Pro-Til 3T Spring Video Diary
Mzuri Pro-Til 3T spring video diary – March 2014 Video update from our autumn video diary.
Mzuri Pro-Til 3T spring video diary – March 2014 Video update from our autumn video diary.
Drilling 100kg/ha of Peas for human consumption into a strip tilled Oats and Mustard cover crop, using the new Mzuri Pro-Til Xzact precision seeder.
Strip tillage seed drill manufacturer, Claydon Yield-o-Meter Limited alleged that Mzuri’s popular Pro-Til and Pro-Til Select single pass drills infringed their UK patent no. 2,400,296 and their European patent no. 2,051,576.
Maintaining that there was no infringement of the claimant’s patents, Mzuri’s defence at trial also included arguments that the patents were invalid due to lack of inventiveness over existing prior art and prior use of the invention contained in the UK patent in public.
The patents related to the configuration of inline tines for cultivating and seeding in one pass, which is a concept that Mzuri believes dates to the earliest seed drills in history.
Speaking for Mzuri, Martin Lole describes the 3-year long court case as entirely avoidable and detrimental to agricultural innovation in the UK.
“We have been disappointed to have been the target of a court case brought about by another British manufacturer, which sought to claim damages and prevent us from selling our flagship product into the market.” Says Mr Lole.
“Single pass technology such as one tine in front of another has been around for many years, even documented by early innovators such as Jethro Tull and has been popular (particularly in the US) for some time prior to the patent priority date. We have always maintained that we do not infringe the Claydon patents, and it is very sad that this whole thing which has been entirely unnecessary could have been easily avoided.”
“Despite our best efforts to discuss the disagreement openly and honestly, Claydon were determined to draw it out into a lengthy and costly legal battle which served no one.”
“I would like to sympathise with those customers who were inaccurately warned off buying a Mzuri Pro-Til for risk of infringing patents which were, as we now know, invalid.”
After the three-day hearing, the Judge handed down the decision on 22nd April 2021 that the patents are to be revoked due to a combination of a lack of inventiveness over existing prior art and prior use of the invention in public.
Kicking off our 10th Anniversary Year we celebrate Mzuri’s history in the January issue of Direct Driller magazine. Martin Lole talks about how he first came to develop the Mzuri single pass system on his farm in Worcestershire and how the company has grown ever since.
Now available across four continents the Mzuri Pro-Til has proven to be a reliable solution to a range of climates and challenges across the world.
Read the Article Here
New Autumn Finance Offer launched
At Mzuri we have recently launched our new finance offer for all Pro-Til drills ordered this Autumn.
Based on a 50% deposit and five annual payments, growers could own an innovative single pass Pro-Til Select 3T for as little as £2.50/ha per month when farming hectarages in line with the Mzuri user average of 275ha. The figure is intended as a guide only, but growers who farm a larger area can expect an even lower cost per hectare to switch to the system.
As part of adopting a single pass establishment system, there are significant cost savings to be made over conventional crop establishment, by consolidating multiple operations into one. The Pro-Til prepares a targeted seedbed and reconsolidates the seed whilst applying fertiliser, slug bait and other crop protection products in one go. It is also this targeted approach to cultivation that gives the Pro-Til its recognised soil health credentials that goes on to improve soil structure within a field and supports higher yielding, healthier crops.
For those looking to take advantage of the Mzuri finance scheme this Autumn, the promotion is valid until 31st January 2021 and is applicable across all Pro-Til models, subject to terms and conditions. For more information call the Mzuri office on 01905 841123.
Featured in October 2020’s edition of Farmers Guide, knowledge exchange officer and trial farm manager, Ben Knight talks about how drilling direct into stubble gives growers the flexibility and security they need in difficult seasons.
With the memory of the relentless wet weather last Autumn, Ben looks at how growers can give themselves the advantage whether their hand is forced by weather or changing government policy.
Read the Article Here