Horsch Avatar

[Ford Prefect]

Yes, it was fully weighted, I seem to remember it was something like 250kg per opener? I think there's a thread on here somewhere about it. IIRC the disc is about 1.5" bigger than a 750a, I don't know about the angles although I think they are the same. Sorry, I'm not an expert on it at all, although was very interested last year.

We should be taking delivery of a 750a tomorrow afternoon, a decision made somewhat in light of our trial, although not completely by any means.

Thanks for your help. As The Avatar is a new drill there seems to be very little independent reviews available at the moment - probably speaks volumes as new purchasers are sticking with the tried and tested warts and all! Good luck with the new drill.

 

[dontknowanything]

Thanks for your help. As The Avatar is a new drill there seems to be very little independent reviews available at the moment - probably speaks volumes as new purchasers are sticking with the tried and tested warts and all! Good luck with the new drill.

It's a real pity, I like Horsch as a company, they aren't UK based obviously but the service is better than most UK companies I've dealt with.

It would be a simple fix, but I suspect that when you make most of your money selling a cultivation system there is little incentive to make a really good no-till drill.

 

[Ford Prefect]

It's a real pity, I like Horsch as a company, they aren't UK based obviously but the service is better than most UK companies I've dealt with.

It would be a simple fix, but I suspect that when you make most of your money selling a cultivation system there is little incentive to make a really good no-till drill.

Horsch are a good company as I have dealt with them in the past and found them helpful. Looking at the way 750A are reportedly selling you would have thought that incentive enough. Would be interesting to see if the slightly smaller JD type disc (apm supplied perhaps) has the same hole configuration, probably not knowing Horsch.

 

[dontknowanything]

Horsch are a good company as I have dealt with them in the past and found them helpful. Looking at the way 750A are reportedly selling you would have thought that incentive enough. Would be interesting to see if the slightly smaller JD type disc (apm supplied perhaps) has the same hole configuration, probably not knowing Horsch.

You'd have thought putting a smaller disc on wouldn't be too much work, it's the joy of round stuff! The seed boot would need moving up, but there is adjustment built into that anyway. I did wonder whether disc size could just be a factory option, if you're using it in min-till the larger disc is probably a benefit. Regardless, they have made their mind up and I don't think it's going to change.

 

[Ford Prefect]

You would be surprised what can be achieved just by talking about it in a public place. As farmers we suddenly have a much louder voice thanks to places such as this.

 

[dontknowanything]

You would be surprised what can be achieved just by talking about it in a public place. As farmers we suddenly have a much louder voice thanks to places such as this.

They do read this, I know that for a fact. But it's been discussed here before, and I mention it every time I see Horsch (most recently at LAMMA), so they certainly aren't going to change because of me.

 

[Ford Prefect]

They do read this, I know that for a fact. But it's been discussed here before, and I mention it every time I see Horsch (most recently at LAMMA), so they certainly aren't going to change because of me.

Watching potential sales go to the machine they have so obviously tied themselves to does focus the mind or at least it should do. I was tempted by the Horsch and will still have the demo but this disc size issue plus the higher residual value of the 750A may well make the difference.

 

[Andrew K]

Watching potential sales go to the machine they have so obviously tied themselves to does focus the mind or at least it should do. I was tempted by the Horsch and will still have the demo but this disc size issue plus the higher residual value of the 750A may well make the difference.

They will be working on it no doubt, but agree disc size is easy to test. What angles do the openers work at compared to a 750A?

 

[Hillplanter]

They will be working on it no doubt, but agree disc size is easy to test. What angles do the openers work at compared to a 750A?

I think JD is 7 degrees and Avatar is 6 degrees.

 

[benferg]

Well the two 6 meter avatars that have been bought into nz were both sold before they got unpacked.

In nz the jd drill have a low resale value as it normally costs $20 k to fix them up for another seasons work.

Biggest negative for nz operations is the high static weight of the machine and the fact you'd need a crane to get seed and fert in the bin.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Well the two 6 meter avatars that have been bought into nz were both sold before they got unpacked.

In nz the jd drill have a low resale value as it normally costs $20 k to fix them up for another seasons work.

Biggest negative for nz operations is the high static weight of the machine and the fact you'd need a crane to get seed and fert in the bin.

Its a shame the jd is expensive to rekit up because the advantage of it being fully bushed etc. Its eminently rebuildable and the parts arent expensive to manufacture.

 

[Farmer Roy]

Baldan single disc, mounted on a local built 3PL bar, with 2 x 1 ton airseeder on front of tractor
The JD single disc is ok, but not as good as other South American or local versions . . .

Horsch had an Avatar demo ( 12m I believe ) running around last year. Unfortunately I didn't get to see it but apparently it was pretty impressive. Not a big player here yet, but from what I understand fairly highly regarded

 

[Steevo]

How did it turn our @Ford Prefect?

 

[Pilatus]

How did it turn our @Ford Prefect?

It will be very interesting to hear @Ford Prefect comments.

 

[Ford Prefect]

The demo sadly never took place. In the end we bought an ex demo 6m 750A which has so far been used to successfully establish maize and oilseed rape after a shallow pre cultivation. The reason for choosing the John Deere was all about the seed placement part of the machine which is proven to deliver the results I was after. A couple of local farmers have recently tried an Avatar and had issues with straw blocking the coulters which was something that concerned me after hearing other users feedback. The resale value of what are both expensive drills is much higher with the 750A which are as rare as hens teeth on the secondhand market in the UK.

 

[Steevo]

The demo sadly never took place. In the end we bought an ex demo 6m 750A which has so far been used to successfully establish maize and oilseed rape after a shallow pre cultivation. The reason for choosing the John Deere was all about the seed placement part of the machine which is proven to deliver the results I was after. A couple of local farmers have recently tried an Avatar and had issues with straw blocking the coulters which was something that concerned me after hearing other users feedback. The resale value of what are both expensive drills is much higher with the 750A which are as rare as hens teeth on the secondhand market in the UK.

Reading that back through, it seems funny to me that we make decisions on equipment based on just a single field, or day demo....if that sometimes! Some of this equipment is super expensive and needs to fit as much of the system as possible, but you can't test that out on one field/day etc.

 

[jaan14141]

Some news from me. Had Avatar 6.16 right before autumn drillig period started. Managed do drill around 300 ha with it. OSR, WB and WW. OSR and WB after WW. All straw is chopped.
In summary I am very happy with it. First bicture of OSR drilling, second of osr emerge and last one ww after osr.

 

[Banana Bar]

What hp does it need on the 6m

 

[T C]

Had a 6m on demo on a Valtra t254 this autumn, would not want any less.
We put some wheat into raked OSR stubble, field has not been ploughed for 10 years. There are a few hills and a heavy loam soil. It was quite dry on top but sticky below the surface.
Best bit of wheat we have !

 

[Banana Bar]

That’s getting to be a decent size tractor on a no till drill. I was hoping a 6215r would be boss of the job.