Sumo DTS pictures / videos in the wet?

[doorknob]

Haven't got any picks and probably a good job but have to say our sumo dts trial plot does not look good and is very patchy to say the least. In the same field over half was ploughed and combi drilled and the wheat looks well all over. I'm disappointed to say the least but haven't written the drill off all together but dads not impressed. Both drilled at the same time, the ploughing allowed the water to drain away from the seed. The dts leading leg was only in 4" because of the conditions and the tractor not being able to pull it, the seed got water logged I think but I do need to have a closer look if I'm honest as from the road it does not look good. The whole field was rolled 2 days ago and hoping the bare patches fill out somewhat. Will make a concerted effort to put some photos up in next few days. The right drill and cultivation system for the conditions to get the best possible establishment springs to mind at the moment.

Well, you did admit that the tractor could not pull the drill with the till legs in properly. So the tractor might be more to blame than the drill. If you figure how much tractor and fuel you put into the plough and combi, you should allow that much for the sumo.
Please keep us posted and with pictures, perhaps someone can make a few pointers to aid with better establishment next time.

 

[sumo]

How late was this drilled? I've learnt to use the drill when conditions are right and don't force it on heavy land that doesn't drain

I'll reply as Marv is in deepest Germany demoing in slightly nicer, drier conditions at the mo.

I've had a look back to see what the conditions were like, as you can see, a touch wet to say the least !

It was the last week in November, obviously we shouldn't have tried, but everyone was keen to see how it would do.

With such demos all of the manufacturers are in the same boat, we knew it shouldn't be done, but if we didn't want to give it a try we'd look like we were chickening out of the challenge, sadly damned if you do, damned if you don't

 

[Johndeere]

@JCfarmer I think you should let sumo have another go in better conditions, here are 2 dts crop pictures 1, planted in September

2, planted in December on free draining

don't force it

 

[H.Jackson]

Sometimes you have to give in drilling oats after turnips here DD'd a treat but stones so tight after sheep keeps breaking drill tines. Running in front with tine 3 inch deep now sailing along.

 

[JCfarmer]

Mid November

I'll reply as Marv is in deepest Germany demoing in slightly nicer, drier conditions at the mo.

I've had a look back to see what the conditions were like, as you can see, a touch wet to say the least !

It was the last week in November, obviously we shouldn't have tried, but everyone was keen to see how it would do.

With such demos all of the manufacturers are in the same boat, we knew it shouldn't be done, but if we didn't want to give it a try we'd look like we were chickening out of the challenge, sadly damned if you do, damned if you don't

Yes it was drilled end of Nov, I don't blame the drill that much. Probably should have left it or put one of our tractors on the front as would have pulled it better with leading tine in deeper. Having said that there still would have been smearing, if the ground had been ploughed before the drill then the wheat would probably have come ok but it still would have had to of been worked somehow before drilling. Sumo seemed happy to come and have a go and appreciate them giving me a demo. I realise they are damned if they do or damned if they don't. Convincing my old man of the drill will not be easy. Especially having an expensive drill that will not work in any conditions unless you cultivate first and then your not saving anything. I wanted it to work!

 

[marco]

Mid November

Yes it was drilled end of Nov, I don't blame the drill that much. Probably should have left it or put one of our tractors on the front as would have pulled it better with leading tine in deeper. Having said that there still would have been smearing, if the ground had been ploughed before the drill then the wheat would probably have come ok but it still would have had to of been worked somehow before drilling. Sumo seemed happy to come and have a go and appreciate them giving me a demo. I realise they are damned if they do or damned if they don't. Convincing my old man of the drill will not be easy. Especially having an expensive drill that will not work in any conditions unless you cultivate first and then your not saving anything. I wanted it to work!

No chance of drilling it in october? when conditions are better?

 

[Tractor Boy]

Mid November

Yes it was drilled end of Nov, I don't blame the drill that much. Probably should have left it or put one of our tractors on the front as would have pulled it better with leading tine in deeper. Having said that there still would have been smearing, if the ground had been ploughed before the drill then the wheat would probably have come ok but it still would have had to of been worked somehow before drilling. Sumo seemed happy to come and have a go and appreciate them giving me a demo. I realise they are damned if they do or damned if they don't. Convincing my old man of the drill will not be easy. Especially having an expensive drill that will not work in any conditions unless you cultivate first and then your not saving anything. I wanted it to work!

From the look of those pictures Sumo posted, it wouldn't have made it any better if the front tine was deeper. It just wasn't fit for a strip til machine!

 

[Andrew K]

I dont think any drill would have liked to work direct in thoseconditions, whatever the make.

 

[Clive]

I'll reply as Marv is in deepest Germany demoing in slightly nicer, drier conditions at the mo.

I've had a look back to see what the conditions were like, as you can see, a touch wet to say the least !

It was the last week in November, obviously we shouldn't have tried, but everyone was keen to see how it would do.

With such demos all of the manufacturers are in the same boat, we knew it shouldn't be done, but if we didn't want to give it a try we'd look like we were chickening out of the challenge, sadly damned if you do, damned if you don't

Nothing was going to work in those kind of conditions

 

[Oscar]

All being well I have a DTS coming next week on demo to do some S Barley. Will get some pics if I can.

 

[JCfarmer]

All being well I have a DTS coming next week on demo to do some S Barley. Will get some pics if I can.

Well it wouldn't work next week for me because it would look similar to demo conditions! Different drills for different soil types and location/weather! Pleased I tried it, there has been a few photos of the dts working in wet wet conditions. Only photos shown of good results mind. I wish I'd ploughed and drilled the whole field now. I do one pass drill for osr and soon to be beans and what ever is necessary for wheat/cereals. Any strip til drill would have delivered the same. What savings are we making again? Still like the drill but sometimes you have to get on and know yourself that the crop will establish the way you have done it over some years because you know your land. Arty farty waiting around is not for everybody. Don't like ploughing that much either!

 

[marco]

Well it wouldn't work next week for me because it would look similar to demo conditions! Different drills for different soil types and location/weather! Pleased I tried it, there has been a few photos of the dts working in wet wet conditions. Only photos shown of good results mind. I wish I'd ploughed and drilled the whole field now. I do one pass drill for osr and soon to be beans and what ever is necessary for wheat/cereals. Any strip til drill would have delivered the same. What savings are we making again? Still like the drill but sometimes you have to get on and know yourself that the crop will establish the way you have done it over some years because you know your land. Arty farty waiting around is not for everybody. Don't like ploughing that much either!

So tell me again why you didn't sow in october? or even the last week in september?

 

[JCfarmer]

Waiting for a demo machine and some dts drilled wheat in Nov still. Time and the weather waits for no man as many found out last year. To buy an expensive drill and have to wait till conditions are near perfect just seems ridiculous to me, don't get me wrong strip til drills have there place but so does every other drill/system. The secret is to have options and not expensive ones, bottom line I look at. Sorry for rant, just a realist and not brain washed easily if at all.

 

[MDA]

Waiting for a demo machine and some dts drilled wheat in Nov still. Time and the weather waits for no man as many found out last year. To buy an expensive drill and have to wait till conditions are near perfect just seems ridiculous to me, don't get me wrong strip til drills have there place but so does every other drill/system. The secret is to have options and not expensive ones, bottom line I look at. Sorry for rant, just a realist and not brain washed easily if at all.

I'm sorry the drill didn't work for you jcfarmer, but like they say if you don't try, you never know.
It may be worth mentioning that when conditions are so wet that the strip till system will not work, you can still use the DTS on ploughing, sometimes straight onto ploughing without the need for a p/h and drill in a more conventional manner which a lot of customers have done successfully. Lifting the loosening legs and just using the DTS as basically a tine drill.
Thank you anyway for letting us come and try the drill and I hope I can show you the machine working in better weather!
Marv.

 

[L P]

I'm sorry the drill didn't work for you jcfarmer, but like they say if you don't try, you never know.
It may be worth mentioning that when conditions are so wet that the strip till system will not work, you can still use the DTS on ploughing, sometimes straight onto ploughing without the need for a p/h and drill in a more conventional manner which a lot of customers have done successfully. Lifting the loosening legs and just using the DTS as basically a tine drill.
Thank you anyway for letting us come and try the drill and I hope I can show you the machine working in better weather!
Marv.

Hello Marv,
Just to let you know I fitted a set of your universal points on the C04 and love the job they have done so far. Not sure they will do 2500 acres but will definitely manage 1000 with this set. Seed placement is better than the duett, I've had the odd blocked spout due to the packer wheels throwing soil up them on the road but doing a lovely job straight in and onto tilled ground

 

[JCfarmer]

I'm sorry the drill didn't work for you jcfarmer, but like they say if you don't try, you never know.
It may be worth mentioning that when conditions are so wet that the strip till system will not work, you can still use the DTS on ploughing, sometimes straight onto ploughing without the need for a p/h and drill in a more conventional manner which a lot of customers have done successfully. Lifting the loosening legs and just using the DTS as basically a tine drill.
Thank you anyway for letting us come and try the drill and I hope I can show you the machine working in better weather!
Marv.

The demo was much appreciated Marv, thanks. Like I say I still like the drill and know it works. Have seen good results with it on here. Will have to visit some good examples first hand. I have to justify it in my system. Thanks again and perhaps we may have another go.

 

[Feldspar]

I think it's easy to say just wait until conditions come right, for some soils this is a lot more difficult to do. I empathise with @JCfarmer. It's easy to say you should have drilled on this day or another at 11am precisely. Drilling in the optimum conditions is very easy in hindsight. Take the current conditions for example; we have just had a fairly settled spell of weather and the soils have dried considerably. That said, conditions for strip-till drills (and I would say no-till and conventional drills onto land that was cultivated in sub-optimal conditions) are not ideal.

Both our Claydon and Mzuri are struggling in soils that are hard on top but soft inside. The same for fields which were ploughed last year, strip-tilled last year, and fields which have been undisturbed for three years. We are maschioing behind nearly all spring drilling once things have dried a little which is making a big difference on top is producing a good finish. There will have been some smearing below that will remain untouched and that is obviously not ideal. If it had turned really dry we would have struggled, if it stays wetter the soil will not bake.

But what do you do? Wait hoping for something better? Let's just say that the current round of long range models are correct. We then get 3-4 four weeks of unsettled weather that wets the ground more than its current state. It might then take a further week to dry back to the state we are now in and longer to improve further. The date will then be nearing the end of April and there will not be the tolerance for slightly cloddy seedbeds that there is now. The heavy clay soils will still be in a difficult state for many with no frosts. Lower humidity and stronger sunshine at the end of April increases the risk of the soil baking hard after drilling.

 

[DieselRob]

The demo was much appreciated Marv, thanks. Like I say I still like the drill and know it works. Have seen good results with it on here. Will have to visit some good examples first hand. I have to justify it in my system. Thanks again and perhaps we may have another go.

Is it typical of your system/ workload to be drilling later and in sometimes less than ideal conditions? Or did it just so happen that you were delayed by waiting for a demo etc? I think it is very honest of you not to slate the drill or manufacturer outright since you do know what it is capable of in better conditions. Does your system have room for improvements in timeliness to hopefully reduce the chances of being caught out later in the season? Its never easy when it isn't just yourself you are trying to convince of a machines capabilities!

 

[Johndeere]

The demo was much appreciated Marv, thanks. Like I say I still like the drill and know it works. Have seen good results with it on here. Will have to visit some good examples first hand. I have to justify it in my system. Thanks again and perhaps we may have another go.

Feel free to come and have a look at any time

 

[JCfarmer]

Is it typical of your system/ workload to be drilling later and in sometimes less than ideal conditions? Or did it just so happen that you were delayed by waiting for a demo etc? I think it is very honest of you not to slate the drill or manufacturer outright since you do know what it is capable of in better conditions. Does your system have room for improvements in timeliness to hopefully reduce the chances of being caught out later in the season? Its never easy when it isn't just yourself you are trying to convince of a machines capabilities!

We have a lot of muck to spread mainly before second wheats and didn't apply latitude so tend to leave till mid October at the earliest . We ended up having a far wetter autumn/winter than normal or did we, very unsettled extreme weather seems to be the norm these days? I have to say when needs must following behind the plough with a good combi with variable rate takes a lot of beating, it grows 95% of the time and delivers good yields. All the rape looks great as does most peoples and all the wheat looks well bar 15 acres, 7 acres of which was drilled with the dts which would have grown perfectly ok if ploughed and drilled. Other bits just lay wet full stop. We have just finished ploughing for spring wheat, dry on top and liver underneath, needed turning over.