increase font size
The Kverneland 4m U-Drill+.
Following impressive performance reports on its 6m machines, Power Farming has now released the 4m Kverneland U-Drill and the 4m U-Drill+.
“The U-Drill’s efficiency is driven by its ability to perform multiple tasks in a single pass, ensuring perfect seed to soil contact for fast germination,” says John Chapman, Power Farming’s cultivation specialist.
Up front, a tyre packer module breaks clods while firming and levelling the soil, enabling accurate depth control of the following cultivation unit. Two rows of independently suspended discs follow directly behind to produce a fine and evenly cultivated soil profile over the drill’s working width.
A second tyre packer roller consolidates the soil in front of the seeding coulters, ensuring accurate depth and placement of the seed. The seeding unit has 32 narrow profile seeding coulters at 12.5cm spacing and coulter pressure adjustable up to 100kg.
A following press wheel consolidates soil to seed contact and provides uniform depth control. Meanwhile, the rear S-shaped seed harrows finally cover the seed.
An optional set-up sees the machine equipped with 24 coulters at 16cm row spacing.
Offering working speeds of up to 15km/h, the 4 m U-Drill has all the features and abilities of its bigger brother. The Eldos system, an electrically driven metering device controlled by Kverneland’s e-com software, is ISOBUS compatible and allows application rates from 1kg/ha to 950kg/ha, dependent on speed.
Important settings such as calibration and in-field adjustments can be controlled from the in-cab display, as can seeding depth, coulter pressure and automatic headland management -- all adjustable on the go.
Automatic section control ensures the metering device stops and starts automatically at the headland mark, ensuring no overlaps and reducing seed and fertiliser costs.
The U-Drill is available as a standard drill or as a seed and fertiliser version dubbed the U-Drill+, both with a hopper capacity of 3000L.
In the case of the U-Drill+, the hopper is divided lengthways in a 40:60 ratio, each fitted with a dedicated metering system. The U+ version can place fertiliser between the rows or alongside the seed.
Taking up a considerable portion of the Power Farming site at the recent South Island Agricultural Field Days near Christchurch, the Kverneland Qualidisc 21000T trailed compact disc harrow, the first sold in the southern hemisphere, has a working width of 12.25m.
The Kverneland Group has announced several upgrades to its round baler ranges for 2025, much of it centred around automation, as well as the ability to wrap bales with film rather than net.
Recently launched and likely to be an indent-only machine for New Zealand, Kverneland’s new 15.6 metre tedder is aimed at increased productivity and timeliness.
The Kverneland Pudama principle delivers spot placement of fertiliser in maize, rather than continuous fertiliser placement. As a result, it has the capability to deliver a 25% saving on starter fertiliser, with no noticeable loss of yield.
Kverneland has introduced a new 15.6m tedder aimed at high outputs, accuracy and operator comfort, incorporating a new ground-following system, with easy and simple operations.
Farmers appear to be backing the Government's recent Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms announcement.
For the first time, all the big names in agricultural drone technology are being brought together under one marquee at the National Fieldays.
Fonterra has announced an improved third quarter performance – with a profit after tax of $1.15 billion, up $119 million on the same period last year.
The Fieldays Innovation Awards competition has attracted a diverse and impressive array of innovations from across the primary industries, highlighting the growing importance of technology shaping the future of farming.
Coming to the fore following the carnage of Cyclone Gabrielle, Starlink became well known for providing internet access even in NZ's most inaccessible places.
From this winter farmers will have a greater choice of feed types and blend options than ever before, thanks to Farmlands' purchase of animal nutrition company SealesWinslow.
OPINION: Imagine if the Hound had called the Minister of Finance the 'c-word' and accused her of "girl math".
OPINION: It's good news that Finance Minister Nicola Willis has slashed $1.1 billion from new spending, citing "a seismic global…
