WIU testing ground for prototype cultivator

MACOMB, Ill. — Weeds in farm fields are an ongoing headache for every farmer. When it comes to weed control in organic cropping, the options become more limited and focus on mechanical weed control.

The Western Illinois University Allison Organic Research Farm was the site of testing for a prototype cultivator that could reduce the weed control headaches for organic farmers.

“This is the testing ground,” said Andy Clayton, farm manager for the Allison Farm.

The WIU farm was one of two farms in Illinois that were selected by the designer of the cultivator to test and review his creation.

“The inventor of this is a Mennonite farmer in Iowa,” said Joel Gruver, director of the WIU Organic Research Program.

For now, the inventor wants to remain anonymous, Gruver said.

“He is still figuring out what to do when people start calling and placing orders,” Gruver said.

The inspiration for the prototype cultivator is Gary McDonald. McDonald is an Illinois farmer and educator who is well known in the organic cropping industry for his focus on weed control and organic farm management.

“The farmer who built this heard a talk that Gary gave in Iowa. He started communicating with Gary, and one thing led to the next,” Gruver said.

The Accura Flow cultivator features easily adjustable parts that allow farmers more precise weed control.

“What is so special about this cultivator is that it is very easily adjusted. The key concept is that it is designed to have very accurate control of the flow of soil into the row,” Gruver said.

The cultivator works two ways.

“It’s not just undercutting weeds between the crop — it’s controlling weeds in the row by burying them with a controlled flow of soil,” Gruver said.

That’s not a new concept for mechanical cultivation, but the Accura Flow makes the process easier for farmers.

“Other cultivators can do that, but very few cultivators can do that with the accuracy of this one and probably no other cultivators can do it with the ease of adjustment,” Gruver said.

On the Accura Flow cultivator, the pitch and height can be easily adjusted. The cultivator runs multiple sweeps.

“We are running four of them between 30-inch rows. You have two that are running right next to the row and two that are further back, in the middle of the row,” Gruver said.

Clayton said he has noticed the difference in time savings.

“We spend a lot less time setting this cultivator than we do the other one,” he said.

The version that WIU is testing, painted in the WIU purple and gold colors per Clayton’s request, is one of two the inventor deployed to Illinois. McDonald himself is using, testing and reviewing the other cultivator in Illinois.

Gruver and Clayton said the farmer faced challenges in the design and build of the cultivator, but was determined to make his vision a reality.

“He does not use email but he learned to do autoCAD so he could build this,” Clayton said.

Gruver said the farmer enlisted family members to help.

“Obviously, there are certain things he doesn’t do, but he is quite a mechanical innovator. He and his family members discussed all the different features and drew pictures, then they had people cut the steel for them,” Gruver said.

Even the set up of the cultivator was a family affair.

“When he arrived with this, we found that there were a few nuts that hadn’t been screwed on. He mentioned that he and his wife and daughter were putting it together and might have missed some,” Gruver said.

The farmer has visited the farm since Gruver and Clayton have been using the cultivator. They are documenting their experiences with it to help improve it. They also are ready to offer assistance in other areas.

“We already discussed some things with him, but we will probably come up with a master list of ideas. There are other ways that we could potentially be involved. Ideally, any new machine should have a manual, so we might help with developing a manual or providing photos,” Gruver said.