Steel in the Field: A Farmer’s Guide to Weed Management Tools

	Horticultural Crops Spyders Overview: Used in pairs to crumble soil and dislodge weeds close to row; alone or immediately ahead of in-row weeding tools. Each ground-driven, 12"-diameter wheel of quarter-inch steel has 16 offset teeth mounted on a ball-bearing hub. Wheels can be positioned on the toolbar to push soil in or switched to pull away soil from the row, or swiveled to work a narrow or wide band. When set with the leading edges pointing outward, the wheels squeeze and crumble the soil surface between them in the row area. Recommended operating speed: 4 to 5 mph. Price: $162 per row, with standards Sources: 11 Farmers: Foster, Thacker Next section Horticultural Tool Index