This year’s event represents a milestone, both for Claydon and LAMMA, marking not only the invention of Claydon's direct strip till drill in 2002 but also the 40th anniversary of the UK’s leading farm machinery show.

Claydon, the European market leader in direct strip seeding technology with its Claydon Opti-Till® System, will exhibit 4.8m and 3m seed and fertiliser models from its new range of Evolution mounted drills, together with a new 9m Straw Harrow and 4m TerraBlade inter-row hoe on its stand – Hall 6, Stand 6.600.

New Claydon evolution drills

Building on Claydon’s extensive experience of direct strip seeding technology, the nine new Claydon Evolution mounted drill models take direct strip seeding to the next level. Combining enhanced operational functionality with the tried and tested features which have made Claydon Opti-Till® the crop establishment system of choice for growers who want to reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve soil health, they will be available for delivery from autumn 2022.

Prices will be between Claydon’s current Hybrid mounted drills, which they supersede, and the company’s Hybrid Trailed models.

The tried and tested two-tine technology which Suffolk arable farmer Jeff Claydon developed in 2002 is at the heart of every Claydon drill, a major benefit being its ability to cope with extremes of weather which are becoming increasingly frequent.

With working widths of 3m, 4m, 4.5m, 4.8m, 5m and 6m, the Evolution models incorporate 9, 13, 15 or 19 tines and most feature a 1910-litre hopper, 160-litres more than the previous Claydon Hybrid mounted models. The 3m Evolution 3MF and 4m 4MRF have a 2700-litre tank, an increase of 600 litres, which is split 50:50 between seed and fertiliser. The larger hoppers reduce downtime and increases output, while second and third hopper options for applying multiple types, varieties and sizes of seed are available to further enhance versatility.

New Claydon 9m straw harrow

The Claydon Straw Harrow is simple, robust, and effective. It achieves the high working speeds (15 to 25km/h) which are necessary to create a micro-tilth in the top 30mm of soil, as well as breaking up straw so that it decomposes rapidly. It does so quickly and cost-effectively, typically using just one litre of fuel per hectare.

The new 9m mounted version bridges the gap between the popular 7.5m mounted and 12.5m trailed models, providing larger farms with greater flexibility and output without incurring the higher cost of a trailed unit. It incorporates 75 double tines, each of which is attached to the frame by a unique fixing that enables the tine to pivot and absorb shock loads when working in stony conditions or turning.

The typical/suggested output figure for the 9m model, which has minimum power requirement of 180hp, is 12ha/h when operating at 20km/h. Weighing 1850kg and suitable for use on a Cat3 linkage, it folds to 2.99m wide and 3.55m high for transport. Light boards and protection guards are standard.

Claydon Straw Harrow are now available in 3m, 7.5m and 9m mounted versions, together with 12.5m and 15m trailed models. The company’s product range also includes the 6m TerraStar® light rotary cultivator for situations where more soil movement is required than can be achieved with a Straw harrow, together with TerraBlade inter-row hoes from 3m to 8m wide which provide a low-cost, mechanical method of controlling weeds in band-sown combinable crops.