Clives next year plan for planting.

O'Reilly · Jul 6, 2014

No press wheels? I'm no expert, but aren't guttlers the choice?

dontknowanything · Jul 6, 2014

O'Reilly said:
No press wheels? I'm no expert, but aren't guttlers the choice?

He's got spiked press wheels

SilliamWhale · Jul 7, 2014

dontknowanything said:
He's got spiked press wheels

They're like mine. Thompsons. Pretty good actually.

O'Reilly · Jul 7, 2014

My mistake. Presumably they do a good job of covering seed, and only roll afterwards if necessary? Just used to seeing big wheels on vaderstads etc. Nice job on the drill anyway.

SilliamWhale · Jul 7, 2014

O'Reilly said:
My mistake. Presumably they do a good job of covering seed, and only roll afterwards if necessary? Just used to seeing big wheels on vaderstads etc. Nice job on the drill anyway.

Yes they're good. There's a little press wheel that does the job of a roller ie firming seed.

Vaderstad design is totally inferior to the JD for direct drilling.

dug · Jul 9, 2014

Clive said:
The only bit I can't get my head around is it more efficient to run 1 big 9m unit like this on a big expensive artic tractor or just buy a second 4 or 6m to run behind a second small tractor

2x small ute would do more than 1 big one, involve less capital cost and depreciation I reckon ? Only downside is need for 2 drivers ?

Not a criticism and same logic can be applied to all sorts of large farm equipment really

Re

Apart from a harvesting senario where it can be better to spread two smaller machines between jobs whereas one big combine spends a larger proportion of its time shifting, one large drill should be a lot more efficient than two a small ones. Less stops to fill and half the amount of time turning are two big advantages for a start. I have a 3 m and a 4.5 m seed drill, when on the same job with all things being equal, the 4.5 is twice as fast. Further, last time I checked a pivot is cheaper buying ($/hp) than a row crop tractor.

dug · Jul 9, 2014

With regard to field size, provided the machine does not take too long to get into the field and fold out, then the wider machine is still doing twice as much each run while probably able to turn in less headland runs which can be a saving especially in small fields . Also fuel used per ha should be less particularly if operating speed is little slower than the smaller machines.

warksfarmer · Jul 9, 2014

One large drill means less wheel marks in the field which is better for the soil? Also larger drills tend to have bigger seed cart type hoppers so more in the hopper, more work done between fills, therefore I think a 12m drill will do more work than 2 x 6m drills in the same amount of time.

We have a little 6m sprayer and there is no way on earth 2 x that would do the same work as a 12m sprayer.

SilliamWhale · Jul 9, 2014

warksfarmer said:
One large drill means less wheel marks in the field which is better for the soil? Also larger drills tend to have bigger seed cart type hoppers so more in the hopper, more work done between fills, therefore I think a 12m drill will do more work than 2 x 6m drills in the same amount of time.

We have a little 6m sprayer and there is no way on earth 2 x that would do the same work as a 12m sprayer.

Wheel marks aren't necessarily a problem though.

Clive · Jul 9, 2014

dug said:
Re

Apart from a harvesting senario where it can be better to spread two smaller machines between jobs whereas one big combine spends a larger proportion of its time shifting, one large drill should be a lot more efficient than two a small ones. Less stops to fill and half the amount of time turning are two big advantages for a start. I have a 3 m and a 4.5 m seed drill, when on the same job with all things being equal, the 4.5 is twice as fast. Further, last time I checked a pivot is cheaper buying ($/hp) than a row crop tractor.

warksfarmer said:
One large drill means less wheel marks in the field which is better for the soil? Also larger drills tend to have bigger seed cart type hoppers so more in the hopper, more work done between fills, therefore I think a 12m drill will do more work than 2 x 6m drills in the same amount of time.

We have a little 6m sprayer and there is no way on earth 2 x that would do the same work as a 12m sprayer.

I reckon 2 6m drills would do more than 1x 12m everytime ? when a 12m stops to fill, unblock something, change metal or move fields then nothing is getting planted where as with 2x6m then 1 is always working - smaller drill will be better on headland, small fields and awkward corners etc

not many farms can get by with only 1 tractor so why not have a proper workload for your second machine ?

I used to run 1 big tractor that drank more than twice the fuel that the 2 I have now drink between them ...................and then there is the issue of weight, in a wet time would you rather be in a field with a artic and 12m drill or a small light tractor on wide rubber and a 6m drill ?

York · Jul 9, 2014

if one 12m drill get stopped because of failure, stuck or whatsoever, 100% of the drill capacity is stopped...
York-Th.

rob1 · Jul 9, 2014

York said:
if one 12m drill get stopped because of failure, stuck or whatsoever, 100% of the drill capacity is stopped...
York-Th.

So why have one huge combine instead of two medium ones, same argument applies

dontknowanything · Jul 9, 2014

Clive said:
I reckon 2 6m drills would do more than 1x 12m everytime ? when a 12m stops to fill, unblock something, change metal or move fields then nothing is getting planted where as with 2x6m then 1 is always working - smaller drill will be better on headland, small fields and awkward corners etc

not many farms can get by with only 1 tractor so why not have a proper workload for your second machine ?

I used to run 1 big tractor that drank more than twice the fuel that the 2 I have now drink between them ...................and then there is the issue of weight, in a wet time would you rather be in a field with a artic and 12m drill or a small light tractor on wide rubber and a 6m drill ?

But your light tractors could pull this 9m drill I'm positive

Clive · Jul 9, 2014

rob1 said:
So why have one huge combine instead of two medium ones, same argument applies

I think skilled operator availability is the answer

Clive · Jul 9, 2014

dontknowanything said:
But your light tractors could pull this 9m drill I'm positive

Maybe but I would still rather run x2 4or 6m I think

Depends on how much a drill like this would cost though, could run a 10m plus keep our 4m get drilled up over a weekend and do a lot more shooting !

dontknowanything · Jul 9, 2014

Definitely agree larger machine is more efficient, for all the reasons above. Only exception would be if it's too big for field, but I think that's unlikely

dontknowanything · Jul 9, 2014

PS if you want to utilise your tractors get a trailed sprayer and sell the SP

Clive · Jul 9, 2014

dontknowanything said:
PS if you want to utilise your tractors get a trailed sprayer and sell the SP

I often consider it

Baling Hay · Jul 9, 2014

dontknowanything said:
Definitely agree larger machine is more efficient, for all the reasons above. Only exception would be if it's too big for field, but I think that's unlikely

Maybe you should have included N.Ireland into your Nuffield scholarship!!

rob1 · Jul 9, 2014

Clive said:
I think skilled operator availability is the answer

Which needs more skill tho? A drill with very little electronics, maybe autosteer or a all singing and dancing combine that once set does most things itself ? Both need a driver with "feel"

Clives next year plan for planting.

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