Farming Monthly National April 2017 | Page 51

| ATV Honda ATV Not just for winter work A Honda ATV’s ability to travel on sensitive field areas without creating compaction or ruts means it can carry out tasks where other vehicles would struggle. s cold, wet weather gives way to conditions allowing spring drilling to progress, field edges will require regular maintenance to restrict weed, volunteer and grass growth and protect the crop. Using a tractor-mounted mower is an option, but the width can be an issue, requiring a wider field margin than is ideal. An ATV with a trailed flail mower solves the problem, able to travel easily over undulating ground and having an overall width from just over one metre. Several manufacturers produce suitable mowers, all with integral petrol engines to drive the blades. With up to 18hp available for cutting, these mowers easily tackle heavy grass growth and unwanted scrub. Also popular to help prevent field edge weed encroachment into the crop are ATV-mounted sprayers. Most have 12-volt electric pumps, powered from the Honda ATV’s battery, and typical tank capacities are 25–130 litres, although care should be taken not to exceed the ATV’s maximum recommended rack weights. For dry, level land the Honda Fourtrax 420 2wd will be adequate but for trickier conditions a model with selectable 4wd is a better A www.farmingmonthly.co.uk option. The higher load carrying capacity and extra power of the 500cc Foreman range makes it a favourite on arable farms, also ideal for applying slug pellets through a mounted applicator. Honda’s new Pioneer UTVs offer even greater carrying capacity making them suitable for larger sprayers. The cargo bed can transport loads up to 386kg, and a powerful 680cc petrol engine, driving through an efficient 3-speed torque converter transmission means it can handle the most demanding tasks, but retains a compact size making it ideal for work in confined yards or farm woodland. Where slugs or water-logging have affected crop establishment a potential solution is a trailed ATV drill. Typical working widths of just a metre or so mean they can be used to re-drill affected areas or for filling in ‘misses’ caused by blocked coulters or incorrectly set tramline markers. Because they are pulled behind the Honda ATV with its low pressure tyres, there is no issue caused by additional wheelings in the crop. Sharing this sort of drill between several smaller farms can be a cost- effective option but having one as part of the machinery fleet on a larger farm or estate can make good sense, especially if it is used to drill game cover too. Metering is usually by ground wheel or electronically controlled and for most arable situations a 4wd ATV or the Pioneer UTV will be needed. To find out more about how a Honda ATV or UTV could improve your farm efficiency this spring, have a chat with your local main dealer who will be delighted to assist and talk through the options and accessories available. Honda ATVs are renowned for their longevity and reliability and for those who feel they can’t justify a brand new machine, a used machine fully checked by the dealer might be a practical option. All new Hondas come with an approved operator training course through the European ATV Safety Institute (EASI) and for those buying a used machine the same course is available at a small cost. April 2017 | Farming Monthly | 51