Direct drilling with really small kit

[Devil's advocate]

For years, I've thought if only we could use small tractors like I used 40 years ago with really modern well designed machinery & the latest agronomy. It would give high yeilds & a healthy soil..

Insipred by the hands free ha. I've been searching the net & it seems ranchers in the USA already are doing just as I described.

Shame such a drill would not qualify for grants.

 

[spin cycle]

wonder how much they are

 

[SilliamWhale]

Its just a triple disc drill.

 

[Kevtherev]

Lots of different makes in the USA
For the smaller farmer

 

[onesiedale]

I'm sure there was a Vredo drill just like that for sale on here a while back. 2m working width

 

[Kevtherev]

Great Plains do a compact range and simtech do too.

 

[Oldstyle]

Saw the hands free ha drill at lamma last year on the Simtech stand 30hp per m very tempted by a 2.4m but don't think my old David Brown could lift it.

 

[Badshot]

If my weaving was trailed sub 100hp would manage it as long as there was enough oil flow for the fan.

 

[SilliamWhale]

I pulled my john deere 750 3m with a 95hp NH7740 for 3 years.

Aitchisons used to be £15k and only need 100 horse. Good deal back then

 

[Devil's advocate]

Saw the hands free ha drill at lamma last year on the Simtech stand 30hp per m very tempted by a 2.4m but don't think my old David Brown could lift it.

Just needs a draw bar & 40% grant which you can only get on the 3m machine with an air seeder unit.

Mind you with Micheal Gove's strange attitude to robots if it was on a high tech tractor without driver they might let you have the grant

I used to drill 100 acres with a David Brown 780 and grey fergie drill, also spread fertiliser on 190 acre mixed farm & Dad used the same tractor to do all the spraying, no cab so not ideal for spraying. Less compaction back then.

 

[Devil's advocate]

wonder how much they are

According to users on here 3m Simtech 22K. So no idea for these smaller, trailed more complex American machines.

Does anyone know how much the vineyard simtech drill is? Is it possible to get the grant if it is being used for cover crops on potato headlands to protect waterways etc?

Contractor would be way better for me, not sure if anyone local offers the service. But it would be a much heavier tractor than I'd prefer.

 

[onesiedale]

Why is the grant so critical?
Surely if the machine is right for the job then you should be able to make decisions based on that.

Historically, equipment that has been grant aided has only increased in price because of said grant. Meaning that for those who are wrong side of the CSF boundaries it's a real kick in the teeth because they've done what is right but paid extra.

 

[Oldstyle]

Just needs a draw bar & 40% grant which you can only get on the 3m machine with an air seeder unit.

Mind you with Micheal Gove's strange attitude to robots if it was on a high tech tractor without driver they might let you have the grant

I used to drill 100 acres with a David Brown 780 and grey fergie drill, also spread fertiliser on 190 acre mixed farm & Dad used the same tractor to do all the spraying, no cab so not ideal for spraying. Less compaction back then.

Still use an old Massey drill on iron wheels used to pull with a 780 but she needs a rebuild now at over 13000 hours. Use a 1290 now for the drilling and a 1210 for the ploughing. Looking at demoing a simtech in the spring our spring beans currently go in with a 6m claydon on a case steiger. Rather alot of tractor for this little farm so if I can lift the drill then considering moving over to more dd with a simtech grassland drill as only do around 75 acres a year.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Still use an old Massey drill on iron wheels used to pull with a 780 but she needs a rebuild now at over 13000 hours. Use a 1290 now for the drilling and a 1210 for the ploughing. Looking at demoing a simtech in the spring

our spring beans currently go in with a 6m claydon on a case steiger. Rather alot of tractor for this little farm so if I can lift the drill then considering moving over to more dd with a simtech grassland drill as only do around 75 acres a year.

 

[Oldstyle]

Handy having neighbours with bigger kit.

 

[Bury the Trash]

More photo's please

 

[Boohoo]

Would a 1.2 metre direct drill be small enough? Might need 2 of them on a 780
http://www.moore-unidrill.com/sportsturf-unidrill.aspx

 

[Devil's advocate]

Would a 1.2 metre direct drill be small enough? Might need 2 of them on a 780
http://www.moore-unidrill.com/sportsturf-unidrill.aspx

Thanks no idea such machines existed, perhaps one for the robot to pull, lol.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Why is the grant so critical?
Surely if the machine is right for the job then you should be able to make decisions based on that.

Historically, equipment that has been grant aided has only increased in price because of said grant. Meaning that for those who are wrong side of the CSF boundaries it's a real kick in the teeth because they've done what is right but paid extra.

I quite agree on grants. I'd sooner public money was spent on SFP, price support or enviromental work

But if most direct drills are 40% grant funded. It would be very inefficent fiscally to buy one without grant. Drill makers might give a slight discount to none grant funded purchases but not much..

Don't think Simtec will be selling many 2.5m machines, cheaper to buy a bigger tractor. Which must be an unintended consquence.

 

[Farmer Roy]

how small do you want to go ?

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=196731551271413