Best drill for a livestock farm?

[hally]

think getting under 4 inch will mean going to 4 rows of tines to get the spaceings and trash flow
biggest probs with 4 rows is distance from front to back row for ground following on hills and would mean air seeder to get seed down the hoses

Any experience we have had with sub 4inch drills is that in anything other than perfect conditions they are a pain in the a**e for blocking with sods,stones etc

 

[JD-Kid]

Any experience we have had with sub 4inch drills is that in anything other than perfect conditions they are a pain in the a**e for blocking with sods,stones etc

totaly agree only thing maybe more band sowing type boot to get wider sowing in rows to keep clearance between legs

 

[Kevtherev]

@neilo s swedes DD with Aitchison

 

[neilo]

View attachment 581508
@neilo s swedes DD with Aitchison

Where are you sneaking about?

 

[neilo]

No plans for a narrower spacing yet? Can't help feel the first to sell a narrow spaced ( sub 100mm ) Tyne drill with rear roller will sell by the bucket load, can't understand why Duncan/Simtech etc have non done this. We have had an appalling drilling year up here with the weather and getting one pass into burnt off grass has been bad enough but the second pass.... no chance.
I wonder what people's thoughts are about a simtech type slot maybe not holding as much water as a disc type slot as it is less smeared in this bloody weather?

That's exactly the reason why I sold my old Moore after one season (2012) and bought a Simtech.

The trouble with narrow row spacings, is that it wouldn't cope with any amount of trash (unless it had them as an extra row of tines I guess), so would limit where it could be used. The sales pitch on the Simtech is that it will sow and seed into any surface, which is about right IME, and makes for a versatile machine.

 

[hillman]

Assuming ground conditions are reasonable do many cross sow (grassseed)with atitchsion or Duncan type drills ?
What seeding rates do you sow at

@neilo @Kevtherev

 

[neilo]

Assuming ground conditions are reasonable do many cross sow (grassseed)with atitchsion or Duncan type drills ?
What seeding rates do you sow at

@neilo @Kevtherev

I cross drill if it's sprayed off pasture or worked land (twice over at 7kg/ac or so each time). I'm not sure if I would if I were paying a contractor though.

If slotting vigorous grasses into existing swards, it's only ever a short term fix IMO, so a single pass at 10kg/ac or so.

 

[Kevtherev]

Into existing grass as an overseeding job
10-11kg
Sprayed off 15kg per acre

 

[hillman]

Ta @neilo toying with the idea of perhaps maybe getting one next yr only worry is the row spacing at 6" and tillering to meet

 

[JD-Kid]

Ta @neilo toying with the idea of perhaps maybe getting one next yr only worry is the row spacing at 6" and tillering to meet

in all the years i was drilling only cross drilled once
that was with 6 inch tine drills and also 5 3/4 in disc .. most worked on the extra cost of drilling if spent on fert got more gains from the N than the extra cost of drilling

 

[robo watson]

Trying a Moore drill this season. Heavy land compaction is the issue getting the crop started. I have tried stitching chicory into grass it came reasonably on the endings but poor in the main field a lack of consolidation the problem. It is establishing sp barley into burnt off grass which is my worry. Any advice about how to get air into the soil

 

[neilo]

Trying a Moore drill this season. Heavy land compaction is the issue getting the crop started. I have tried stitching chicory into grass it came reasonably on the endings but poor in the main field a lack of consolidation the problem. It is establishing sp barley into burnt off grass which is my worry. Any advice about how to get air into the soil

I DD'ed some swedes into some sprayed off permanent pasture that had some compaction at 5-6". I ran through it first with a swardlifter, to break the compaction layer without moving too much soil and disturbing too many weed seeds. It seemed to work well.
Failing that, you will need to cultivate somehow. I always min-till before Spring Barley, on ground that has been roots grazed with sheep all winter. I can't see how any seed can be expected to grow in a surface layer of compaction.

 

[Tractor tom7480]

View attachment 580424 View attachment 580426

Duncan base with air seeder

It's new ..... .. had it in the inovation arena at the national ploughing championship this year. It's an Irish/ kiwi collaboration... the air seeder is by Doyle engineering Ltd. One of the best available.
It's the least inexpensive direct drill on the market ! Planning a 1/2 ton hopper / Hydraulic fan version to also do larger seeds, grain etc.