|
|
Overview
The NEW STARCUT stubble management system
Traditional management of arable crop stubble has been geared towards using the
combine harvester as the principal machine for dealing with unwanted crop residue,
straw and chaff through the use of straw choppers and chaff spreaders. The new Spearhead
STARCUT stubble management system incorporates a radically different and far more
effective approach that delivers significant and tangible benefits for arable farmers.
The high performance mulching system introduces a far more effective option for
the chopping and distribution of crop residue. In addition to substantial time savings
in terms of labour, the new STARCUT system also delivers major fuel savings and
reductions in worn combine parts. The benefits don’t stop there. Crop residue decomposition
is accelerated while fertiliser requirements are reduced along with the risk of
disease carryover to next season’s crops. The STARCUT stubble management solution
represents the way forward for modern arable farmers.
 |
How it works?
The STARCUT stubble management system is based around the cutting height of the
combine harvester and the stubble height at the completion of the harvesting operation.
 |
 |
 |
|
The higher standing stubble is then mulched using a Spearhead
STARCUT mulcher with trailed harrow |
The mulcher and harrow combination incorporates the finely
mulched crop residue with soil particles. This mixing of mulch, soil and microorganisms
significantly accelerates the decomposition process beyond conventional stubble
management practice. |
Stubble height - why so important?
Stubble height has a dramatic impact on combine performance. The higher
the setting for the cutter bar, the less straw is taken into the harvester and therefore
its capacity to thresh is greatly increased.
Benefits to the harvest
Increased work rate - Reduced volumes of straw passing through
the combine enable operating speeds to be increased and therefore a reduction in
operational hours.
Improved grain separation - With less straw in the threshing operation,
grain separation is significantly improved.
Increased operational capacity - With a higher cutter setting,
moisture levels in the crop do not restrict combining cutting hours to the same
extent increasing the potential for extended cutting periods. This also contributes
to reduced drying costs.
Reduced risk of combine damage - At higher cutter settings, the
risk of stones damaging the combine resulting in costly downtime is greatly reduced.
 |
Proof it works?
Spearhead’s claims regarding the key benefits of the STARCUT stubble management
system have been backed up by top level research carried out by Dresden University
in Germany, one of Europe’s leading agricultural institutions. The independent evaluation
of the new system undertaken over a four year period fully endorses the STARCUT
stubble management approach. The study compared Spearhead’s STARCUT solution against
the most common methods currently used in arable farming today.
The university carried out extensive evaluation of fuel consumption, combine capacity
and chop quality at two different stubble heights – 14cm in line with conventional
practice and at 35cm, more than twice as high. The results reinforced Spearhead’s
own claims and demonstrated emphatically the benefits to be gained from a change
in stubble management practice. Cutting the stubble at a height of 35cm increased
combine capacity by as much as 50%. At the same time fuel consumption was reduced
by an impressive 40%.
With the additional benefits of faster operational capability and improved soil
management achieved by the more even distribution of a finer mulch, the evidence
in favour of the STARCUT stubble management programme is conclusive. It works.
 |
Benefits to the soil
 |
 |
 |
 |
Faster decomposition
Incorporating soil with mulch accelerates the release of microorganisms
which speeds up decomposition. |
Promotion of volunteers
Disturbance of soil encourages unwanted weed seeds to germinate enabling them to
be treated. |
Even distribution of mulch
The STARCUT rotary mulcher ensures an even distribution of residue for
equal decomposition and nitrogen release levels across the field. |
Reduced risk of disease
Well mulched material reduces the risk of crop disease surviving the winter
to infect another crop.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our machines
 |
STARCUT1210
The STARCUT1210 takes rotary mulching technology to a higher level than ever before.
Aimed at the top end of the large contractor and agricultural markets, the STARCUT1210
delivers unparalleled performance and reliability essential for high output applications.
Despite the sheer scale of the decks, this latest breakthrough enables easier transportation
within the legal width and height requirements and, even more significantly, automatic
operation at the push of a button from inside the tractor cab.
|
|
|
|
 |
STARCUT910
Spearhead’s groundbreaking technology knows no bounds when it comes to
delivering the highest performance rotary mowing capability to the largest arable
and aviation support markets in the world. The same market leading levels of engineering
and manufacturing expertise have been applied to new, exceptionally large, high
specification mulcher, The STARCUT910 with its 9.1 metre working width. |
|
|
|
 |
STARCUT730
The sleek and imposing dimensions of Spearhead’s STARCUT730 are the first
characteristics of this 7.3 metre width rotary mulcher to impress. The scale and
capability of the STARCUT730 is designed to appeal to large-scale farmers in the
UK, Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia as well as large contractors,
municipal users and airport authorities. As with the other models in this premium
range, apart from the options on cutting width, the real benefit to professional
users is the design and quality of build and performance, all of which creates higher
quality mulching and a more even distribution. Boasting an abundance of intelligent
design features, the full specification of the STARCUT730 establishes it firmly
at the top of its class. The ultimate performance in grass maintenance, setaside
and the heaviest duty scrub clearance is now achievable far more effectively, far
quicker and far more economically.
|
|
|
|
 |
STARCUT500
Sitting in the middle of Spearhead’s impressive new rotary mulching line-up
is the STARCUT500, a universally appealing addition to the vegetation control market.
With mid-size, agricultural, professional contractor and local authority applications
very much in mind, the five-metre cutting width of the STARCUT500 is expected to
generate significant levels of interest given the inherent design quality and extent
of the build specification.
Manufactured to the same exacting standards and possessing the same innovative design
characteristics as the models on either side in the new STARCUT range, the only
discernible difference is the operational cutting width. For the customer, with
Spearhead’s reputation for engineering quality and durability undisputed, that means
far more of a good thing. |
|
|
|
 |
STARCUT300
The very best rotary mulching technology has been packed into the development
of the STARCUT300, a premium three-metre cutting width machine targeting farmers
and contract professionals demanding high levels of quality. Possessing the same
high specification as the other newcomers in the range, the all-shaft drive STARCUT300
can also benefit from Spearhead’s unique new six-blade cutting system and delta
shape design which sets it well apart from comparable machines.
Much of the appeal of this model is the fact that it has been built around the principles
of the larger machines and without compromise so both performance and reliability
are assured as is indicated by the 116 HP gearbox rating. The design mirrors the
innovation of the larger machines in the range and the specification speaks for
itself. While there may be bigger machines for large-scale applications, few offer
the same high levels of mulching capability at this size or the flexibility with
rear and front-mount operation possible. |
|
|
|
|
|