The topper isn’t just used for maintaining grass growth and tidying up areas of the farm anymore.
While the milder winters have put a greater focus on controlling grass growth while animals are indoors, the various environmental subsidy payments have seen rotations change, with flail and rotary mowers used in a variety of ways.
An increased area of cover crops has meant more green material to cut back. While some crops can be grazed off or incorporated straight into the soil, mulching them ahead of this leads to a quicker breakdown of the material, releasing nutrients back into the soil.
If crops are being sown directly, a fine mulch can create a micro-climate to promote germination without the need for any intensive soil movement.
This links to the other area of utilisation – crop stubbles. The reduction in cultivations, increased interest in niche crops such as linseed and a desire to increase the output of harvesters by leaving long straw in the field mean high levels of crop residue need to be processed ahead of the next crop.
Some of the long, thick and tough residues need additional power to mulch properly, which means many companies are now offering uprated units to handle larger tractors and tougher conditions.
And this is all without mentioning the increased amount of grass and wildflower margins, all of which need to be properly maintained to get the desired benefit of greater biodiversity and an influx of natural predators that can help to control pests in the cash crop.
Abbey Machinery
Abbey Machinery’s toppers range from 1.8m to 2.74m, each fitted with a Comer gearbox. Recent design updates include swapping out the black paint finish for a galvanised edge, which protects the machine against corrosion and wear.
These gear-driven toppers are equipped with specially designed flails made from hardened steel. The cranked and free-swinging design of the flails is said to not only ensure precise cutting, but also minimise damage when encountering hidden obstacles, safeguarding the equipment during operation.
The blade design further enhances functionality by offering high ground clearance and superior mulching capabilities. This promotes healthier grass regrowth, helping to maintain lush pastures while controlling weeds effectively.
As well as the base models, there is the option of heavy-duty gearboxes, and inline and fully offset models to suit different conditions.
Amazone
Designed for long-term grassland, paddocks and parkland, the Groundkeeper flail collector is fitted with a hopper for collecting leaves directly after mowing, and creates a scarifying effect to remove thatch, improve water infiltration and root structure.
The machine can also be set up for horse dropping collection to ensure paddock hygiene by reducing the spread of parasites in the dung.
It has a large-diameter, horizontal flail rotor turning at 2,650rpm, which is belt-driven and protected by a slip clutch. The free-swinging flails are a 50:50 mix of Y-profile grass cutting blades and long wing blades that project cut material into the hopper.
The flail action shreds the longer grass stalks into short lengths to achieve more hopper capacity and faster composting.
The blades can be supplemented with a scarifying knife where required, and overlap by 70% to ensure an excellent cutting quality. The machine can be set to cut and drop as opposed to cut and collect.
Bomford Turner
Updates to the Bomford range include the option of a six-blade shredder kit on the 4.6m and 6m Tri-Wing models to boost performance when working in stubbles.
The range is now offered with hydro-gas suspension for improved roading, as well as over-centre folding of the wings for better stability, and have the option of a walking axle for work on rough ground conditions.
Looking at the company’s flail mower portfolio, the Turbo Mower is available in a range of specifications, from 1.3m up to 3m.
Most feature a 400mm hydraulic offset as standard, though it is available on all models, and mulching bars are also included.
Flail width varies depending on the model chosen, with the smallest units featuring 80mm units, increasing to 100mm or 135mm. Power requirements top out at 100hp, with larger machines able to combine the inline models with a rear-mounted offset flail.
Fleming Agri
Fleming Agri Products offer a range of inline and semi-offset toppers. They are fitted with a reinforced deck, fabricated in one piece from 3mm plate. They are fitted with a galvanised headstock and skids.
The 1m, 1.2m and 1.5m models have an adjustable headstock for inline and semi-offset function. The 1.8m topper is fixed semi-offset.
The company also offers a 1.8m heavy-duty slasher that has a 5mm smooth top deck, leaving no water traps. It is fitted with an 80hp gearbox, and an adjustable galvanised headstock for semi-offset and inline topping.
For larger tractors, the 2.75m topper is available in both standard and heavy-duty models. The heavy-duty model is fitted with fluted blades, additional straight blades and heavy-duty gearboxes.
Fully offset 2.1m and 2.4m Superfloat machines are also available, as well as trailed version of the 2.75m model.
Kidd Farm Machinery
The Kidd range of grassland toppers has been extended with a series of galvanised models, making them more resistant to wear, especially at the corners and edges.
They are available in working widths from 1.5m up to 2.8m, with parabolic skids and a driveline with torque-limiting protection as standard, and the option of a roller or wheels.
The company also offers a range of mulching mowers. The Float Wing comes in working widths up to 7.68m, with a choice of two- or four-blade rotor setups.
Regardless of the number of blades, the machine has an overlapping design, said to eliminate striping between rows. Once cut, mulched material is spread evenly across the ground to decompose naturally.
Each model of the Float Wing folds down to 2.9m for transport.
KRM
KRM offers a wide range of flail mowers, including models for vineyards and flail collectors, which remove the cuttings from the area after mowing.
The company says customers are looking to process an increased amount of material, so a new design has been implemented that leaves shredded material behind the rear roller. The intake has also been heightened to allow taller crops into the mouth.
As well as increased crop sizes, there has also been a jump in area mown, with customers requiring wider rear-mounted machines, and front and rear combinations, as well as more versatile machines with adaptable working angles for hedges, banks and ditches.
The Aglia centre-folding 5m flail meets this demand, as does the Atlas (4.5m/6m), while the Master range of offset machines can be angled to work in a range of conditions.
Kubota
Sitting at the top of the Kubota range is the SE 9000 range, with two models offering working widths of 5.6m and 6.4m.
A flail-type machine, it is fitted with a rotor (equipped with either 72 or 80 blades, depending on the model) that runs at 2,000rpm and is designed in a way that enables the chopper to lift crop residues even in wet conditions. Power requirements start at just 130hp.
The range is comprehensive and includes a front-mounted machine with hydraulic offset, and front and rear combinations.
The company further highlights the SE 2200 and 2200 P, a rear-mounted offset machine with a 4,500mm rotor, and a wide angle of operation for working on banks and in ditches.
The P-specification stands out because it includes the counter knife and double skin as standard, providing a cleaner finish and increased wear resistance.
Kuhn Farm Machinery
Kuhn’s TBE 102 models have working widths between 2.14m and 2.3m, while the TBES units offer widths of 2.14m, 2.3m and 2.5m.
All models have three variable positions, including behind the tractor, offset or tilted, and angled, with -65deg for ditch work and up to +90deg for hedges.
A 180mm rear roller and Hardox skids are standard to help increase longevity, and all models are offered with three flail choices for the 450mm rotor.
The multipurpose BP/R 100 shredders are available in four working widths from 2.1m to 3.03m. It includes an adjustable rear hood to control the aggressiveness, as well as a 580mm sliding offset.
Two flail options are available arranged in a helical layout to ensure consistent mulching. Front or rear attachment of the BPR 100-series is possible and it can be powered by tractors up to 175hp.
There are five models in the Spring-Longer range, offering both front- and rear-mounted options. For increased stability and driver comfort, the models can be fitted with Kuhn’s Stabi-Link frame, which takes just five minutes to remove the machine from the tractor.
Kverneland
The FHP range from Kverneland comes with a high-performance rotor as standard, capable of running at more than 2,200rpm and equipped with 14 hammer blades/m for a consistent chop.
Mounted at the rear of the tractor and offset to the right-hand side, the angle of operation can be adjusted through a wide arc to work in a variety of conditions.
It’s complemented by the FHP Plus range, from 2m to 2.5m, which follows a similar design but has an uprated transmission with a counter knife and double skin finish as standard.
The diameter of the rotor is increased to 4,500mm, with an increased number of hammers, and additional counter knives can be fitted to create a finer mulch.
Rounding out the range is the flagship FXF, which can be used with tractors from just 130hp. Combining two rear-mounted beds, the machine can follow contours thanks to the oscillating lower linkage and slotted top link, and includes a second skin as standard.
Major Equipment
The Major Cyclone mulching mower uses a patented ‘blender’ double-chop blade system that cuts, shreds and mulches vegetation. Heavy-duty gearboxes power each cutting head, fitted with four blades per rotor.
It is said to require 25% less horsepower than a flail mower and is made from Strenx 700 MC structural steel. Hardox 450 abrasion-resistant steel is used for undersole discs to protect the blades and ensure a long wear life. A galvanised finish protects the machine from corrosion.
The Cyclone is available in working widths from 2m to 9.2m in rear- or front-mounted configurations.
The 9.2m model requires as little as 180hp to power, with 10 rotors and 40 blades. Wings hydraulically fold up to 4.2m transport width.
McConnel
Two new models have been introduced to the McConnel Tuffcut batwing mowers, the Tuffcut 480 and Tuffcut 650, offering 4.6m and 6.2m cutting widths, respectively.
Both models are designed with a flat top deck. This reportedly brings numerous benefits, including minimising the accumulation of debris. Additionally, the smooth deck design allows for quick and easy machine cleaning after work.
Both models are equipped with heavy-duty gearboxes that run cooler due to their oversized shafts and gears. Furthermore, lower seal protection minimises the risk of debris ingress.
Customers can choose from a range of blade configurations to suit requirements, including three, four, or six blades per rotor for enhanced mulching capabilities.
Both Tuffcuts are capable of tackling material up to 100mm thick while delivering an even distribution of mulch across the full width of the machine.
Additional features, such as anti-scalp blade pans, deck protection rings, stump jumper skids, shock-absorbing suspension and heavy-duty slip clutch overrun protection are available.
Maschio Gaspardo
The Delta is a rear-mounted butterfly unit, designed to be combined with the Bufalo 280 or 310 for working widths of 7.1m, 7.7m or 8.3m.
A 219mm-diameter rotor is fitted with six rows of flails, arranged in a helical pattern to shred material against the counter knife and evenly distribute residues.
The rotor is powered by a 1,000rpm gearbox with a built-in freewheel, with the setup suitable for tractors up to 400hp. Inside the cutting chamber, double-reinforced sheet metal gives long-lasting wear resistance, while the cutting height is adjusted with the rear roller, which features 220mm caps for good self-cleaning.
A spring system protects the machine, while the hydraulic coupling system and support wheels improve stability and safety.
Opico
Opico’s Alpego range includes a comprehensive flail mower series, available in working widths from 1.6m to 3.1m for tractors from 45hp to 220hp.
The range includes the rear- and front/rear-mounted Trisar multipurpose machines and the fully offset Trilat range. All come as standard with protective skids and 1.8kg heavy-duty hammer flails.
Trisar machines incorporate the Super Shredder Alpego mulching chamber, which enables the units to be adjusted to process material according to the required finish.
Other features include hydraulic side shift, a double counter blade, a double skin to increase strength and protect the outer hood from damage, a self-cleaning rear roller and a rear hood.
The Trilat range includes a hydraulic shock absorber that also allows the head to float and follow contours. Other features include a break-back system, a double skin and a self-cleaning rear roller, as well as the ability to hydraulically adjust the angle and the offset.
As a non-powered alternative, the company also highlights the success of the HE-VA Top Cutter Solo, designed to roll, cut and bruise cover crops, stubbles and vegetable crops to reduce reliance on herbicides.
Shelbourne Reynolds
Shelbourne Reynolds recently revamped its FBO front/rear- mounted flail range, adding 2.5m and 2.8m models.
The company said it felt the original 3m machine was a little too wide for some users, especially those travelling down narrow lanes.
Both machines have a hydraulic side-shift function, moving up to 600mm, and are powered by a spring-tensioned, five-belt driveline running from the gearbox, which is rated up to 235hp.
A key benefit, according to the company, is that the range is built entirely in the UK, meaning it is specifically designed for the damper, green material often chopped over here. As standard, 24 120mm hammer flails are fitted to the rotor, and the rear roller can be height adjusted to provide the correct finish.
Simon Richard Ltd
Simon Richard extended its range of mowers with the Sauerburger flex-wing range, suitable for working in a wide range of conditions. The Condor comes with hydraulic height adjustment and a standard rotor setup with two knives.
As an option, a three-blade rotor can be fitted, designed for tougher scrub or high quantities of dry material, as well as a six-blade rotor for fine chopping.
The company says it can be used in a range of situations, from cover crop mulching and green manures through to tough crop stubbles, including maize.
It is offered alongside the Müthing flail mowers, with the MU-Vario system that enables independent adjustment of the PTO speed, cutting bar settings and material flow.
The support roller can be used in two positions, with material deposited behind for quick decomposition, or in front to be pressed into the ground for dust control. Each model is equipped with DuraX M-hammers and a chopping bar to give a short mulch.
Spearhead Machinery
Spearhead highlights two models from its Multicut range. The MC300 offers a 2.8m cutting width and requires just 50hp at the front. According to the company, it can handle scrub and crop residues up to 100mm thick, powered by a gearbox rated to 165hp.
Changes have been made to the design, which now incorporates a smooth topside, as well as the underside to minimise material build-up.
Additionally, the company says the wire rope floating headstock provides a wide range of movement. The two-blade rotor design can also be upgraded to a four-blade mulching variant.
The MC830 Proline (8.3m) has received an upgrade to its driveline with a 250hp-rated splitter box and 165hp rotor boxes.
The deck construction has also been smoothed over to reduce the debris build-up and make it very easy to clean off. It comes as standard with the Starcut blade system, with six blades over two levels.
Votex
Herefordshire manufacturer Votex offers a comprehensive range of products, starting with the PT topper, which runs from 1.7m up to 4.75m and is suitable for tractors as small as 25hp.
Each model can be specified for the front linkage, with an extra pull-type option for easier operation, as well as Duplo Twin Cut Blades for better performance and a Super Cut skirt to leave a fine mulch, spread evenly.
Also offered is the Jumbo offset and Jumbo Frontline front-mounted flail mower ranges.
The Jumbo runs from 1.2m up to 2.3m with a hydraulically controlled folding mechanism, moving the machine from +90deg through to -50deg for operation on verges, banks and in ditches. The Frontline is available in 1.1m, 1.45m and 1.9m widths, with hydraulic side shift and an increased range of movement, down to -60deg.
Wessex International
The WFX and WFR flail mowers are both offered in 2.5m and 2.8m working widths, with the WFX capable of handling up to 140hp up front, which increases to 200hp on the WFX.
The two WFX machines are offered with 24 or 28 hammer blades, respectively, mounted on a 165mm rotor and capable of processing material up to 80mm.
The WFR features fewer hammers (22 or 26) fitted to a 205mm rotor, but is powered by a five-belt drive, as opposed to four, and can handle scrub and residues up to 100mm. The increased rotor diameter is said to help maintain the blade tip speed, even in tough conditions.
Both ranges come with hydraulic side shift and are finished with a double-skin deck, a counter-knife for an increased mulching effect and replaceable side skids.