Howard Rotary Hoes - A Deep Dive

May 21, 2024    Posted by Brittany Cunningham

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Learn all about the Howard Rotary Hoe Range and whether a Howard Rotary Hoe might be a suitable option for your property.

  • What is a Howard Rotary Hoe?
  • Who is a Howard Rotary Hoe a good fit for?
  • When should you purchase a Howard Rotary Hoe?
  • Why do you need a Howard Rotary Hoe?
  • How much does a Howard Rotary Hoe Cost?
  • How do I buy a Howard Rotary Hoe?

What is a Howard Rotary Hoe?

A Rotary Hoe is a piece of power equipment and that means it is designed to be driven by the PTO shaft on your tractor. The rotor runs horizontally along the span of the machine and has blades bolted to it. The blades spin vertically around the rotor and chip away at the soil, throwing that soil back up into the chamber, where it hits against the rear hood and breaks down the clods forming a seed bed.

Howard is an old Australian brand they have a lot of market recognition, especially in regions with very wet soil. This is due to their rubber hull and rear door which are unprecedented when it comes to working in sticky soils. You’ll find the soil simply won't stick to the rubber hood like it does on a steel unit and you’ll be able to cultivate very wet soils without blocking up. This also reduces soil build up around the rotor and on the bonnet which robs horsepower and decreases fuel efficiency and it also means less blade wear. The rubber hull is also called a rear door, bonnet or nonstick liner.

The rubber hull feature will typically allow a Howard Hoe to get onto a wet paddock between 2 – 3 weeks before any of your other steel hull units. This in turn means you can plant earlier and then harvest and get to market earlier.

The Howard Rotary Hoe runs a chain side drive which gives much lower operation temperatures for cooler running and better service life. Howard tried gear a drive years ago and went back to the chain system because they got a better life out of the chain system and had fewer breakages and downtime.

There are two models in the Howard Range the AH & CH Models.

The AH is the entry machine in the Howard range going up to a max 200 Hp. The main difference between the models is the CH is a wider machine suited to larger tractors and runs a dual drive with split rotors. Running a drive at each end allows it to handle the larger Horsepowers.

Both the AH & CH models are built with heavy 150 x 150 x 9 box section frames. These units are built this heavy because of the extra strength required to run the paraplough ripper tines which are an optional extra on both models.

The AH Model is available in working widths:

  • 2.54
  • 3.05
  • 3.56
  • 4.05 metres

The CH Model is available in working widths:

  • 4.17
  • 4.68
  • 5.70
  • 6.20 metres

Optional Extras

Both models are available with a range of options including:

Paraplough Subsoiler Tines

These break the crust/pan in front of the rotary hoe and they have huge benefits in stopping the wear on blades and decreasing the Hp and therefore fuel consumption. Out of all the Howard Rotary Hoes delivered in Australia each year about half would go out fitted with Paraplough Tines because of the significant savings in fuel and blade wear.

Rear Wheels

Rear Wheels are great for depth control so if you are in heavy soil and the hoe is trying to dig in a little bit. A set of rear wheels will help you keep the hoe level and at the depth you want the machine to be.

Front Discs

Front Discs pull the soil in from behind the wheel ruts to loosen it off as you are travelling along. These mount to the front toolbar.

Crumble Roller

Ideal for depth control and keeping the unit at a constant working depth, crumble rollers are also great for levelling out the paddock and putting a seal on the top of the soil to prevent wind or water version before sowing the paddock down.

Rear Toolbar

The CH Model is also available with an optional rear toolbar. So this means you can run row furrowers behind the unit to create a seed bed. This is a feature that is typically used in cotton country.

Who is a Howard Rotary Hoe a good fit for?

The Howard Rotary Hoe is a good fit for farmers or contractors looking for a rigid rotary hoe between 2.54m and 6.20m working width to suit a tractor between 100 and 300 hp.

The units will work really well in any soils that other units will work in but where they really shine is when the moisture content is higher or in sticky soils due to the rubber hull.

A Howard Hoe isn’t a good fit if the price is the most important factor in your decision making process and that’s where you can look at a steel hulled machine instead.

A Howard Hoe also isn’t a good fit if you are looking for a folding unit, a unit with a working width smaller than 2.54m or larger than 6.2m or if your tractor is smaller than 100 hp or larger than 300 hp.

When should you purchase a Howard Rotary Hoe?

Ideally, you would look to purchase several months before the start of the tillage season. This will give time for you to consider the various options and if the particular model you are after is not in stock, time for manufacture and delivery.

Common sizes and models AH (2.5, 3.05, 3.5m) and CH (4.17, 6.20) are held in stock for immediate dispatch however, we would recommend not leaving it to chance and getting in early if you are looking to order so you don’t miss out.

Howard do occasionally offer finance with a subsidised low rate so always ask your dealer about the finance options available if that's of interest to you.

Why do you need a Howard Rotary Hoe?

Howard's Rotary Hoe range is more effective in wet conditions and will allow you to get on your ground earlier. They are also built very tough and strong to support the rubber hull which equates back to less maintenance and less downtime.

You need a rotary hoe if you are preparing ground for seed, doing weed control or wanting to improve your soil profile.

The consequences of not using a Howard Rotary Hoe could be that you can’t get onto your soil quickly enough in the wet. Your soil could block up your rotary hoe which could result in soil damage and soil compaction. This could affect crop yields, productivity and also your weed control program.

Another pro of a Howard Hoe against other Hoe models is the options available. Most units don't come standard with a toolbar that allows you to easily add tools of your choice.

How much does a Howard Rotary Hoe Cost?

Howard Rotary Hoes are on the more expensive end of the spectrum of Hoes available in the market.

The reason for this is mainly the rubber hull design. A lot of other manufacturers have tried to copy this design because of its success in sticky wet soils where other machines simply can't perform. However, none have been successful mainly due to the duty of their frames which warp and bend under pressure.

This feature keeps Howard as a market leader but it also increases the price as the units are built so heavy.

How do I buy a Howard Rotary Hoe?

There are a couple of different ways to go about it. It can be as simple as a phone call to Delmade or you can jump online and lodge an enquiry through the Delmade website. Your enquiry will come through to the Delmade team as an email and from there we can work out if the unit is in stock and available for delivery. We generally take a 25% deposit and you are welcome to look at the finance options available. Once finance is arranged or payment is made Delmade will get the unit delivered, help you get set up and help you get out in the field and working.

To enquire about the Howard Rotary Hoe or take the next step and get a unit on your ground give us a call on 1800 335 623 or lodge an enquiry on the AH Model or CH Model

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