Mechanical weeding becomes intelligent
Zürn and Garford to cooperate

The cutting platform and field research technology specialist Zürn Harvesting has acquired a majority stake in the English hoeing technology manufacturer Garford Farm Machinery Ltd. The German family-owned company is thus expanding its product range to include the growth market of mechanical weed control and future-oriented camera-assisted machine guidance with individual plant recognition.

The development and production site in Peterborough, 1.5 hours by car north of London, remains the company’s central headquarters and will continue to be managed independently by Philip and Janet Garford. At the moment the staff of 40 employees is being jointly expanded to meet the growing demand for professional hoeing technology.

Garford’s dealer networks will be maintained in all major markets. However, in the face of the increasing challenges and opportunities presented due to reduced herbicide options, Garford are committed to strengthen the network of sales and customer support worldwide.

Garford recently demonstrated his innovative strength at the Lamma show in Birmingham: The jury awarded the manufacturer’s new Babyleaf Salad Hoe a gold medal. Thanks to its unique shares, the technology can be used in narrow row spacings below 50 mm.

“In the future, we want to jointly use our experience and resources in sales, production and development to enable Garford to take further growth steps with their extensive hoeing technology programme. The increasing resistance problems with herbicides will open up new opportunities for mechanical weed control,” is how Managing Director Rolf Zürn of Zürn Harvesting sums up the company’s cooperation.

Garford and Zürn are very much looking forward to future cooperation. The prerequisites for this are good, as the two family businesses share the same values: down-to-earth, diligence, innovative strength, permanently available service and passion for agriculture. https://www.verdantpartners.com/
Source: https://garford.com/