Irish potato growers continue to face challenges following the loss of diquat, a key active once used in chemical haulm desiccation. With this option gone, farmers have had to adopt alternative methods, including mechanical, chemical and emerging technologies, each with its own pros and cons.
To help assess these options, the Irish Farmers Journal, in partnership with Teagasc, will host a potato haulm desiccation demonstration at the Crops and Technology event in Teagasc Oak Park on 25 June, giving farmers a opportunity to see the different systems in action.
The demonstration
The demonstration will take place immediately after the main sprayer demonstration on the day and showcase a range of existing, novel and new approaches to haulm destruction. The potato plots are located beside the main sprayer demo area. The methods on display will include:
Spotlight: one plot will be treated with the herbicide Spotlight Plus (Carfentrazone-ethyl), which is now widely used by farmers. There will also be a plot treated with Spotlight Plus followed by flailing, and another plot treated with Spotlight Plus followed by the Crop.Zone haulm electrocution machine.Flailing: there will be live flailing of green haulms on the day, as well as flailing of plots that have been pre-treated with Spotlight Plus.Haulm pulling: a live demonstration of haulm pulling will take place in one of the plots.Electrocution: this will feature the first live public demonstration of desiccating green haulms using the new Crop.Zone machine, which uses electricity. Visitors will also see plots that have been pre-treated with the machine, as well as plots that received a combination of Spotlight Plus and electrical treatment.
Renewables editor Stephen Robb and Teagasc Crop specialist Shay Phelan pictured in the demo potato crops ahead of Crops and Technology event Oak Park 25 June \ Claire Nash
Machinery
There will be a number of machines working in the demonstration on the day, with the agents for the machines on stands in the exhibitor area:
Crop.Zone: the new Crop.Zone machine which uses electricity to kill haulms, as well as a wide range of other plants, will be taking part in its first public working demonstration in Ireland. The 9m machine covers 10 drills, and claims a complete haulm kill within 12-14 days. The machine is distributed by Meath Farm Machinery.
Crop.Zone.
Struik Glutton: The Struik Glutton haulm topper is designed to mechanically remove potato haulm, reducing the need for chemical desiccation. Its flails are shaped to closely follow ridge contours. The machine includes a Smart Clean System and large front hatches. It is available in rigid frames from 2x75cm to 8x38in, with foldable versions available from the 4500 model onwards.
The 5400 foldable version will be demonstrating on the day. The machine is distributed by Quaile Machinery.
Struik Glutton.
Grimme Toppa: the GRIMME TOPPA 600 Combi haulm topper mechanically cuts potato haulm and deposits it between the ridges. The rear-mounted unit tops four rows per pass, and when combined with the front-mounted TOPPA 200, can cover up to six rows. The machine is available for a range of row and track widths. The machine is distributed by GRIMME and the Toppa is available in a range of sizes.
Grimme Toppa.
Vegniek DiscMaster: the Vegniek DiscMaster haulm puller removes potato haulms mechanically using rotating pull discs, while spring-loaded guides feed haulm and soil into the system. Diabolo rollers reseal and compact the ridges after the haulm is pulled to prevent tuber exposure. 
Vegniek DiscMaster.
The machine is available in two- and four-row versions, with six-row models in development. Hydraulic adjustments allow operators to control working depth and pressure from the cab.
The machine is distributed by Quaile Machinery.
The potato haulm desiccation demonstration at the Crops and Technology event in Teagasc Oak Park on June 25.
Irish potato growers continue to face challenges following the loss of diquat, a key active once used in chemical haulm desiccation. With this option gone, farmers have had to adopt alternative methods, including mechanical, chemical and emerging technologies, each with its own pros and cons.
To help assess these options, the Irish Farmers Journal, in partnership with Teagasc, will host a potato haulm desiccation demonstration at the Crops and Technology event in Teagasc Oak Park on 25 June, giving farmers a opportunity to see the different systems in action.
The demonstration
The demonstration will take place immediately after the main sprayer demonstration on the day and showcase a range of existing, novel and new approaches to haulm destruction. The potato plots are located beside the main sprayer demo area. The methods on display will include:
Spotlight: one plot will be treated with the herbicide Spotlight Plus (Carfentrazone-ethyl), which is now widely used by farmers. There will also be a plot treated with Spotlight Plus followed by flailing, and another plot treated with Spotlight Plus followed by the Crop.Zone haulm electrocution machine.Flailing: there will be live flailing of green haulms on the day, as well as flailing of plots that have been pre-treated with Spotlight Plus.Haulm pulling: a live demonstration of haulm pulling will take place in one of the plots.Electrocution: this will feature the first live public demonstration of desiccating green haulms using the new Crop.Zone machine, which uses electricity. Visitors will also see plots that have been pre-treated with the machine, as well as plots that received a combination of Spotlight Plus and electrical treatment.
Renewables editor Stephen Robb and Teagasc Crop specialist Shay Phelan pictured in the demo potato crops ahead of Crops and Technology event Oak Park 25 June \ Claire Nash
Machinery
There will be a number of machines working in the demonstration on the day, with the agents for the machines on stands in the exhibitor area:
Crop.Zone: the new Crop.Zone machine which uses electricity to kill haulms, as well as a wide range of other plants, will be taking part in its first public working demonstration in Ireland. The 9m machine covers 10 drills, and claims a complete haulm kill within 12-14 days. The machine is distributed by Meath Farm Machinery.
Crop.Zone.
Struik Glutton: The Struik Glutton haulm topper is designed to mechanically remove potato haulm, reducing the need for chemical desiccation. Its flails are shaped to closely follow ridge contours. The machine includes a Smart Clean System and large front hatches. It is available in rigid frames from 2x75cm to 8x38in, with foldable versions available from the 4500 model onwards.
The 5400 foldable version will be demonstrating on the day. The machine is distributed by Quaile Machinery.
Struik Glutton.
Grimme Toppa: the GRIMME TOPPA 600 Combi haulm topper mechanically cuts potato haulm and deposits it between the ridges. The rear-mounted unit tops four rows per pass, and when combined with the front-mounted TOPPA 200, can cover up to six rows. The machine is available for a range of row and track widths. The machine is distributed by GRIMME and the Toppa is available in a range of sizes.
Grimme Toppa.
Vegniek DiscMaster: the Vegniek DiscMaster haulm puller removes potato haulms mechanically using rotating pull discs, while spring-loaded guides feed haulm and soil into the system. Diabolo rollers reseal and compact the ridges after the haulm is pulled to prevent tuber exposure.
Vegniek DiscMaster.
The machine is available in two- and four-row versions, with six-row models in development. Hydraulic adjustments allow operators to control working depth and pressure from the cab.
The machine is distributed by Quaile Machinery.
The potato haulm desiccation demonstration at the Crops and Technology event in Teagasc Oak Park on June 25.
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