers grip and pull out the weed from the side and can reach the weeds where the hoe cannot.
For maximum effect, finger weeders should be used as the weeds emerge. They have a working depth of between 2cm and 4cm and are suitable for rows of 25cm upwards. There are different sizes of rubber fingers to choose from depending on row width.
Crop Protectors
Optional plant protector discs or crop guards can be attached to the hoe carrier to shield the young plant from smothering.
Row Harrow
A tined harrow can be fitted to weed along the row and level soil.
INTER-ROW MODELS
Combinable Crops 12.5cm - 30cm (Example)
The Hatzenbichler range of rigid and hydraulic folding inter-row cultivators, are typically used for combinable crops and are available in 3 – 18m working widths. Row widths from 12.5cm to 30cm, can be cultivated.
The machines can be mounted to the front or rear of the tractor. The hoe carrier is fitted as standard with Vibro-tines and duck foot shares.
- 3m to 18m
- Front or rear mounted
- 1, 3 or 5 section frame
- 1 or 3 tines/parallelogram
- 12.5cm row spacing upwards
- Vibro-tine with duck foot share
EXAMPLE: Cereal cultivator at 25cm spacing and 16.6cm spacing
| Model No. | Rows | Working Width | Parallelo-grams | HP | Weight |
| 17478103 | 16 | 4m | 6 | 80 | 1200kg |
| 174781021 | 24 | 4Mm/6m | 9 | 120 | 1800kg |
| 174781026 | 36 | 6m | 13 | 160 | 2700kg |
| 174781025 | 32 | 8m | 12 | 150 | 2400kg |
| TBC | 48 | 8m | 17 | TBC | TBC |
Options & Accessories
• Pneumatic applicator for seed, fertiliser or micro granules
• Camera guidance
| Part No. | Description |
| 170821033-6 | Hydraulic section control for 6 parallelograms |
| 170821033-9 | Hydraulic section control for 9 parallelograms |
| 170821033-12 | Hydraulic section control for 12 parallelograms |
| 170821033-13 | Hydraulic section control for 13 parallelograms |
| 17935048 | Platform for seeder |
Seeder and hydraulic section control can only be combined from factory order.
Hydraulic section control is factory fit only.
Sugar Beet 35cm - 50cm (Example)
The Hatzenbichler range of rigid or hydraulic folding inter-row cultivators, are typically used for sugar-beet and are available in 3 – 12m working widths.
The Inter-row is also suitable for other crop types at similar spacing. Row widths can be set between 35cm and 50cm.
The machines can be mounted to the front or rear of the tractor. The hoe carrier is fitted as standard with Vibro-tines and duck foot shares.
- 3m to 12m
- Front or rear mounted
- 1, 3 or 5 section frame
- 3 tines/parallelogram
- 35cm to 50cm spacing
- Vibro-tine with duck foot share
EXAMPLE: Sugar Beet cultivator at 50cm spacing
| Model No. | Rows | Working Width | Parallelo-grams | HP | Weight |
| 8 | 4m | 9 | 60 | 770kg | |
| 1742810 | 12 | 6m | 13 | 75 | 810kg |
| 16 | 8m | 17 | 110 | 1390kg |
Options & Accessories
• Pneumatic applicator for seed, fertiliser or micro granules
• Camera guidance
| Part No. | Description |
| 1743122 | Plant protection discs (per row) |
| 1741116 | Finger weeders - Small (per row) |
| 170821033-9 | Hydraulic section control for 9 parallelograms |
| 170821033-13 | Hydraulic section control for 13 parallelograms |
| 17935048 | Platform for seeder |
Seeder and hydraulic section control can only be combined from factory order.
Hydraulic section control is factory fit only.
The Hatzenbichler range of rigid or hydraulic folding inter-row cultivators are typically used for maize and are available in 3m to 12m working widths. Row widths can be set from 50cm upwards.
The machine can be mounted to the front or rear of the tractor. The hoe carrier is fitted as standard with S-tines and A shares at 150mm wide and half shares at 85mm wide.
The maize inter-row cultivator is designed to hoe the weeds and/or bury them depending on growth stage.
- 3m to 12m
- Front or rear mounted
- 1, 3 or 5 section frame
- 3 or 5 tines/parallelogram
- 50cm row spacing upwards
- S-tine with A share
EXAMPLE: Maize cultivator at 75cm spacing
| Model No. | Rows | Working Width | Parallelo-grams | HP | Weight |
| 1741670 | 6 | 4.5m | 7 | 60 | 800kg |
| 1741680 | 8 | 6m | 9 | 80 | 920kg |
| TBC | 10 | 7.5m | 11 | 110 | 1460kg |
Options & Accessories
• Pneumatic applicator for seed, fertiliser or micro granules
• Camera guidance
| Part No. | Description |
| 1743122 | Plant protection discs (per row) |
| 1741114 | Finger weeders - large (per row) |
| 170821033-7 | Hydraulic section control for 7 parallelograms |
| 170821033-9 | Hydraulic section control for 9 parallelograms |
| 170821033-11 | Hydraulic section control for 11 parallelograms |
| 17935048 | Platform for seeder |
Seeder and hydraulic section control can only be combined from factory order.
Hydraulic section control is factory fit only.
INTER-ROW CULTIVATOR BROCHURE
Check out our latest brochure by clicking the image below, download is available.
GALLERY
