Riteway harrow © Jonathan Page

Farmers struggling to get a drill anywhere near sodden arable fields might like the sound of a high-speed aerator built by Canadian firm Riteway.

The spiky assembly is made from cleverly linked tines that join together like a braided bracelet to form a flexible chain that follows ground contours independently of the main frame.

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The whole lot is liable to stretch over time, so turnbuckles are fitted to tighten them up.

The idea is to drag the harrow along at up to 20kph to loosen and flick topsoil to a depth of roughly 50mm.

However, the angle of attack can be hydraulically altered between 20deg and 40deg to ensure adequate penetration.

Riteway suggests using a shallower angle to work straw-harrow style where the aim is to encourage a weed seed chit or lightly loosen the surface.

A more intense setup should be capable of breaking clods and levelling ridges.

The company recommends tooling up with about 15hp/m – the 6.7m version on stand requires about 125hp and the list price is US$21,000 (£16,400). However, those with more firepower at their disposal might look at bigger models that top out at 18m.