Plough manufacturer Gregoire Besson has recently completed successful trials of their latest product in the Paris Basin – a combination plough and press. Managing Director Robin Immink comments, "The idea behind the concept was to reduce the number of passes needed for cultivation and consolidation and in particular to combat the common problem with trailed presses 'catching' the press arm on each round, but with rising fuel costs and mounting time pressures, the economic advantages have never been stronger."
Another advantage is the ease of transportation because everything is 'all in one'. The amount of pressure on the press can be adjusted via a hydraulic ram. This enables a firmer finish for lighter land.
The new combination unit is available now on the semi mounted ranges, but there are plans to extend the option to the entire range of Gregoire Besson ploughs following further tests. In addition to the time and cost savings that the combination unit offers over separate units is that the product itself is lower than the purchase costs of both items. For example, the semi-mounted 8 furrow SPSL9 costs £40,000 whereas the cost of an 8 furrow semi-mounted plough and a 3.6m press would be in the region of £45-50,000. Robin sums up, "It is common practice with min-till cultivators to incorporate consolidation rollers and this new product is bringing similar cost and operational benefits to the plough."
