The Zapper line-up has continued to grow, and that means the options for your operation have grown too! So, in pure disinterest and strictly out of the goodness of our own hearts, (and definitely with no thoughts of selling more Zappers!) we’ve compiled this handy list to help guide you to the right Zapper for your operation! From The OG Annihilator to the latest release, The Digital Cultivator, Old School Manufacturing has a lean, mean, weed killing machine to satisfy even the most demanding of farms. So, without further ado, let’s hop right in!
Peanut Butter and Jelly. Ketchup and Mustard. Bonnie and Clyde. Lynyrd Skynyrd and “Free Bird”. Farmers and Freedom. They’re classics for a reason- and the OG Zapper? She fits right in.
Making her debut in 2017, the Annihilator initially came in 6 (15’), 8 (20’), and 12 (30’) row boom options, which have now been expanded to include the most popular 16 row (40’) and (44’) 24 row option. The 12R30 systems have the option of 15’, 20’, or 30 ft booms, while the 16R30 system can choose from all boom options.
Outfitted with up to a 250,000+ watt generator and upgraded to the new and patented Scratch Pad Applicator, from the original copper bar design, The Annihilator is able to cover up to an average of 20 acres per hour, and is even able to be used in wet ground conditions.
The Annihilator series operates off of any front 3pt hitch, loader or our custom 3pt hitch. It is carried on the front of the tractor to help minimize operator fatigue. We recommend at least a 100-250 PTO horsepower tractor for a 12R30 system, or a 200-350 PTO horsepower tractor for a 16R30 system.
The Annihilator often operates as a “knight in shining armor”; offering both weed maintenance options, and excelling in rescuing problem fields that have gotten out of hand. When combined with other, more preemptive practices, the Annihilator forms part of a balanced and well-rounded weed control strategy, but this machine’s main focus is not just on weed prevention- but weed destruction.
The big, beefy brother of the Annihilator, the greatest strength of the Terminator is that it is a self-contained, self-propelled unit! It was born ready to kill weeds, no need to free up a tractor for use! While the Annihilator runs off of tractor PTO, the Terminator is essentially a modified sprayer unit providing all of its own power.
Both the T1 and the T2 models are outfitted with a field contouring 30’ or 40 ft boom, while the T3 comes equipped with a massive 60 ft boom. Just like the OG Annihilator’s, the Terminator has been upgraded from the original copper bar applicator, to the Scratch Pad Applicator. (See more information on The Scratch Pad below!)
Twin engines on the Terminator units produce up to 850 horsepower- that’s roughly half a megawatt, or just over 500,000 watts! The Terminator is truly industrial grade machinery, not just a chick magnet. (Can confirm- this machine turns heads! The girls at Old School all agree!)
The Terminator is able to cover up to 35 acres per hour, as well as burning around 1-1.5 gallons of fuel per acre.
Like the OG Annihilator, the Terminator’s main focus is on weed control, not weed prevention. Targeting both between-row and in-row weeds, the Terminator and Annihilator will both be best suited for weeds growing above the crop canopy; however, the high boy styles offer a little more opportunity for tall growing plants like corn, hemp, or sunflowers.
Not a machine per se, but a powerhouse nonetheless! Both the Annihilator and the Terminator series Weed Zappers are eligible for a Scratch Pad applicator bar, and Annihilator models 2022 and newer, and Terminator models 2023 and newer, are now eligible for machine upgrades in order to run The Scratch Pad operating system. (Upgraded machines will need to have the generator system reconfigured; for more info, see our latest email about The Scratch Pad Update.) All 2026 model Weed Zappers will now be automatically outfitted with a Scratch Pad applicator bar- it’s that much more effective than the old copper systems!
The Scratch Pad itself is aptly named: two rows of sharp “teeth” scratch the tops and stems of weeds to make them “bleed”- literally causing the water inside the plant to become more accessible, and therefore more conductive. The Scratch Pad has had extensive success with all weeds, but is particularly effective for grasses, woody stemmed weeds, and hairy stemmed weeds. The addition of The Scratch Pad to the OG Weed Zapper line-up has been an incredible boon to farmers everywhere!
Made in collaboration with Agro-Thrive, an Argentinian company, The Orchard Model Weed Zapper doesn’t “tango” around when it comes to weeds. (I’ve been waiting to use that line for months!) The Orchard Model may be the smallest of the Weed Zapper line-up, but make no mistake: it’s not how big the machine is, it’s how you operate it.
Catering specifically to our customers operating in orchard and vineyard type settings, The Orchard Model’s compact size is a true flex, making the machine highly maneuverable. The boom itself is also easily adjusted from 6-25ft widths, making even narrow orchard spacing accessible. The adjustable booms are designed for both tree/row application and complete burn down application.
We recommend a 60-120 PTO horsepower tractor for use with The Orchard Model Weed Zapper. The Orchard Model operates at about 2-3 miles per hour for precise weed management.
The Orchard Model Weed Zapper is a reminder that good things really do come in small packages!
Finally! The one you’ve all been waiting for!
We’ve kept our hand pretty close with the designing, creation, and soft launch of The Digital Cultivator, but we’re finally ready to spill the tea!
The Digital Cultivator is OSM’s answer for weed prevention: an under-the-canopy Zapper that kills weeds of all sizes. The Digital Zapper is our most eco-friendly machine yet, causing less erosion due to low soil disturbance, especially in comparison to traditional mechanical cultivation methods. The low profile design of the Digital Cultivator that contributes to low soil disturbance also aids in weed prevention by not transferring weed seeds. Instead, weed seeds are zapped and made ineffective, impacting the weed seed bank. Preliminary university studies of The Digital Cultivator show fields cultivated with the machine have nearly 80% less in-row weed pressure than even top rated mechanical cultivators with camera guided systems!
The Digital Cultivator can be used rain or shine, even in wet ground conditions that are too wet for other traditional implements. The Digital Cultivator can also be used in any crop type, including corn. As with all of OSM’s machines, The Digital Cultivator produces no residual energy, meaning weeds cannot develop future resistance.
The Digital Cultivator will first be available this Autumn 2026 as a tractor model like the Annihilator, with a self propelled model (à la Terminator) soon to follow. We recommend a 200+ PTO horsepower tractor to operate The Digital Cultivator.
We firmly believe that there is a Zapper for every operation, and the best one for yours will depend on what your farming goals are:
However you choose to zap, we are sure that one of our models will strike a spark in your heart! Contact us today to get your Weed Zapper under contract!
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