Development steps of the Finer SL
Michael Horsch explains to terraHORSCH why the development of the Finer was based on the pre-investment study that was made three years ago as well as on different experiences that were gathered during the development stage in these past three years.
terraHORSCH: Which use has the Finer SL been designed for?
Michael Horsch: The Finer SL is a 4-bar fine cultivator with a frame height of 55 cm and a tine spacing of 15 cm. It is intended for mechanical weed control with a second pass, but also for seedbed preparation and to keep the fields black. It can also be used for stubble cultivation. In this case, however, the straw should be chaffed very well, and the threshing residues should be short.
terraHORSCH: The previous Finer was a little bit longer. Now it is shorter again. Why?
Michael Horsch: We carried out a lot of tests during the development stage. In the first pre-investment study the Finer SL at first was designed with 5 bars. Then we placed the tyres and the depth control system in the middle only to finally realise that a compact 4-bar design with an exact depth control at the rear and at the front of the machine – similar to the first prototype I had built – is the ideal solution. Moreover, we noticed that an angle adjustment of the tines which was also already part of the first machine was good in theory but was hardly used in in practice. Another reason is that we want to use the Finer to cut shallowly and over the whole working width. The compacter the tine section, the tighter the bar spacing, the easier mechanical weed control. The compacter design also is more advantageous with regard to seedbed preparation.
The 4-bar tine section guarantees shallow cutting. 
The Finer SL with 2-row harrow
terraHORSCH: What does this mean for the equipment?
Michael Horsch: We offer the Finer SL with support wheels in front of and behind the tine section. But you can also use it with support wheels and packer. The advantage of support wheels at the rear and at the front is that you can work without consolidation. In combination with the packer, you get a fine crumbly seedbed, clods are crushed, and consolidation is excellent.
I think that especially the combination of double harrow and RollFlex packer will prevail in the long run as it meets both requirements, i.e. leave the soil loosely on the surface or crush clods. The configuration options are manifold and all of them guarantee a universal use.
terraHORSCH: Are there other essential equipment features?
Michael Horsch: There is a new harrow support and a new harrow which is one of the most essential components of the Finer SL. The task of the harrow is to take the weed that has been cut off to the surface and place it there. To do so we equipped the Finer with a 2-row harrow that can be adjusted hydraulically while driving. Thus, you can adjust the harrow according to your conditions and requirements – a little bit lighter or even a little bit more aggressive to take the material to the surface to make sure it dries out. In my opinion, the Finer SL is the step in the right direction for all farmers who think about mechanical weed control.