Machinery Opico launches 8m
EasyDrill from Sky • Drill targets larger area arable farms • Higher work rate increases efficiency • Separately places seed and fertiliser
S
ky Agriculture has introduced an 8m model into its EasyDrill range – available via Opico fol- lowing the success of its 3m, 4m and 6m machine. The W8020 Fertisem EasyDrill fol- lows the same exacting standards and design principals as the 4m and 6m pneumatic drills. It also shares the same coulter line, multi hopper capaci- ty and sophisticated electronic system. UK Sky product manager Glenn Bootman said: “The 8m EasyDrill delivers for the larger acreage farm, where higher powered tractors are generally available from previous crop establishment systems.” With up to four hoppers, the drill is capable of drilling product at two dif- ferent depths. This means is is possi- ble to accurately place multiple com- binations of seed and/or fertiliser at two different depths too. Separating the placement depth of seed and fertiliser increases the effica- cy of applied nutrients and eliminates the risk of shoot burn with certain fer- tilisers. Mr Bootman said: “The addi- tional width allows a higher work rate for this most versatile of drills.”
The main hopper is split between
grain and fertiliser, each with its own pneumatic distribution. In addition, the option of up to two separately me- tered PRO hoppers can be integrated so that seed or microgranules can be in- troduced via either distribution circuit.
Many possibilities
“The ability to seed from four hoppers at once allows so many possibilities – with mixed cover crops/companion cropping/small seeds/slug pellets add- ed as desired. It also combats the risks of seeds of different sizes settling out in the hoppers.’
The 8m drill is ISOBUS ready and supplied as standard with Sky’s Quartz 800 control box. E-Drive pre- mium can be specified, offering left and right section control as well as elec- tronic row shut off for each individ- ual outlet.
This means that the drill can be set to seed with a number of row configu- rations from the touch of a button. The ability to shut off individual rows also means that whatever the width of the sprayer or spreader it no longer needs to be a multiple width of the drill.
Kuhn UK appoints non-inversion specialist for central England
K
uhn Farm Machinery has appoint- ed non-inversion establishment and spraying specialist Rupert Greest to
cover central England and Wales. Mr Greest has 17 years of experience in the agricultural machinery sector, pro- gressing through roles in technical support and sales management for both dealers and manufacturers.
“These are exciting times to be involved
in agricultural machinery, with technology advancing rapidly to meet a range of chal- lenges, and particularly in areas like crop protection and soil health,” he says. “Kuhn is a company that takes the lead
in key areas of technology and has great reach through its strong dealer network, so is a great opportunity at this point in my career.”
Kuhn UK managing director Siân
Pritchard said the expansion of the com- pany’s specialist sales team was in response to the firm’s continuing growth in minimal tillage equipment and its increasing repu- tation in crop protection. “We created specialist sales roles in 2015, to enable Kuhn UK to provide greater ex- pertise in the areas of non-inversion estab- lishment and spraying, and also in feeding and bedding equipment,” she says.
This function allows farmers and contractors to change sprayer/spreader width without having to renew the drill. With row spacings of 16.6cm the 8m drill services forty-eight coulters, each with seed and fertiliser outlets. A 250kg coulter pressure provides the versatility to drill straight into hard stubbles, cultivated soil and direct, and through cover crops.
An additional feature of the coulter line is the ability to transfer weight hydraulically between the front press wheels and the rear press wheels. This feature comes into its own
when, under damp and/or loose soil conditions, weight is transferred onto the front press wheels, but in dry seed- ing conditions the weight can be moved to the rear press wheel for improved slot closing.
Typical working speed is between and 6-12km/hour depending on condi- tions. The drill weighs in a touch un- der 10 tonnes with a transport width of 3m. Loading height is 3.2m and pric- es start at £151,624.
The W8020 Fertisem EasyDrill shares many features with its smaller siblings
Rupert Greest: min-till establishment and spraying
AUGUST 2021 • MIDLAND FARMER 45
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