A new HE-VA Combi-Lift Pre-Cultivator will be launched at the Cereals event [stand 3052] which allows soil loosening at the same time drilling or cultivating.

Designed to subsoil up to 350mm (14”) deep, alleviating compaction and improving drainage, the Combi-Lift fits directly on the tractor linkage, incorporating a heavy duty rear linkage which can pull another implement behind.

Commenting, James Woolway, OPICO’s Managing Director said, ‘This versatile machine is perfect for a range of tasks, and can be lifted out of work when not needed, whilst still operating the drill or cultivator. This means specific ground can be targeted, such as wheelings, poorly drained areas of the field or pockets of compaction.’

It can be fitted with standard subsoiling legs and points or ‘low disturbance’ legs. In its standard format it is ideal for working in combination with shallow cultivators or cultivator drills, where compaction needs alleviating or soil needs restructuring.

The low disturbance version consists of a narrower leg and smaller, specially designed, tungsten-tipped point. It can be used down to a depth of 250mm (10”) to address soil pans and compaction to encourage depth of rooting and improved drainage.

‘The low disturbance version is ideal where blackgrass is a problem, as it can perform a medium depth cultivation with very little disturbance of the soil surface,’ adds James Woolway.

There is a hydraulic two point linkage on the rear of the Combi-Lift which allows the working depth of the tines to be easily adjusted from the tractor seat without affecting the drawbar height of the trailing machine.

All models can be supplied with either ‘Hammer –Thru’ multi-segmented shearbolt (which reduces the need to carry shearbolts) or automatic hydraulic reset leg protection. The hydraulic reset allows the legs to trip back when they hit an obstacle and then reset automatically on the move.

The Combi-Lift is available in 3m, 4m and 6m versions, starting at £7,683 + VAT.

The 4m folding version fitted with low disturbance legs and points will be on display on the OPICO HE-VA stand (no. 3052) at Cereals, in front of the 4m Sky EasyDrill. The 4m Combi-Lift retails at £14,500 +VAT.