Farming smarter with technology
The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry professionals from across the country.
On display, the Pronto DC drill can be used for drilling into mulched, ploughed or well cultivated ground, with the ability to meter up to three individual products. Available in three, four and six metre working widths. While, over time, the six metre units became the machine of choice, more recently there has been a move back to four metres.
“There appears to be a move back to the smaller unit, probably driven by a lower horsepower requirement, but also because the machine is a little more manoeuvrable in smaller paddocks,” explains Paul Collins, Carrfields’ precision and technology manager. “Of course, the six metre drill still has a good following in the Canterbury regions.”
A design upgrade sees a new generation 40:60 split hopper with a capacity of 3800 litres on the four metre units and 5000 litres in the six metre variant. Meanwhile, a third independent, 400 litre capacity hopper can be optioned on the rear of the machine to allow additional seed or microgranule application.
The double hopper layout with the PPF system allows tow components to be applied in two areas at the same time. The PPF disc system uses separate, single disc coulters to allow for a placement below and between the seed coulters.
When sowing catch crops, coarse-grained legumes – for example – can be applied in a deep seed horizon, while another component is placed more shallowly via the TurboDisc seed coulters.
The soil engaging elements sees 46cm discs with a serrated profile that mix aggressively and create a level seedbed. The disc elements are arranged in pairs to deliver excellent clearance, hydraulic depth adjustment allows infinitely variable adjustment on the move.
Behind the discs, a single row tyre packer ensures even levelling and consolidation in front of every seed coulter. The double disc seed coulter, controlled by press wheels, offer up to 125kg of downward pressure via a rubber torsion system. This allows operational speeds of up to 20km/h, while maintaining accurate depth control.
A Horsch Maestro CX 8 on display was described as a ‘compact mid-sized planter’. It delivers precision planting for single seeds ranging from maize, canola and beets.
Configured around an aerodynamically designed hopper, that offers a 3000kg fertiliser and 800kg seed capacity, the six metre toolbar, carrying eight precision seeding units, folds to three metres wide for transport.
From the main hopper, seed is transferred by positive airflow to individual, intermediate holding hoppers above the planting units. Then the positive displacement AirSpeed system pushes the selected seeds – of up to 6mm diameter – into the apertures on the seeding discs. Seeds pass through a “singulator” to ensure double seeds are avoided, from where the positive airflow accelerates the seed through the shoot pipe and into the soil, after being caught by a mounted catching roller.
Seeds pass a grain sensor during the “drop-phase” to monitor accuracy. The system informs the operator of grain counts, seed spacing and any indication of any spots or gaps.
During the drilling operation, the machine’s AutoForce function ensures all seeds are embedded consistently, even during changing conditions. This helps to ensure even germination and regular plant populations.
Operators can choose between pressure levels of 20, 50 and 80kg. Meantime, overall coulter pressures can be adjusted between 150 and 350kg, via weight transfer from the main body of the machine.
