Farming Monthly National April 2016 | Page 29

| Grass & Silage MAJOR Cyclone to hit the rushes! The problem of rush infestation is a constant headache for farmers. They can quickly infest a field if not managed and use up the foods, space, light and moisture which should nourish profitable crops. They make harvesting difficult and reduce the grazing value of land. he traditional flail mower has until recently been the machine of choice for the clearance of rushes, scrub and small trees. However the fuel consumption costs and the slow pace of work associated with using a flail for heavy ground clearance has encouraged farmers to look to other alternatives. Lynda Brewster from Bedlormie Mains Farm, West Lothian took delivery of a MAJOR 3m Cyclone mower in September last year to replace her flail mower. Major Equipment Ltd developed the MAJOR Cyclone mower specifically for use in set-aside, forestry margin management and scrubland control. “The pace of work is swift,” said Ms Brewster. “We use our Cyclone mower to clear rushes and small trees around the farm.” The double chop blades leave the cut material completely shredded and evenly dispersed behind the tractor. The MAJOR Cyclone easily copes with the toughest of T www.farmingmonthly.co.uk conditions including shrub, saplings, gorse and brush as well as the clearance of arable stubble, including maize and rapeseed crops, yet the power requirement is up to 30% less than that required by a flail mower. “Our 100HP tractor copes very easily, in really heavy cutting,” explained Ms Brewster, “and we have managed to cut our fuel bill too.” There are four models available; a 2m, 2.5m, 3m and 5.5m model. Call Major on 01524 850501 to arrange a demonstration or visit www.major-equipment.com April 2016 | Farming Monthly | 29