With the move away from chemical weed control, a new bit of kit from Lemken's Steketee stable of hoeing technology could fill a gap for arable cropping.

Its new practical steering framer can offer precise guidance for everyone, turning unsteered hoeing machines from other popular brands into implements controlled by a joystick, or even via a camera.

This is a simple option for farmers who want to upgrade their existing hoeing technology, or switch between systems. It consists of a three-point mounted steering frame which works with the open lower link stabilisers on the tractor, with no lateral movements are transferred between the tractor and the steering frame.

Drivers control the machine from their seat using a joystick, or the IC-Light camera steering system. Camera steering enables the machine to differentiate between crop plants and weeds based on different shades of green or the RGB colour spectrum. This means it can work automatically to within 2cm of the plant.

It comes in two versions:

• The EC-Steer 7 is suitable for hoeing machines with a weight of up to 2.5-tonnes and a working width of up to 6m. Its three-point headstock means the camera can be positioned centrally on the steering frame to cover a wide field of view.

• The EC-Steer 9, with reinforced frame design, is suitable for larger hoeing machines with a working width of up to 9m and a weight of up to four tonnes.