The recent unveiling of the Herbimec hoeing cultivator by Dutch mechanization company Vomumatra has generated considerable interest in the agricultural community. Showcased at the Future Farming & Food Experience, this innovative piece of machinery is designed for shallow soil cultivation and false seedbed preparation, promising to be both effective and affordable.
Vomumatra, based in the Netherlands, has built its reputation on providing solid quality agricultural machinery at accessible prices. Co-founder Wim Vogels, who designed the Herbimec himself, emphasizes the company’s commitment to delivering reliable equipment. The production of the Herbimec takes place at ADV Technic in Poland, ensuring a balance of quality and cost-effectiveness.
The Herbimec hoeing cultivator boasts a five-bar design with a working width of 6.2 meters. Vogels highlights that the cultivator features more tines per meter of working width compared to similar models. This dense arrangement of tines, spaced just under 12 centimeters apart, allows the Herbimec to cut weeds across its entire width efficiently. The machine is equipped with 20-centimeter wide duckfoot blades, which operate ideally at a depth of 2 to 3 centimeters but can reach up to 5 centimeters if necessary. This design ensures that more soil is removed from the weeds, enhancing the cultivator’s effectiveness.
For those engaged in stubble cultivation, the Herbimec can be fitted with narrow blades on the tines. The light cultivator tines, reinforced with springs, offer increased resistance and durability. Vogels recommends operating the relatively lightweight cultivator at speeds of 12 to 14 kilometers per hour, making it suitable for early spring fieldwork. A 100 hp tractor is sufficient to manage the 5-meter wide version of the Herbimec, providing flexibility for various farming operations.
The versatility of the Herbimec is further demonstrated by its range of working widths, from a minimum of 3 meters to a maximum of 6.2 meters. Each version is designed to fold down to a transport width of 2 meters, ensuring ease of movement between fields. This feature is particularly beneficial for farmers managing multiple plots or those with limited access routes.
One of the standout features of the Herbimec is its ability to destroy green manures, including the notoriously difficult-to-spray oilseed radish. This capability makes it a valuable tool for farmers looking to manage cover crops and maintain soil health. The 6.2-meter version, complete with support legs and lighting, is priced at €15,000, positioning it as an affordable option for farmers seeking to enhance their weed management practices.
Vomumatra offers the Herbimec for sale both directly and through dealers upon request. This flexible sales approach ensures that farmers can access the machinery in a manner that suits their needs. The introduction of the Herbimec hoeing cultivator represents a significant advancement in agricultural mechanization, providing farmers with an efficient, cost-effective solution for soil cultivation and weed control.