Direct Drill for 250 acres

[JezzaB76]

Could anyone give any advice on a suitable drill for a relatively small acreage, 250 acres. To seed cereals, legumes, cover crops and grass leys. We are transitioning from conventional farming to a regenerative system, and exploring different drilling options.

Many thanks

Jeremy

 

[steveR]

Could anyone give any advice on a suitable drill for a relatively small acreage, 250 acres. To seed cereals, legumes, cover crops and grass leys. We are transitioning from conventional farming to a regenerative system, and exploring different drilling options.

Many thanks

Jeremy

Someone will ask, so I'll go first. Do you prefer discs or tines? Can you afford new?

For your acreage, a Simtech comes to mind as a tine drill for all round use. 2nd hand Moore unidrill for discs? 3m for both.

 

[Deutzdx3]

If tine drill, a horsch co drill are prime to conversion. Lots of different ones out there now. See what your local dealers support so you can get parts when you need them.

 

[pear]

I’d agree with @steveR , a Simtech is worth looking at. I’ve got one, it fits the bill for a wide range of crops. I drill grass, cereals, covers and occasionally peas. I’ve had mine for about 6 years and if I was to up grade (I was due to this year- go bigger, but I lost some ground) I’d have another simtech.

I do have a bit of my ground drilled by a neighbour with a CO4 and that ends up with the same results as the Simtech, although I wouldn’t want to drill grass with one, unless you drilled the field twice.

 

[steveR]

I’d agree with @steveR , a Simtech is worth looking at. I’ve got one, it fits the bill for a wide range of crops. I drill grass, cereals, covers and occasionally peas. I’ve had mine for about 6 years and if I was to up grade (I was due to this year- go bigger, but I lost some ground) I’d have another simtech.

I do have a bit of my ground drilled by a neighbour with a CO4 and that ends up with the same results as the Simtech, although I wouldn’t want to drill grass with one, unless you drilled the field twice.

The users of the Aitchison (which the Simtech is based on), and other 150mm tined drills do seem to support @pear 's view of twice over for grass seeds. At 45 degrees I was told, but not actually done this yet with my Aitchison! Soon though....

 

[robs1]

The users of the Aitchison (which the Simtech is based on), and other 150mm tined drills do seem to support @pear 's view of twice over for grass seeds. At 45 degrees I was told, but not actually done this yet with my Aitchison! Soon though....

It's what we do with ours and works well, simple box drill, little power needed and bugger all to go wrong

 

[steveR]

It's what we do with ours and works well, simple box drill, little power needed and bugger all to go wrong

Just the Driver.....

 

[Kevtherev]

Duncan

 

[Kevtherev]

The users of the Aitchison (which the Simtech is based on), and other 150mm tined drills do seem to support @pear 's view of twice over for grass seeds. At 45 degrees I was told, but not actually done this yet with my Aitchison! Soon though....

When you do Steve do the second pass slightly shallower than the first run.

 

[steveR]

When you do Steve do the second pass slightly shallower than the first run.

At the moment, the land is that effing hard, both passes would be at 2mm depth!! I did risk a very light discing of one extremely hard stubble, to find some soil last week. Bit of emergence of the IRG and fodder rape this afternoon.




Did you get any of the torrential storms today? We had a downpour.... all of 2 mins!

 

[Kevtherev]

Only tonight it’s rained at 10pm but not sure how much.
Soils are powder dry here now.

 

[steveR]

Only tonight it’s rained at 10pm but not sure how much.
Soils are powder dry here now.

Aye, it seems to be missing a swathe across the country....again. Nowt overnight...

 

[Mark C]

Nice 3m Sumo versadrill in classifieds