Seed Terminator for John Deere X9 unveiled
Weed control system now available for John Deere’s X9 series combine harvestersThe Seed Terminator, developed locally by farmer and inventor, Dr. Nick Berry, is now available for installation on John Deere’s X9 combine harvesters to destroy weed seeds during harvest.
A prominent issue farmers face is the spreading of weed seeds when harvesting. As crops are cut, chaff and grain are separated and the harvester spreads chaff, including the seeds of resilient weeds that have escaped or resisted herbicide spraying.
In 2016, the Grain Research Development Council estimated that weeds cost Australian grain growers $3.3 billion annually, made up of yield losses of 2.76 million tonnes and herbicide resistance expenses of $187 million per year. The repeated use of the same herbicides has led to the rise of herbicide-resistant weeds, presenting a dire challenge for the agricultural community.
The Seed Terminator works by pulverising weed seeds along with chaff, rendering them incapable of sprouting. What remains is a fine sawdust-like mulch that enriches the soil where it's spread.
According to Seed Terminator, its innovation, when installed on a typical harvester, can distribute mulch up to 14m, making it a one-stop weed killer, mulcher, and grain harvester.
The system has been engineered from the ground up to match the latest combine harvesters now handling over 115 tonnes an hour.
Related: CNH and Seed Terminator join forces to wage war on weeds
It features some of the latest technology such as the AeroImpact 4 mill that ensures a high kill rate on the infamous ryegrass seeds.
It has an enhanced drive system as well as a sleek new design that Seed Terminator said makes it barely noticeable during operation. The active feeding system with moving inlets helps to prevent blockages, and it's compatible with all residue packages and tyre options.
The Seed Terminator for X9 was featured on the international stage last November at Agritechnica, alongside its European distributor Zürn Harvesting.
At the show, Seed Terminator also debuted its Seed Terminator 2 technology that has been custom-designed to fit New Holland CR Combine Harvesters.
For more information on the Seed Terminator for John Deere X9, visit Seed Terminator’s website.
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