24 row Erth drill versus 32row direct drills

Liam Hurley

Member
Mixed Farmer
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

Member
Location
Ceredigion
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
 

Wesley

Member
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.
 
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

Member
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.
IMG_2794.jpeg
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IMG_3415.jpeg
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
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
 

BFL4437

Member
Livestock Farmer
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
 

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hally

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
cumbria
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.
 
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

Member
Mixed Farmer
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!
 
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hally

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
cumbria
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

Member
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).
 

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