Increasingly, we’re seeing several different types of machines capable of immediately adapting to changing field conditions. And tillage equipment certainly hasn’t been left out of that trend to continually advance the technology built into today’s farm equipment.
Last fall, Case IH announced it is adding the VT-Flex 435 vertical tillage tool to its tillage line. The VT-Flex gives operators the ability to alter how aggressively the implement engages soil while on the go, right from the cab.
The disc gang angles can be mechanically or hydraulically adjusted from zero to 12 degrees to match the operator’s desired field finish for any portion of the field. Operators can also adjust the front gangs independently from the rear gangs to further vary residue coverage and create exactly the right field finish. Additionally, 20-inch, shallow-concavity fluted blades give the VT-Flex 435 the ability to cut and mix residue even at shallow gang angles.
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“This addition to the Case IH lineup is designed with the agronomic features needed to match a wide variety of soil management requirements,” says Chris Lursen, Case IH tillage marketing manager. “Whether a producer is looking to size residue and preserve soils — or mix even the most stubborn crop residue — effective field preparation is made simple with fast, easy gang angle adjustments.”
The hydraulic gang angle adjustment feature is an option on the 15- to 25-foot models, which is what allows operators to adjust settings from the cab while continuing to travel across a field at working speeds of six to nine miles per hour. Without this option, disc angles need to be manually set.
“We know producers need to make frequent adjustments to meet changing field conditions, and making those adjustments on the go is just one way this new Case IH tillage tool helps operators optimize their time,” Lursen says.
The VT-Flex uses a single-point hydraulic depth control for easy adjustments and can operate at depths of one to four inches. A front T–hitch design allows for tight headland turns, and the machine folds up to a transport width of 13 feet 7 inches (4.14 metres).
At the rear, the VT-Flex 435 comes equipped with a “TigerPaw Crumbler,” which the brand says is designed to produce uniform clod sizing and residue distribution. The whole implement rides on a standard walking tandem axle design on the main frame and wings. Case IH claims this axle arrangement also helps provide consistent depth control.
The VT-Flex 435 is available in five working widths — 11, 15, 20, 23 or 25 feet. The brand says tractor horsepower requirements range from 65 to 250 horsepower.
Although Case IH announced the introduction of the VT-Flex 435 last September, dealers won’t be able to begin delivering them to customers until late in the growing season. However, buyers should have them in time for fall tillage work this year.
