Having a hedge cutter on the farm is a big benefit to most farmers. They are useful at all times of the year, including the closed season.

Dangerous bends and gates can be trimmed during the summer months where they are deemed to be putting public safety at risk.

Now this will not necessarily justify the owning of a machine unless there is a lot more work for them. How big of a machine to buy and the cost involved is a key question for the farmer buyer. The size of the machine depends on a number of factors:

Tractor size

The hp required to drive a hedge cutter is not a big factor, many mid-size tractors will have ample capacity.

The issue is the weight of the tractor itself. A larger hedge cutter with its arm fully extend can lift the rear wheel of the tractor. This is exaggerated on uneven ground or ruts where the tractor is off balance. Wheel weights and putting water in tyres are options to counterbalance the hedge cutter weight. However this may not be practical for a tractor that is needed for other jobs on the farm.

Three-point linkage machines are most suitable for farmers, as the machine is interchangeable between most tractors. The limiting factor here is reach for linkage-mounted machines. The maximum reach is around 6m on most models.

Brackets for hedge-cutters are hard to source secondhand as they are either kept by the previous owner or they will not fit. New brackets will add about €2,000 to the cost of the hedge-cutter. The plus side to these types of machines is that their reach is not limited and will be able to carry out nearly all of the cutting on the farm

Hedge size and drains

The width and ease of access to hedges is crucial- smaller machines may not be able to fully reach across to carry out the required cutting. Machines with limited reach force the operator to drive very close to the hedge border, forcing them into water cuts and uneven ground. It is very hard to keep the head of the cutter level when the tractor is moving on uneven ground, which will affect the cutting finish. Large drains pose the same problems for the operator.

The size of machine needed is directly related to the size of hedges on the farm. It could be an option to purchase a smaller machine and use a contractor for bigger, harder to reach hedges.

Hedge-cutting is not a quick process,-time has to be allocated to the job. Busy farms with pressure on workloads already should look at using contractors.

There is also the issue of hedge-cutting tying up a tractor that may be needed for work in the field or yard. Some farms will have enough time and tractors to carry out the work, and this in the long run could save on contractor charges. It may also allow farmers to do a little work for hire also.

The head and flails are the mechanisms that deliver the finish on to the hedge and it is vital that they work well in all conditions. T-type flails are generally accepted to work well, while boot-type flails work well in grassy margins. A head size of 1.2m is standard on most machines. Belt drive or hydraulic drive to the rotor is dependent on the manufacturer.

The hedge cutter pump delivers the power to the head from the hedge cutter itself. The power in the head has nothing to do with the power from the tractor PTO. For most types of work a 55hp is good enough, while contractors may opt for a 70-85hp motor.

Cable controls are standard on lower specification models. They can be upgraded to electric fully proportional joystick controls for around €2,000. Cable control is fine for most users who plan to dotwo to three hours per day, while operators who work long hours will look for the comfort of the electric controls.

Electric controls are like turning a light switch on- the response is instant while cable controls are more gradual. Bigger machines come with electric controls as standard.

Summary

A typical farmer’s machine should have a 17ft reach, with a 55hp 1.2m head. This type of hedge cutter should be able to carry out 90% of the work on the farm. Prices start at around €12,000 ex VAT for entry level machines.