SCOTTISH potato equipment specialist, ScanStone and its engineering partner, Scotts Precision Manufacturing, from Forfar, had a larger than usual presence at LAMMA to show off an expanding product range that includes the new Patriot trailed potato harvester.

The Patriot 6 with 6sq m separation area will soon be followed by an 8sq m version with a longer web coverage and a picking table option. Both feature a belt-driven version of the Evolution roller cleaning unit and touch-screen electronic control.

Both harvesters are designed to meet the needs of smaller growers who might otherwise operate a used machine with its increased potential for wearing parts replacement and reliability issues.

“The Patriot is simpler and lighter than more complex trailed harvesters, and it can lift two rows at a time or four rows when worked in tandem with our windrower,” explained Derek Scott. That machine has been given a longer cross conveyor for 2017 to reach over a bed so that eight rows can be opened up to create plenty of room for a trailer when the harvester goes in.