A rake works deeper every time you use it. My lighter soils are loosened to over an inch on the second pass. The good thing about the Terrastar is that you have a much more weather proof finish that the drill depth wheels don't sink into because you've got all those little spade holes in the top as well as the top blacked over.
Direct/Strip-till drilling photo gallery
- Thread starter strip-till-phil
- Start date
Feldspar
Member
- Location
- Essex, Cambs and Suffolk
I find the little spade holes are annoying when using a disc drill because it's seeding into quite inconsistent conditions if you've only been through once. Ideally I'd like a much more even move of the soil, but the machines out there that would do this like a Joker or Cousins Surface wouldn't have worked in most of the soil conditions we had this harvest (i.e. wet). Because the Terrastar plucks at the soil but does not compress it, you can use it in damp soil conditions without damaging the soil as much.
I agree. I use a Carrier to move the top inch when necessary but it can create a soupy slop that nothing thrives in if forced in the wet and the discs smear underneath. Despite the packer on the back the depth isn't consistent so the Claydon drill seed depth varies too.
Feldspar
Member
- Location
- Essex, Cambs and Suffolk
The other positive point about the Terrastar is it's output, simplicity and relatively low cost. Once set up it requires very little alteration and anyone can use it without specialist knowledge. Used it the other day travelling at 17 kph working as deep as it would go. 220hp was just about enough, but normally it's plenty. I curse it when there's bindweed or baler twine which wraps like anything, but it's a very useful tool to have in the armoury.
Feldspar
Member
- Location
- Essex, Cambs and Suffolk
And a special one for snobbish no-tillers (assuming you were poking fun yourself)?!
Terrastar fb 750a is no higher disturbance than straight in with the Claydon.
Louis Mc
Member
- Location
- Meath, Ireland
Fighting talk
Feldspar
Member
- Location
- Essex, Cambs and Suffolk
I rationalise that I still do more no-till than some 100% no-till farmers.
Crops look excellent in those photos, well done.
Feldspar
Member
- Location
- Essex, Cambs and Suffolk
We have been very lucky this year I feel. Drilled a lot of crops that in other years might have emerged very poorly. This year we've had enough damp to germinate seed in open slots, warm soil temperatures and just enough rain but not too much. It feels risky, but with the exception of the winter beans (yet to emerge drilled too wet IMO) we have got away with a lot more than I was expecting.
Feldspar
Member
- Location
- Essex, Cambs and Suffolk
Best (too good as it's over my knees) and nearly the worst OSR (Had a 9ac field fail out of 450ac). Mainly Claydon drilled, although second picture was Terrastarred and then 750a (not as good a method) so will probably be removed by the moderators.
Last edited:
d williams
Member
What width and roughly how much a M to buy?
Feldspar
Member
- Location
- Essex, Cambs and Suffolk
Feldspar
Member
- Location
- Essex, Cambs and Suffolk
£13-15k for a 6m. @Simon Chiles scoffed that they cost this much, but Jeff has to have money to keep his push-bike running (I'm sure he'll read this).
You lkilling pool 3zok
Lno
Louis Mc
Member
- Location
- Meath, Ireland
You certainly don't lack in your ability to rationalise anyway
Crops look excellent by the way
Feldspar
Member
- Location
- Essex, Cambs and Suffolk
750a is the worst (inconsistent) OSR drill I have ever used , hence the CO (ULD) not a single acre of OSR done with 750a this year and its is showing in the results
Simon Chiles
DD Moderator
- Location
- Surrey/ Kent Border, UK
It’s not the drill, it’s how you use it that counts. For OSR you need to either bale the straw, apply prilled lime or cultivate in front of the drill.
Photos are of 750a drilled rape at 2kg/ha.
Simon Chiles
DD Moderator
- Location
- Surrey/ Kent Border, UK
I’m sure half of the scoffing was down to the fact that your Dad just nipped round for a cup of coffee and came back with a Terrastar. IMO Jeff wins salesman of the year.