Recent content by kiwi

Has anyone knowledge of the practicality of the leading disc on the latest release from Vaderstad seedhawk? https://www.vaderstad.com/uk/campaigns/product-news/seed-hawk/

When the Massey University scientists developed the cross slot they had as part of their trial drilling in slightly damp conditions as that is part of reality when no till drilling. leaving residue or cover crop residue on the surface it is very seldom in my experience that you get perfect soil...

I might sound harsh on Weavings but not the intention. To sell a drill that cannot be easily adapted to reasonable conditions and place seed reasonably perfectly is poor in my view. They have had a lot of time to develop a better scraper /seed firmer but still nothing.

Cross slot/Novag, John Deere disc drill all have some type of seed firmer or scraper to stop seed flick. A reasonable speed to get the job done is important for a drill today. Our Dale seedhawk we limit to about 8 kmh but wouldn’t want to go any slower as weather and conditions keep the pressure...

It would be great if weaving could come up with a scraper or seed firmer system as in my view this is a major short coming of the drill.

How do you terminate covercrops before drilling barley.? As in do you terminate close to drilling or allow covercrops to go brown or spray after drilling.

Looks like lots of earthworm castings. What’s the secret for that?

our issue is deeper down from the top 3 inches and it has an overall affect on soil biology. If we could sow all autumn cash crops with good rooting ability I don’t think there would be an issue but due to grass weeds that’s not possible. I know most farmers here still burn and a very light...

decline in earthworm number and also increase in fusarium head scab in wheat. Was always under illusion that returning the straw to surface would build organic carbon but most important solution to that is root biomass. When incorporating straw into soil I think the earthworms were better fed.

Rotation had been winter wheat, spring barley, peas or spring Brassica seed crop or clover so 9 years but have now included a multi species pasture crop for grazing lambs and making silage for two years To make 10 yr rotation. That has return the earthworm numbers as they were in decline for...

Having used a Dale drill successfully for 20 years of notillage leaving all straw chopped on the surface with a mix of autumn and spring sown cash crops . I have come to the conclusion that a notillage idealist approach is maybe not the answer and we have to be flexible to aerating the soil...

Thanks for posting videos but would like to see one going through very heavy barley or wheat straw. We have up to 13 tonne to ha of straw which can easily plug a drill especially if not a hot day.

Are ther any videos of this drilling through very heavy residue or cover crops? seems like a cheapened version of cross slot with disc and tyne but I know Baker and Ritchie tried a similar concept before coming up with cross slot concept. I think They found the disc worked quite a lot of the...

We usually put on 3 fungicides on wheat of which one would be Epoxiconazole in a mix but sometimes I would use it twice. i found a research paper that says Epoxiconazole is Extremely hazardous to earthworms. Carbendazim also is hard on earthworms. i am extremely concerned that something I am...

Does anyone have experience with earthworm mortality from using Epoxiconazole? i have been notill since 2003 full time leaving all residue on the surface and have noticed major decline in earthworms. My whole focus over that time was to build earthworm numbers and so this has been a major...