Adoption of mechanical weed control is on the rise in the war on weeds. Leading Harvest Weed Control OEM Seed Terminator will have over 600 units in the paddock this harvest.

With the company's seventh Australian harvest, the machines have accumulated an impressive total of 1500 harvests since they were introduced in 2016.

Farmer and inventor of the technology, Dr Nick Berry states: "we started this company on the principle of getting this technology to as many farmers as possible, as quickly as possible, and as economically as possible.

"We need technology to preserve chemicals, which are allowing us to produce enough food, to feed the world."

He warns: "these may be the only herbicides we ever have to control weeds and allow us to produce food, and we're destroying them at an alarming rate."

Weeds are a costly problem for farmers. In 2016 Australia's Grains Research and Development Corporation estimated they cost Australian grain growers about $3.3 billion annually.

And because weeds deprive crops of sunlight, water and important nutrients, they result in yield losses of 2.76 million tonnes.

The council also put the cost of herbicide resistance at $187 million a year, for herbicide treatment and other weed control practices.

Collection

The combine harvester collects up to 80 percent of weed seeds during the harvest operation.

When grain is separated from other materials, weed seeds get processed in the tailing return system, which can spread those weeds up to 500m across the paddock, effectively planting next year's weed problem.

Those weeds present at harvest are the fittest weeds of the year. They have survived every agronomic practice thrown at them all year, from diverse cropping rotations, narrow row spacings, increased seeding rates, and applying the right chemistry at the right times.

This is where the Seed Terminator intercepts those weeds in the process. It takes the chaff component and pulverises it, killing the weed seeds and volunteer grains - turning them into flour - not allowing any weeds that may have exited the combine a chance to grow next year.

Targeted

With some 267 species resistant to 165 different herbicides, the Seed Terminator targets herbicide-resistant weeds that have survived in-season control - a growing problem worldwide. Berry concurs: "we know we can't spray our way out of herbicide resistance, and the Seed Terminator is not the only answer. We need a holistic approach, layering mechanical and herbicide practices to diversify weed control tactics and take the pressure off chemicals."

Ongoing university trials in Australia and overseas show the device is capable of killing up to 99 per cent of notoriously tough rye grass seeds.

Annual ryegrass (Lolium Rigidum) has been a major focus for testing, firstly because of its prevalence as a weed species, and secondly because it is really hard to kill with a mill. This is due to its high fibre-to-starch ratio (meaning it is very tough) and its very light (hitting it doesn't provide much energy for seed damage).

Technology

The technology behind the Seed Terminator is built on the science of mechanically killing weed seeds completed by Dr Nick Berry. He completed his PhD pioneering the science of modelling weed seed pulverising and impact testing to determine the speed and number of impacts needed to kill weed seeds.

Farmers are out there, day in day out, closely observing the life cycle of the plants and the soil.

"They see the issue. They see it doesn't make any sense to spread weeds with their harvester," says Nick.

"With Seed Terminator, they are getting revenge on their weeds."

The Australian-designed and made Seed Terminator is a simple attachment for combine harvesters that terminates seeds before they become weeds.

For enquiries contact your local dealer or state manager:

Tom Slatyer WA  +61 438 789 160 or tom.s@seedterminator.com.au

Mark Bastian SA  +61 428 517 316 or mark.bastian@seedterminator.com.au

Keagan Grant NSW +61 459 701 633 or keagan@seedterminator.com.au

Ned Jeffery VIC +61 409 969 227 or ned@seedterminator.com.au

Join the Terminator Agronomist Monthly Newsletter to learn more about diversifying weed control tactics and move past the IBC https://www.seedterminator.com.au/integratedweedmanagement.html

For more details, visit: https://www.seedterminator.com.au/dealers.html