With residue spreading a key part of a no-till cropping system, specialist manufacturer, Redekop has released a combined chopper spreader specifically for older model John Deere harvesters.
Designed to suit John Deere STS harvesters the Redekop system uses the renowned chopper with the Maximum Air Velocity (MAV) spreader technology to distribute residue up to 13.7 metres (45 feet) in ideal conditions.
Distributed in Australia by Neil’s Parts, the 340 series is a full housing replacement for STS 50, 60 and 70 series harvesters and replaces the existing factory fitted straw chopper.
Neil’s Parts product manager, Marney Strachan said the unit was suitable for any STS model and was the ideal replacement for a worn chopper or for those looking to improve residue spread.
He said the units incorporate all all the Redekop MAV features with the option of a widespread tailboard.
“This product’s attributes are best highlighted when everybody is planting their crops,” he said.
“It chops like a conventional chopper but with the added air velocity aids the spread making it even and wider behind the combine.
“The Deere spreaders don’t spread as wide and tend to send out two concentrated chaff and straw lines so when it comes time to put a seeder in you can get hairpinning and tyne blockages.”
Redekop’s MAV uses two seperated zones for chopping and spreading making it different to a conventional rotor design that uses the cutting blades to also spread residue.
The MAV has 4 rows of long-life blades mounted in pairs on a rotor, and to optimise performance, a high density counterknife - or tight spaced knife bar, is recommended.
The MAV blades are reversible and paddle blades increase the chopper air flow and spreading width.
Fan blades fitted to the rotor generate air velocity up to 140 kilometres an hour.
Mr Strachan said Redekop had been refining and manufacturing the product since 1983.
“They’ve been recognised as doing a superior job for such a long time and that's not just because the original equipment manufacturers were not very good at it,” he said.
“Until the last five or so years, manufacturers have been worried about getting crop in and threshing it, but weren't too concerned about what comes out the back.
“Now with zero till and controlled traffic and residue management - all of the efficiencies being introduced to produce more grain, there’s a need for an even spread of material out the back.”
Since controlled traffic farming had taken off in the past decade he said sales of the Redekop equipment for all brands of harvesters had “grown and grown”.
“We’ve found that once you’ve got people on board they will never go back to a factory solution - they can’t speak highly enough of how a Redekop works,” Mr Strachan said.
He said that until some croppers use a Redekop solution first hand “they often think there equipment is ok.
“There’s a groundswell of interest from people who have had their tillage compromised,” he said.
With a retail price of around $10,000, Mr Strachan said the Redekop STS option came in cheaper than replacing a factory chopper.
John Deere has a upgrade to their existing one that sort of does the job and that will cost more, so this is a good bang for relatively low dollars,” he said.
“Its also got a broad market because some of the old Deere straw choppers are probably worn out now and this is a nice, cheap alternative to plonk on and get some added performance.”
