The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute has help for herb growers thinking about converting an old cultivator for row crop use.
“We surveyed Saskatchewan herb growers to gather information on their use of tillage equipment, especially older cultivators that had been converted into row crop machines, and observed how this equipment worked,” said Wayne Stock of PAMI. “Based on the growers’ experiences and our own experience with machinery, we then made recommendations.”
Modifying drawn cultivators into three-point hitch or front attachment units has advantages. PAMI does not have an example of this conversion and said there will be some trial and error for anyone trying it.
PAMI has produced a guide called Converting a Field Cultivator for Row Crop Use to help producers make decisions about the size of machine needed, whether a guidance system is needed and if so, what type.
Copies of the report are available by calling 800-567-7264. Guide for Cultivator Conversion is available by calling 306-787-5152. It is also available on the Saskatchewan Agriculture internet site.
