Willaura Seeding Day 11th July 2007
Media Release and more photos will be uploaded by the 20th July 2007.
Seeding Day Program (76kb .pdf)
Scroll down the document for machinery descriptions and comments
Managing Stubbles To Reduce Burning (Updated July 2007) (344kb .pdf)
Thank you to:
- Pat and Sarah Millear for the use of their paddock
- All owners & operators of the machinery on display
- All sponsors of Southern Farming Systems for their ongoing suppor
- Streatham Committee members for their ideas, their hard work and enthusiasm
Presentations were given by:
Ian Linley State Industry Landcare Coordinator
and
Laurie Norman - NLP Coordinator, Glenelg Hopkins CMA
National Landcare Program and projects which support agricultural production activities
Bill Long - South Australian Farm Consultant
Working with clients to choose seeding equipment for their environment
Use of guidance and benefits of inter-row seeding
Use of herbicides in stubble retention scenarios, with various seeding points, speeds etc.
Neale Postlethwaite - St Arnaud grain grower
Design and implementation of sowing systems for no-till
Options for Controlled Traffic
Equipment notes:
Ausplow M9000 3BT Multistream PDS seed cart (3 X 3000 litre bins. Double chute. Tow between.)
Ausplow 38 tyne 260N series DBS bar (Parallelogram-mounted seeding boots.)
Details supplied by David Wills
Why did you buy this machine?
- Had most of the characteristics I was looking for - knife-point system, accurate seed placement, press wheels, good metering, large capacity boxes with reasonable flotation.
- Was available (some brands werent) and price was competitive with other similar seeders.
Has it met your expectations?
Too early to tell
If yes in what way and what is good about it?
- Seed and fertiliser metering is accurate and easy to adjust.
- Seed placement is, on the whole, accurate. (See exceptions below)
- Hydraulic breakout is magic.
- Has brought up some large rocks with no damage, yet
If not, why not?
- Had to travel slower than recommended speed to avoid soil throw filling press wheel slots. (7kph cf 8kph)
- Advised to allow 7-9Hp per tyne. (Tractor power requirements) 5-6 would have sufficed.
- Problems with canola falling down knife-point slots in heavy ground. (Closing tool not effective enough.)
- Problems with blowing canola out of slots.
- Press wheel sometimes rides on shoulders of slots leaving seed on surface.
What would you like to change?
See above problems
Speed of sowing 7kph
Row spacing 26cm (10)
Type of points Knife
Press wheels Ausplow
Tine break-out pressure Adjustable
Hydraulic breakout is useful
SFS Southern Seeder
Details supplied by Rohan Wardle, SFS
Why did you buy this machine?
- The machine was built using local engineers and advice from the membership to offer the ability to seed stubble retention trials as well as row spacing and other on farm demonstrations.
Has it met your expectations?
- Has offered the ability and flexibility for our trial needs. Time needs to be taken to sit down and calibrate the seeder prior to commencement of any job.
If yes in what way and what is good about it?
- Easy use of electronic controller to change seeding rates.
- Great control of seeding depth using the press-wheel.
- Simple tine and press-wheel components.
If not, why not?
- Changing row spacings is quite a tedious task with two lots of bolts for each row more a trials issue.
- Pitch is manual.
- Primary tine depth uses stops with no gauge for varying soil situations.
What would you like to change?
- Ability to change row spacings (tines) without having to lose skin off knuckles.
- Hydraulic pitch.
Speed of sowing based on row spacing width 200mm @ 6km/hr
300mm @ 9km/hr
400mm @ 12km/hr.
Row spacing see above.
Type of points 12mm knifepoints
Press wheels semi-pneumatic rounded Manutec 90mm wheels, interchangeable with 50mm flats or 80mm V wheels.
Tine break-out pressure hydraulic breakout with pressure based on soil type and situation.
Other comments:
Very suitable for our trial requirements, with a third seed box great for urea and low N seeding situations, or for use of granular inoculants etc.
Janke- disc coulter parallelogram, double chute tines with rear mounted press wheels
Details supplied by George Burdett
Why did you buy this machine?
To be able to sow beds and flat areas in the same pass
Has it met your expectations?
Sowing yes, flotation no
If yes in what way and what is good about it?
Can sow beds and flat areas in same pass
If not, why not?
What would you like to change?
Will change wheels (larger)and tyres (lugs)
Speed of sowing 8.5 kph
Row spacing 30 cm
Type of points knife
Press wheels rear-mounted, independent
Tine break-out pressure variable, usually not much
Dont need high breakout
Janke - knife points, tines, press wheels
Details supplied by Pat Millear
Why did you buy this machine?
- Wider machine and therefore more efficient
- 12,000 L triple bin fewer stops
- Press wheels
Has it met your expectations?
Yes about 90% met
If yes in what way and what is good about it?
If not, why not?
What would you like to change?
- Wider press wheels will be fitted next year
- Alter seeding depth for canola
- Varying seeding depth for cereals
Speed of sowing 10 kph
Row spacing 12
Type of points Janke
Press wheels Janke
Tine break-out pressure hydraulic 0 700 lbs
Other comments:
Need a bigger tractor for next season advice from WA was for 3 5 hp/tine, but in heavier soils find we need 5 7 hp/tine
Conserva-Pak
Details supplied by Stephen Heard
Why did you buy this machine?
- Accurate seed depth control
- Parallelogram with very few moving parts
- Cultivates below seed depth better root establishment & disease control
- Paired seed rows on sides of furrows help to prevent seed burst in wet conditions / better weed control on furrow lips
- Ability to put fertiliser under or with seed
Has it met your expectations?
Yes
If yes in what way and what is good about it?
If not, why not?
What would you like to change?
Underframe clearance U bolts on tynes
Speed of sowing 8 kph
Row spacing 12
Type of points 16 mm knife points
Press wheels 16 polyethylene narrow
Tine break-out pressure 300 800 lbs hydraulic variable
Other comments:
12 spacings prevent soil and chemical throw into adjacent furrows, while paired rows compensate for yield losses associated with fewer plants per square metre with the wide rows
Conserva-Tech No Till Drill. Fitted with Specialty No Till (SNT) Soil Control disc openers
Details supplied by Ian Geddes
Why did you buy this machine?
Self built
Has it met your expectations?
Yes
If yes in what way and what is good about it?
Ability to double shoot
If not, why not?
What would you like to change?
Speed of sowing according to requirements
Row spacing 7
Type of points n/a
Press wheels 16 X 4 trackably offset
Tine break-out pressure n/a
Contour following parallelogram operation
Note: More extensive notes about this machine are available today for those interested:
SPECIALTY NO TILL (SNT) - BACKGROUND STATEMENT
Bio-blade disc opener
Details supplied by Craig Pietsch, William Adams
Why did you buy this machine?
Has it met your expectations?
If yes in what way and what is good about it?
- Slot shape micro environment
- Seeding depth control
- Separate fertilizer placement
- Residue management
- Parallelogram drag arms
- Gas/hydraulic down force
- Automated downforce control systems
- Press/gauge wheels
If not, why not?
What would you like to change?
Speed of sowing
Row spacing 3 to the metre 13.3
Type of points Single scalloped disc
Press wheels +/- & type
Tyne break-out pressure Adjustable down pressure on the go
Contour tine moisture manager
Details supplied by Craig Pietsch, William Adams
Why did you buy this machine?
Has it met your expectations?
If yes in what way and what is good about it?
- Tined parallelogram with front disc drum coulter
- Hydraulic raise lower
- Hydraulic pressure increase/decrease
Napier CT 6000 Combine with Rolling Harrows
Details supplied by Philip Brain
Why did you buy this machine?
- Flotation
- Trash flow
- Simplicity
Has it met your expectations?
Yes
If yes in what way and what is good about it?
- Can put treflan out at sowing (1300L tank on front of tractor)
- Cheaper than an air seeder
If not, why not?
One wheel on seeded row
What would you like to change?
- Wheels to 4m centres and all tynes behind wheels (no tynes in front of wheels or trailing box)
- 10 row spacing to dilute treflan put over barley with harrow at 300
Speed of sowing 7 11 kph
Row spacing 7
Points
Primary Sales 87 knife point 16 mm, follow by heavy link chain to fill and tilth
Tyne Gason 540 lb adjustable 2 X 1 shank (allows even point wear)
Press wheels NO
- RFM spring coil rolling harrows
- Adjustable from 00 to 300 can level or leave ridges
- Good at levelling stubble trash
- Good cleaning
Spring tine works well on rock barriers and shelves where all tines have to release at once
Vaderstad Seed Hawk
Details supplied by Tim Needham, Vaderstad P/L
Why did you buy this machine?
Demonstration machine
Speed of sowing 7 12 kph
Row spacing 10 or 12 OR 7 / 3 twin knives
Type of points narrow knives
Press wheels rubber tyre - 1 per row
Tine break-out pressure adjustable from cab up to 150 kg
Has hydraulic breakout and smooth return
Other comments:
Each tine has a separate seed knife and fertiliser knife with its own gauge wheel to give very accurate depth placement even on contours
Vaderstad Rapid 300C
Details supplied by Tim Needham, Vaderstad P/L
Why did you buy this machine?
Demonstration machine
Speed of sowing 8 25 kph
Row spacing 5 / 125 mm
Type of points disc
Press wheels full width press wheels
Tine break-out pressure 100 kg down pressure
The drill has rubber suspension on each disc
Other comments:
Unique depth control
Versatility with adjustable front cultivation tools
