Triton direct seed drill

[teslacoils]

Could you feasibly pull a trailed Hirsch tyre packer behind it, or is that going a bit far? I'm sure you could get a separate optipack style packer to hitch on to a terrano.

 

[Spud]

Doesn't the Triton compromise blackgrass control Lee? Its a bit max disturbance for me.

 

[warksfarmer]

Could you feasibly pull a trailed Hirsch tyre packer behind it, or is that going a bit far? I'm sure you could get a separate optipack style packer to hitch on to a terrano.

I think the strain on the tractors 3 point linkage would be to much. Also the drill would need to be strengthened.

 

[warksfarmer]

Doesn't the Triton compromise blackgrass control Lee? Its a bit max disturbance for me.

It disturbs less than claydon/Mzuri/Horsch Co/ST but it’s not in a 750a league.

The point of the Triton is you need to listen to their advice. If you use it in September to drill wheat then yes BG won’t be any different to any other drill.

The closing blade gives it the ability to run in late October and still cover the seed when BG germination levels drop. It’s a late drill for less than ideal conditions.

 

[warksfarmer]

Interesting results, would you agree it's the moisture retention from going direct in a dry spring and the loosening below the seed allowing the roots down to moisture. I should think your pleased with your drill choice!

This last spring it was all about moisture without doubt. Saying that conditions at drilling time were wet so smearing was occurring. Just a nightmare year for any system.

 

[Clive]

It disturbs less than claydon/Mzuri/Horsch Co/ST but it’s not in a 750a league.

The point of the Triton is you need to listen to their advice. If you use it in September to drill wheat then yes BG won’t be any different to any other drill.

The closing blade gives it the ability to run in late October and still cover the seed when BG germination levels drop. It’s a late drill for less than ideal conditions.

they should rename it the "big balls" drill! anyone with the patience to sit through good September and October conditions and wait to start after that is a brave man after last year !

 

[Clive]

This last spring it was all about moisture without doubt. Saying that conditions are drilling time we wet so smearing was occurring. Just a nightmare year for any system.

Our yield maps are interesting this year and tell a tale ............... even Jan / Feb drilled winter wheat is doing 3.5t/ac on some heavier headlands / shaded spots on very low inputs, yet the bulk drilled then on lighter soils and field middles are doing half that .............. it was, without doubt, the spring drought that has murdered our yields and not the late establishment

 

[Adeptandy]

Our yield maps are interesting this year and tell a tale ............... even Jan / Feb drilled winter wheat is doing 3.5t/ac on some heavier headlands / shaded spots on very low inputs, yet the bulk drilled then on lighter soils and field middles are doing half that .............. it was, without doubt, the spring drought that has murdered our yields and not the late establishment

Interesting that the, in theory, more compacted headlands are doing better. I was concerned that DD into the washed down soil had be detrimental to my yields and was considering max disturbance as a reset before returning to DD as only just starting out last spring with DD

 

[Clive]

Interesting that the, in theory, more compacted headlands are doing better. I was concerned that DD into the washed down soil had be detrimental to my yields and was considering max disturbance as a reset before returning to DD as only just starting out last spring with DD

it's more about moisture availability on those higher yield areas really, heavier soils, not so well-drained, shaded by trees, etc these areas got less of the heat, dried out a bit less

Don't think compaction or consolidation is really a factor here on zero-till its all pretty consistent in that respect

 

[warksfarmer]

they should rename it the "big balls" drill! anyone with the patience to sit through good September and October conditions and wait to start after that is a brave man after last year !

Yes but winter wheat planted in September hasn’t performed either due to the excessive rain it had on it. If anything it’ll be negative profit because sprayers not being able to get into fields messed up the grass weed control which will come back and cost more this year.

What it’s highlighted to me is that if a farm has BG or RG then the likes of a vaderstad no longer has a place. They only run in good conditions which is when you don’t want to be drilling because of the grass weeds. Our RG issue here now is extremely bad. We’ve only got one active ingredient left that works on it. It’s resistant to everything else from test results. So we can’t afford to be drilling winter wheat until the last week of October so need something that’ll work then.

I’m glad we sold the vaderstad as I can see values dropping because how many farms don’t have grass weed issues today?

 

[Alistair Nelson]

At last thank you Lee a proper sensible balanced report on this drill pluses / minus and where it will work and where it won't, thank you.

This Shows there's mileage in the concept it is just unfortunate the companies marketing is so controversial, unbelievable and obnoxious with planted operators put on here, but sadly you would still have to drive it with a bag on your head as the engineering so primitive, crude and under developed that you wouldn't be seen dead driving. Have you had your tractor pimped lee and the windows blacked out to get round it? sorry couldn't resist

Keep the updates coming

 

[Hjwise]

Had a few messages asking why did the Triton yield better. So instead of copying and pasting the same answer, I honestly don’t know.
As I’ve mentioned a few times for me the closing blade is what makes the drill different to anything else on the market because it really does work. We’ve tried most drills now and closing the slot is the biggest issue on the heavier clay soils. The Triton doesn’t suffer with this.

That said it doesn’t leave the best finish from a consolidation point of view compared anything with a press wheel.

I’d like to see a trailed Triton with a row of Horsch rear packer wheels after the closing tines, followed by a harrow. I think that would really finish the drill off.

Hopper capacity is limited. The weaving hopper is supposed to be 1500kg, but in reality you can only put a tonne in unless emptying it fully each time.

All in all I’m happy with it.

How about towing a tyre packer with a seed hopper on top behind the mounted drill? If things get a bit tricky/sticky drop off the packer and put the seed hopper back on the drill? A bit of a faff but saves having two drills.

 

[Spud]

How about towing a tyre packer with a seed hopper on top behind the mounted drill? If things get a bit tricky/sticky drop off the packer and put the seed hopper back on the drill? A bit of a faff but saves having two drills.

Wouldn't it just be easier to fit a hydraulic packer instead of two wheels?

 

[Hjwise]

Wouldn't it just be easier to fit a hydraulic packer instead of two wheels?

Maybe a bit heavy if needed to be lifted out when wet?

 

[Spud]

Maybe a bit heavy if needed to be lifted out when wet?

Possibly, I guess it depends on type of packer, shouldn't be too bad with a front tank.
I guess a row of spaced press wheels would be better than a full width packer in wet going.

 

[traineefarmer]

To address the criticisms of the engineering, I've not seen the Triton in the metal so can only comment on what I've seen in photos, but my thinking is that the design is deliberately cheap. It was intended to be a secondary drill for wet seasons, so why would you want another £80k machine held back for emergencies?

The users on here haven't reported any weaknesses or breaks. Sure it's not pretty, but swoopy laser cut framework, stainless steel and hydraulic leg protection add a lot of cost over a few metres of box section.

With reports saying it's now being made by a proper fabrication company (Covenbrook?) quality of build shouldn't be an issue.

 

[warksfarmer]

Wouldn't it just be easier to fit a hydraulic packer instead of two wheels?

Yes but you’d need the ability to drop it out for wet conditions later on. They’d need to be large diameter not like vaderstad tyres.

 

[teslacoils]

Just goes to show what having a unit on a farm with a farmer prepared to tell it like it is can do for a drill, compared to several years of the absolute comedy we have all enjoyed.

 

[Pigless]

Yes but you’d need the ability to drop it out for wet conditions later on. They’d need to be large diameter not like vaderstad tyres.

A separate pass with a tillso rake and roll after 48 hrs sounds simplest, if conditions allow.

 

[warksfarmer]

Just goes to show what having a unit on a farm with a farmer prepared to tell it like it is can do for a drill, compared to several years of the absolute comedy we have all enjoyed.

It is what it is and for me it’s doing exactly what it says on the tin. It’s ability to cover the seed is phenomenal.