Cyclone accelerates maize stubble decomposition for year-round harvesting

Suffolk-based New Shoots Farm replaced their old flail mower as it didn’t pulverise maize and sweetcorn stubble effectively – but have been amazed by the results of their new Major Cyclone.

Year-round cultivation is becoming standard practice for growers. Producers use a strategic rotational growing plan to maximise crop rotations, improve crop yields and minimise disease and pest risk.

The Major Cyclone continues to outperform conventional flail systems when processing residual stubble and crop waste, the manufacturer says.

New Shoots Farm grows a variety of salad crops and produce on 1,000 acres near Saxmundham, Suffolk. Before follow-on crops are planted the previous crop residue needs to be completely processed to eliminate the risk of pest and disease carrying over.

Ignas Šarlauskas is one of the farm managers at New Shoots. He recounts his dissatisfaction with their previous flail mower which didn’t pulverise maize and sweetcorn stubble sufficiently. “We grow baby-leaf spinach after maize and the unchopped stalks kept us from harvesting the leaves. That is unacceptable!”

After witnessing the Cyclone in action on grass, Ignas tried the beltless rotary mower on their crops with impressive results. “It did an amazing job. Issues of clumpy residue disappeared overnight.”

New Shoots acquired a front-mounted Major Cyclone in 6.3m working width. The winged mower has nine rotors and 36 overlapping blades. The gear-box driveline powers each rotor, turning vegetation into a fine mulch evenly dispersed over the width of the machine which encourages faster regrowth. The Cyclone is twice the width of their previous machine yet requires a fraction of the power. “We immediately halved our fuel costs,” explains Ignas. “It also means our operations are more timely, which is important for our time-critical production system.”

Easily adjustable cutting height allows the team to choose the kind of finish required. “This is perfect for preparing the seedbed for the next crop,” continues Ignas. Full length rear rollers ensure a level finish.

Wings hydraulically fold up to 2.8m transport width, suitable for safe manoeuvring between sites. The Cyclone is made of high-performance Strenx 700MC structural steel and galvanised against rust increasing the lifespan of the machine.

For further info, visit the Major Equipment website or contact the company directly.

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