The rise in demand for mechanical weeders has prompted French firm Carre to build a model specifically for working in cereal crops.

The Econet Klinea SGI, which is imported by KRM, sports a row of sprung hoeing shares mounted on parallel linkages.

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Together with an independent ground wheel, these allow the machine to track the surface accurately, so that weeds are removed at a consistent depth across the entire working width.

Finishing the job off is a twin row of rear comb harrows that help leave an even finish and scatter weeds over the top so the roots are exposed to the elements.

As an option, the machine can be ordered with hydraulic lifting linkages and isobus control for automatic management at headlands.

Accurately piloting the hoe between crop rows is an integrated camera guidance system.

Having previously relied on a Claas setup, the new Kipline version has been developed in house, complete with high-tech image processing that allows it to spot crop rows accurately even when there’s high weed pressure.

As standard, the system comes with one camera, but a second can be added to give more accurate guidance in irregularly shaped fields or when there’s low emergence. LED lights allow it to work in the dark.

© Carre

Operators control everything via the firm’s Weed Pilot display, featuring a touchscreen showing a live video feed of the area being analysed by the camera.

Retail price of a 6m, 24-row (25cm spacing) Klinea SGI hoe complete with Kipline guidance system is £56,800.