Giving seeds a grind

For years, arable farmers have been following combines with cultivators in order to encourage weed seeds to chit, the emerging volunteers then getting sprayed off before drilling commences with the next crop. But, with the long-term future of glyphosate still looking doubtful, farmers are already looking at ways of reducing their dependence on chemicals.

Australian farmers have been forging ahead with systems designed to destroy any seed as it leaves the combine sieves,