What might a sustainable weed control strategy for maize look like? With the phasing out of key soil-applied herbicides, mechanical and integrated methods are becoming increasingly important. There is a need for practical solutions that are both effective and efficient. At the field days, nine maize cultivators will impressively demonstrate their performance potential. The maize is at the 10–20 cm stage with a row spacing of 45 cm. In addition to the high quality of work delivered by the hoeing implements, the focus is primarily on area coverage. Experience how automatic row guidance and intelligent steering systems noticeably reduce the driver’s workload whilst enabling higher working speeds – precisely, safely and in a resource-efficient manner.

The use of harrows as a proven tool in integrated crop protection is also a key focus of the demonstrations. Harrows are frequently used across the entire area of cereal crops to effectively reduce unwanted weed populations and to complement chemical measures in a targeted manner. At the DLG Feldtage, a summer durum wheat crop at the 2– to 3-leaf stage will be harrowed. Eight different brands will demonstrate live how modern harrow technology can contribute to sustainable crop management. Experience mechanical weed control in a practical setting – as a key component of modern, integrated crop protection strategies.

Prof. Dr Kath-Petersen and students from the Institute of Agricultural and Construction Machinery Engineering at Cologne University of Applied Sciences will record the results of both demonstration topics and provide a technical assessment.