The Cross slot vs 750a trial

[Clive]

Big discussion on twitter right now but its getting confusing with so many posts (I'm rubbish at twiter !)

This has to be THE drill trial all serious zero-till farmers want to see under UK conditions, prove once and for all if the CS has advantages over the JD that translate into a positive margin benefit to a farmer..............after all that's what its all about isn't it !

personally I cant help feeling (as i know a few others do) that this trail has never been done for a reason, ie its very high risk for CS but Im happy to be proven wrong and have said before if a financial advantage could be proved to me running a CS over a 750a I would buy one tomorrow


Please lets not turn this into a "which is better debate" as both drills are very capable machines, lets keep it on topic and discuss any potential trail and how it should be carried out, the offer is there from me to run my 750 alongside and I can provide a light / medium land site over a number of years even if its felt 1 season is not enough. ideally IMO there would also be a heavy land site somewhere

If CS are serious about selling these machines in any number they cant just do it on hearsay, prove of advantage over a 750a needs proving to me and many other farmers before we are going to part with any cash

 

[dontknowanything]

Excellent idea.

One problem will be who's going to pay for it, unless PrimeWest are going to do the drilling for free?

Mind you, if they were incident of the result being positive for CS it could be an excellent investment for them.

 

[Clive]

Excellent idea.

One problem will be who's going to pay for it, unless PrimeWest are going to do the drilling for free?

Mind you, if they were incident of the result being positive for CS it could be an excellent investment for them.

well I will provide my 750 / tractor / driver for free on my land and just transport cost to any other site as we all know JD are not particularity interested in promoting them

I would think its very much in cross slots interest to prove their claims that it is better / higher margin machine in our market ? that's what manufacturers do surely ! - me and you might both buy one of the back of a positive result for them as starters !

If cost (transport) was a big issue (or excuse) I'm sure I could ask the BASE committee if they would contribute to such a trial ? its certainly a hot topic in the UK and i'm sure its something BASE members would have interest in ?

 

[dontknowanything]

Could I suggest that you could do a similar trial to the one you did last year, but there are 4 JD plots and 4 CS, that way field variations will be minimised. In fact could get pretty close to fully randomised and replicated?

 

[Clive]

Could I suggest that you could do a similar trial to the one you did last year, but there are 4 JD plots and 4 CS, that way field variations will be minimised. In fact could get pretty close to fully randomised and replicated?

sounds like a good plan ......................all we need now is a CS !

I think you should host a second trail on a heavy land site if it can be organised

both of us will approach with open mind

 

[llamedos]

To give you an idea of the conversation so far!
It seems to have started with this tweet from PrimeWest. & this(their) picture

Hope that makes it easier to see previous discussion!

 

[dontknowanything]

That just about sums it up!

No point going any further though before establishing if CS/PrimeWest actually want to take part?

 

[Knockie]

Get them both up here, slightly more challenging conditions....colder soils, harder winters, rock/stones/boulders etc etc
SD.

 

[combineguy]

Hi

looks like an interesting discussion. Logistics will be biggest issue. Im sure they would want it to happen but sometimes what we want doesn't aways happen.

how far is the nearest CS to you @Clive

 

[combineguy]

Get them both up here, slightly more challenging conditions....colder soils, harder winters, rock/stones/boulders etc etc
SD.

Depending on how the vote goes, they might not be talking to you later on this week

 

[Daniel]

Is Tom Sewell who I follow on twitter also Primewest? If Tom is a regular farmer who's bought/built his own cross slot, can't you work something out with him?

 

[dontknowanything]

Hi

looks like an interesting discussion. Logistics will be biggest issue. Im sure they would want it to happen but sometimes what we want doesn't aways happen.

how far is the nearest CS to you @Clive

PrimeWest are in your part of the country aren't they Clive?

I'd be prepared to pay for a bit of drilling on our farm to be done by one, but don't think I could do a very meaningful or significant trial

 

[Clive]

Hi

looks like an interesting discussion. Logistics will be biggest issue. Im sure they would want it to happen but sometimes what we want doesn't aways happen.

how far is the nearest CS to you @Clive

the Primewest machine is closest I think but not exactly local ! way back in early UK CS days PW did drill a small field here with OSR and drove the tractor (a fair way though) here so it is possible

 

[Clive]

Is Tom Sewell who I follow on twitter also Primewest? If Tom is a regular farmer who's bought/built his own cross slot, can't you work something out with him?

Tom is a long way from me, PW closer I think

 

[dontknowanything]

Logistics will be biggest issue. Im sure they would want it to happen but sometimes what we want doesn't aways happen.
[/USER]

IMO if they want to be taken seriously then they must MAKE it happen. Can't sell your machines on the basis they are worth a 3x premium and then refuse to attempt to prove it.

 

[combineguy]

Is there a 750 which is close to Prime west?

 

[combineguy]

IMO if they want to be taken seriously then they must MAKE it happen. Can't sell your machines on the basis they are worth a 3x premium and then refuse to attempt to prove it.

We have a 750a within about 30ks from us

 

[Clive]

Is there a 750 which is close to Prime west?

don't know TBH - for a good (meanigful) trail you need a farm with a public weighbridge as well and ideally fairly even soils in a large field

 

[combineguy]

Is Tom Sewell who I follow on twitter also Primewest? If Tom is a regular farmer who's bought/built his own cross slot, can't you work something out with him?

Tom is a regular farmer

PW build drills which fit CS openers

 

[combineguy]

Hi

sorry it off topic but what is the difference between a 750a and a JD 1890??