I have been mulling and exploring the possible use of a basic DD tine drill such as found in the Aitchison and Sim-Tec range for while now, to use initially on game and stewardship drilling, with an increase next year onwards, as ground comes out of my old Stewardship and transitions into other options that will include cover cropping, herbal leys, and insect friendly cropping on a larger scale and also allow some of the selected fields to start a long process of building up OM again after several years of Contract farming of the land.
I also pondered the Duncan trailed drill as being more suitable for smaller tractors, but in the end I opted for a budget priced new Aitchison Grassfarmer 3014, guided to the machine by the good @SilliamWhale. As others who have been looking will know, 2nd hand machines are not common in this size. My 100hp 4WD seems over the top, but as others have said about these types of drill, they carry heavy, with the weight a long way back.
I would have preferred a 2.7m machine but in all honesty for my limited acreage , the 2.1m will suffice until I have thrashed out the drillling techniques and it's good and bad points. @le bon paysan has been using his identical machine very effectively for a wide range of cropping, and he offered me some most useful guidance, as did @neilo, who is using a more sophisticated 3m Sim-tec. Both proved to me that these machines can work for me.
So 4 different crops now been drilled into a range of seedbeds here in what must be the dryest conditions I have seen here for April for many a long time! The aim was to no-till into ex game cover/stewardship areas that were sprayed off with Kyleo 3 weeks before drilling to remove perennials such as Dock, thistle and Nettle, mostly on some stiff clays. I also had a small area of "boys land" that had overwintered Mustard that grew like a weed. I also left unsprayed a couple of areas on lighter land, one block has self regen white clover, the other has the leftovers from last years game cover and both were growing quite well, just to see what happened and then spray post drilling to kill the greenery.
25 years ago, I was practicing a budget min-till on the heavy clay soils in the Autumn, one or two passes with the heavy discs then through with a home brew combi drill. Cheap and cheerful, and as the land was cracking 2ft deep, no need for deep cultivations, this was complimented by super LGP kit for fert and spraying, so no ruts at harvest time. Bit different to the oversized and heavy kit now.... As a complete novice in no-till I was unsure just what the drill was actually capable off drilling into, so this Spring would be a good test!
I found that the over wintered and top baked clays were effectively a no-go for DD this year, there is moisture down at a couple of inches, but the Grassfarmer is just too light and does not have enough weight to penetrate. Maybe some additional weight would help, but I suspect I am trying for something it's not really designed for? Some penetration could be achieved though, where there was a good overwintered cover, which seems to confirm all that is said here on the benefits of plant cover!!
The lighter loam soils allowed me to achieve what I had aimed for with the drill, again a really good performance was achieved where there was a good level of green material, either sprayed off, or still green. Max height was maybe 300mm, but what really came across was how much more friable the soil was where a green cover had been, which improved point penetration hugely. A lesson learned!! Exposed soil even here was again, more difficult to get the tines into...
Med loam drilled 21/4/20
The mustard was a disappointment in that the Aitchison was blocking a bit, I think I might have made a better job with some drill adjustments but time dictated getting the job prepared, so a fast run with a flail topper, then back with the drill and again, good penetration and no dragging... Will go back and roundup up off the overwintered arable weeds here on Friday. I also disced with my compact discs, a small area of the mustard to see what emergence will be like... Unless we get rain, I reckon the cultivated land will be streets ahead in finding some mosture more readily across all soil types...
Back to the heavy clays... no rain forecast for ages, so I went back to the mid 90s and I disced* through the top cap pulling a heavy cambridge roll behind, a couple of spots needed a 2nd pass, then roll again, then drill. The Aitchison did a really nice job here as you would expect, a bit of adjustment to get the depths right and it was nice to see the seed in out of sight!
The proof will be in the coming weeks as plants emerge and I will see if my attempt to avoid stale seedbeds, has finally worked... ?
I have been impressed at the penetration and potential versatility of the wee drill. It needs the chain levelling bar assembly finished before I drill the brassica mixtures in 2 weeks time, however, that will be waiting for rain. Also needs a step at the back... a sad lack IMO. Build seem OK, bit of surface rust from being a store in N Yorks for a while I guess but not going to rot away.
Annoying that there is no area meter!
Cleaning out seemed a PITA, then I remembered someone here on TFF suggested a vacuum cleaner, so Madam's cordless wonder from Lidl was pressed into service! I've now found an ash hoover with a bigger drum that will do the job well!
More will follow... I woud be delighted to hear of any mods or suggestion on using the drill.
* Yep, hang my head in shame here!!
I also pondered the Duncan trailed drill as being more suitable for smaller tractors, but in the end I opted for a budget priced new Aitchison Grassfarmer 3014, guided to the machine by the good @SilliamWhale. As others who have been looking will know, 2nd hand machines are not common in this size. My 100hp 4WD seems over the top, but as others have said about these types of drill, they carry heavy, with the weight a long way back.
I would have preferred a 2.7m machine but in all honesty for my limited acreage , the 2.1m will suffice until I have thrashed out the drillling techniques and it's good and bad points. @le bon paysan has been using his identical machine very effectively for a wide range of cropping, and he offered me some most useful guidance, as did @neilo, who is using a more sophisticated 3m Sim-tec. Both proved to me that these machines can work for me.
So 4 different crops now been drilled into a range of seedbeds here in what must be the dryest conditions I have seen here for April for many a long time! The aim was to no-till into ex game cover/stewardship areas that were sprayed off with Kyleo 3 weeks before drilling to remove perennials such as Dock, thistle and Nettle, mostly on some stiff clays. I also had a small area of "boys land" that had overwintered Mustard that grew like a weed. I also left unsprayed a couple of areas on lighter land, one block has self regen white clover, the other has the leftovers from last years game cover and both were growing quite well, just to see what happened and then spray post drilling to kill the greenery.
25 years ago, I was practicing a budget min-till on the heavy clay soils in the Autumn, one or two passes with the heavy discs then through with a home brew combi drill. Cheap and cheerful, and as the land was cracking 2ft deep, no need for deep cultivations, this was complimented by super LGP kit for fert and spraying, so no ruts at harvest time. Bit different to the oversized and heavy kit now.... As a complete novice in no-till I was unsure just what the drill was actually capable off drilling into, so this Spring would be a good test!
I found that the over wintered and top baked clays were effectively a no-go for DD this year, there is moisture down at a couple of inches, but the Grassfarmer is just too light and does not have enough weight to penetrate. Maybe some additional weight would help, but I suspect I am trying for something it's not really designed for? Some penetration could be achieved though, where there was a good overwintered cover, which seems to confirm all that is said here on the benefits of plant cover!!
The lighter loam soils allowed me to achieve what I had aimed for with the drill, again a really good performance was achieved where there was a good level of green material, either sprayed off, or still green. Max height was maybe 300mm, but what really came across was how much more friable the soil was where a green cover had been, which improved point penetration hugely. A lesson learned!! Exposed soil even here was again, more difficult to get the tines into...
Med loam drilled 21/4/20The mustard was a disappointment in that the Aitchison was blocking a bit, I think I might have made a better job with some drill adjustments but time dictated getting the job prepared, so a fast run with a flail topper, then back with the drill and again, good penetration and no dragging... Will go back and roundup up off the overwintered arable weeds here on Friday. I also disced with my compact discs, a small area of the mustard to see what emergence will be like... Unless we get rain, I reckon the cultivated land will be streets ahead in finding some mosture more readily across all soil types...
Back to the heavy clays... no rain forecast for ages, so I went back to the mid 90s and I disced* through the top cap pulling a heavy cambridge roll behind, a couple of spots needed a 2nd pass, then roll again, then drill. The Aitchison did a really nice job here as you would expect, a bit of adjustment to get the depths right and it was nice to see the seed in out of sight!
The proof will be in the coming weeks as plants emerge and I will see if my attempt to avoid stale seedbeds, has finally worked... ?
I have been impressed at the penetration and potential versatility of the wee drill. It needs the chain levelling bar assembly finished before I drill the brassica mixtures in 2 weeks time, however, that will be waiting for rain. Also needs a step at the back... a sad lack IMO. Build seem OK, bit of surface rust from being a store in N Yorks for a while I guess but not going to rot away.
Annoying that there is no area meter!
Cleaning out seemed a PITA, then I remembered someone here on TFF suggested a vacuum cleaner, so Madam's cordless wonder from Lidl was pressed into service! I've now found an ash hoover with a bigger drum that will do the job well!More will follow... I woud be delighted to hear of any mods or suggestion on using the drill.
* Yep, hang my head in shame here!!
