We’d summarize in two ways – what it does for your timing and what it does for your soil. One of the most unique advantages of the Swinging Spider is the ability to start cultivating when the crop is still very small because you are pulling dirt away from the row. Not only can that foundationally change the timing of your schedule, it can actually help you control weeds in the row with a more proactive approach. However the benefits don’t stop there. The rolling, shallow, high-speed tillage of the Swinging Spider eliminates the slabbing/smearing action that can sometimes take place with a standard sweep cultivator. 

The rotary hoe is a great tool and has been for decades. We aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel. We’re trying to take the window of when a rotary hoe works and expand it. With a standard rotary hoe there is really only one variable to adjust… your driving speed. With the Rotary Hoe Pro you have 3 variables: Speed, Depth, and Angle of the rotary hoe wheels. This allows for greater consistency, more thorough crust breaking, and better overall weed control… all focused in the row. Easily add options on the back to accomplish more in a single pass, and we’re confident that you’ll see the difference in your fields!

There’s a reason why we say “Proven Concept, Improved Adjustability”. The Lilliston Rolling Cultivator has been around for over 60 years. However, adjusting the cultivator is both time consuming and labor intensive. With our patented design, the Swinging Spider aims to allow the Lilliston to finally be used to its full potential! Quickly and consistently adjust the angle of each spider gang with the turn of a handle. Change how close to the crop the spiders run with pulling a pin and rotating the swing arm. Efficiently transform your Swinging Spider from pulling dirt away from the row to throwing dirt onto the row. Quick, user-friendly adjustability means options for when you need to adapt to different situations.

Yes, we manufacture our own fingers for our base units. However, these fingers are also compatible with other major finger weeder brands in the organic market. 

Currently we offer cost effective options that can slide into a receiver tubing on each of our row units. Row Shields, Tine Weeders, Finger Weeders, Rotary Tine Weeders, Double Hoes, Cutaway Discs, and more…

What other things are you doing in the Organic Ag industry? We have a passion for working with farmers, for listening to ideas and helping to bring those amazing ideas to the field. We’d love to talk with you and help provide solution and sometimes that solution comes from the farmer… we just help make it possible. From our base units to the multiple arrangements and customization of our options, to front mount toolbars and custom projects – we are ready to listen.

How fast and what angle can I run my Rotary Hoe Pro? We have units being pulled by Amish farmers in Iowa with horses and farmers running their tractors in road gear. The angle of the rotary hoe gang can be increased to obtain the same aggression, even at slower speeds. A good starting point is to set the depth at 2”, angle at 5 degrees, and run about 6 mph. However, all the variables will dictate what is best for your conditions and situation.

Probably our favorite duo is the Swinging Spider set to pull away from the row paired with the finger weeders. This combination can offer powerful weed control. Going in early and cutting away from the row allows the finger weeders to be most successful in removing very small weeds that are germinating in the row.

Rocks have been our biggest challenge with the Rotary Hoe Pro over the last couple years due to the solid single gang of wheels. However, we have tested and trialed rock scraper guards with great success and those are now standard with each base unit.