24 row Erth drill versus 32row direct drills

[Liam Hurley]

Looking at buying a 24 row Erth direct drill for direct drilling grass into burn off and for stitching, slightly concerned about the spacing on the 24 row machine versus a 32 row machine, is there much of a difference in establishment ?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Not if you cross drill
But the 32 is wide enough
The 24 I believe has slightly more angle on the disc that may help though
Have you direct drilled before

 

[Will Blackburn]

4 metre?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

4 metre?

If money was not the issue then yes and cross drill when doing long term grass leys
But I'm sad to say the Erth Drill I was using as gone , to many problems when contracting with it ,I do have access to another one though , 3m 32 row, we are waiting for a front mounted wave disc to go on front of the tractor to improve things
The problem is some farmers new to the job think you can just burn anything off, drill in it and it will grow ,it clearly won't

 

[BRB John]

I just use my seed drill 3m with 24 rows for my grass and I'm alot happier with the results Vs anything else I've used. I don't cross drill either just nice straight lines. For direct drill i would of thought 24 for 3m is plenty.

 

[Will Blackburn]

I’d go 24 rows. Too many rows and you’re going to compromise down force and penetration.

 

[Wesley]

Only ever used a Vaderstad Rapid here for direct drilling. I believe that works out as 24 rows in 3m. Never had any problems. Don’t cross drill either. Can’t really see much need for more.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Personal choice I suppose
I sometimes worry the 30 row is to wide on grass leys

 

[Wesley]

Personal choice I suppose
I sometimes worry the 30 row is to wide on grass leys

I don’t think the slightly wider spacing is much of a problem in grass if the timing etc is right & it gets up & going properly.

 

[ploughman1963]

If money was not the issue then yes and cross drill when doing long term grass leys
But I'm sad to say the Erth Drill I was using as gone , to many problems when contracting with it ,I do have access to another one though , 3m 32 row, we are waiting for a front mounted wave disc to go on front of the tractor to improve things
The problem is some farmers new to the job think you can just burn anything off, drill in it and it will grow ,it clearly won't

Please can you PMme what problems you had as I’m looking at adding one to our line up alongside the Duncan

 

[Wesley]

Personal choice I suppose
I sometimes worry the 30 row is to wide on grass leys

This is last years reseed. Drilled 30th August with a Vaderstad. First photo is 23rd September. Eaten it off twice with sheep since. Last photos are today. Tried to find a thinner patch to show how much its covered the ground. But yes I can imagine certain situations a closer spacing may be beneficial.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

It looks great to be fair but like I said I would not be happy myself spacing long term leys at 5 inches ,I know some on here won't drill grass at all ,they prefer close spaced broadcast

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Please can you PMme what problems you had as I’m looking at adding one to our line up alongside the Duncan

Will message you tonight when I get back

 

[BFL4437]

Was looking last year at this exactly and our seed rep had bought the 24 row a couple of years earlier and he said go for the 32row. Ended up taking the plunge for the 32row and wouldn't go for anything else.
Done 190acres from July to September with it and all grew bloody tremendous. Burn off or stiching in, arable stuble or straight into soil. Little bit extra money but save on time and fuel of cross drilling and for grass 125mm is to far if you burn off whereas 90mm you can manage with that as it tillers out. Any queries happily send me a message or ask on here. Either way you won't beat the Erth drill whichever one you go for

 

[hally]

I have direct drilled for 30 years and the 32 row machines are far away better for grass establishment. It is not without faults, as mentioned it narrows the cultivation in the slot and you need to carry alot of weight on the drill for penetration in a dry time.

 

[TelesnaAg]

Was looking last year at this exactly and our seed rep had bought the 24 row a couple of years earlier and he said go for the 32row. Ended up taking the plunge for the 32row and wouldn't go for anything else.
Done 190acres from July to September with it and all grew bloody tremendous. Burn off or stiching in, arable stuble or straight into soil. Little bit extra money but save on time and fuel of cross drilling and for grass 125mm is to far if you burn off whereas 90mm you can manage with that as it tillers out. Any queries happily send me a message or ask on here. Either way you won't beat the Erth drill whichever one you go for

Friend of mi e looking at getting one in oz, 32 row, how much weight needed for dry sowing? We do alot here in early autumn, cant wait for rain especially in the dairy job.

Ant....

 

[steveR]

It looks great to be fair but like I said I would not be happy myself spacing long term leys at 5 inches ,I know some on here won't drill grass at all ,they prefer close spaced broadcast

Starting to go that way again myself...

From my experiments with establishing direct drilled leys, the secret seems to be a grass mix that will tiller properly! I have found the Herbal ley mixtures rarely tiller worth a damn, and leave too much open ground, even when x drilled. Broadcast has been better.... a bit!

 

[hally]

Friend of mi e looking at getting one in oz, 32 row, how much weight needed for dry sowing? We do alot here in early autumn, cant wait for rain especially in the dairy job.

Ant....

We carry a ton on our 32row earth drill, couldn't get away with much less tbh in a dry year.

 

[hally]

Starting to go that way again myself...

From my experiments with establish drilled leys, the secret seems to be a grass mix that will tiller properly! I have found the Herbal ley mixtures rarely tiller worth a damn, and leave too much open ground, even when x drilled. Broadcast has been better.... a bit!

We ran unidrills for 20 years at 5 inch, the 32 row machines give a far better result. Aim not to drill to late so the rows can tiller out before winter. Getting customers to take this advice is another matter

 

[Wesley]

We ran unidrills for 20 years at 5 inch, the 32 row machines give a far better result. Aim not to drill to late so the rows can tiller out before winter. Getting customers to take this advice is another matter

We find no later than August. You can get away with later but everything else has to be in your favour for good results. I think some people think they can go as late as a conventional reseed (ploughing).