Sumo DD Spring Drilling

[Richard III]

I think most No Tiller's would agree, slugs tend to be a problem for the first couple of years, then settle down a bit.

 

[Feldspar]

The pictures are not working - I cannot enlarge the smaller ones.

 

[Alistair Nelson]

I would agree entirely with Clive on the Slug Pellets as we are also always told that a slug is a surface grazer.

Didn't the drill have some form of row cleaner on each coulter at the open day? as can't see it on the video.

But looks really good, keep bashing on

Alistair

 

[Clive]

I think most No Tiller's would agree, slugs tend to be a problem for the first couple of years, then settle down a bit.

I genuinely have a bigger mole problem than slug problem already !

 

[Richard III]

I genuinely have a bigger mole problem than slug problem already !

Me too, I am beginning to think I will have to call a mole catcher in before they get totally out of control.

 

[average farmer]

Thank you @MDA for posting these pics and videos, A very nice looking bit of kit. I watch with great interest as its something i'd like to progress to in future.

 

[6910]

I think most No Tiller's would agree, slugs tend to be a problem for the first couple of years, then settle down a bit.

As a no tiller would you be drilling all your Winter crops in October
I've seen W barley drilled in October with no slug damage but some drilled in November was under a lot of pressure from slugs

 

[MDA]

I would agree entirely with Clive on the Slug Pellets as we are also always told that a slug is a surface grazer.

Didn't the drill have some form of row cleaner on each coulter at the open day? as can't see it on the video.

But looks really good, keep bashing on

Alistair

Row cleaners were removed as I thought they would be unnecessary this spring and would probably be a hindrance in cover crops etc. easy to whip back on if situation calls for it though.[/QUOTE]

 

[Mdt]

I find the the drill is very long, is it a prototype and will eventually be shortened or is that it?

 

[Richard III]

As a no tiller would you be drilling all your Winter crops in October
I've seen W barley drilled in October with no slug damage but some drilled in November was under a lot of pressure from slugs

Normally drill everything the end of September, but have drilled up to the middle of October. I would agree later sowings are at more risk, they don't grow away from the slugs the same.

 

[alwaysraining]

@MDA do you think you could ever sell the coulter bar to mount on 3point linkage so could be run with front tank? I am really not sure about the length and the weight balance

 

[MDA]

@Mdt

It has been discussed and looked at before by us, but we were aiming for around 200kgs down force per disc which is what the current trailed format can achieve-and more, and we don't think this would be possible off a mounted tool bar unfortunately. But it is a good idea that we may look at further in the future!
Length of the drill does not seem to be an issue in the field when drilling its quite easy to manoeuvre, and it does mean that components of the drill are easy to get at as well. Tank for filling, metering units for access/calibration, working on coulters etc. all have good access, and the work to transport folding mechanism is very quick and simple going from work to within 3m transport in a matter of minutes. I would say when the drill is in transport position the transport wheels are no further back than an equivalent 750a or an average trailer, and it behaves like a trailer on the road due to the commercial axles and brakes we use.

Looking at your avatar @Mdt ,I recon you're used to long kit anyway!!

Marv

 

[MDA]

Drilling beans at 3" into ploughed and pressed seed bed.
Not sure the press wheels were right for this situation as they were undercutting the soil a bit, but the seed placement was excellent and the discs did not stall in the loose fluffy conditions.

 

[warksfarmer]

@MDA Only from the pictures but there looks to be to much disturbance for a grass weed farm? Have you done any drilling at 8km/h as that seems to be the point where disturbance of the soil increases?

The image below is a weaving big disc at 8km/h direct into stubble with straw removed @Weaving Machinery

 

[Mdt]

@Mdt

It has been discussed and looked at before by us, but we were aiming for around 200kgs down force per disc which is what the current trailed format can achieve-and more, and we don't think this would be possible off a mounted tool bar unfortunately. But it is a good idea that we may look at further in the future!
Length of the drill does not seem to be an issue in the field when drilling its quite easy to manoeuvre, and it does mean that components of the drill are easy to get at as well. Tank for filling, metering units for access/calibration, working on coulters etc. all have good access, and the work to transport folding mechanism is very quick and simple going from work to within 3m transport in a matter of minutes. I would say when the drill is in transport position the transport wheels are no further back than an equivalent 750a or an average trailer, and it behaves like a trailer on the road due to the commercial axles and brakes we use.

Looking at your avatar @Mdt ,I recon you're used to long kit anyway!!

Marv

@MDA Thank you for explaining the length etc, can see what you are saying but still seems to be on the long side for a drill. Yes I may be used to long things behind me but then I might be doing 4 or 5 jobs in one go not just a drill.

 

[Alistair McLaren]

@MDA are you able to change between DD and DTS coulter frames behind the same seed and fert cart?

 

[MDA]

Alistair,

Although the DTS and DD look very similar format, there are quite a few differences between the equivalent width machines so I'm afraid they are not going to be interchangeable.

 

[Daniel]

As the only air drill I've used is a 3m Claydon, how long does it take the seed to get from the hopper to the coulter when you drop it into work? Dropping it in and going like in the video would leave some gaps unless the driver is good with the seed advance button?

 

[MDA]

We have an area cut out switch system in the hydraulic lift circuit which turns the metering on as soon as you begin to lower the drill into work to present seed at the coulters as they engage with the ground, and will also immediately stop the metring when the drill is lifted on the headland. I would say there is around a second delay between the metering starting and seed exiting the coulter tubes.
Ironically we have more trouble with seed on and off with the mounted 3m drills!!

 

[Alistair McLaren]

Alistair,

Although the DTS and DD look very similar format, there are quite a few differences between the equivalent width machines so I'm afraid they are not going to be interchangeable.

Sorry MDA I should said in my other post that my thinking is that you could run say a 4m DTS seeding unit and change to a wider DD seeding unit for different crops and soil conditions using the one tractor and seed/fert cart.