Precision drill for small farms
The new mounted Maestro precision drill from Horsch is ideal for smaller farmers and is available in either eight-row (70cm, 75cm and 80cm row spacing) or 12-row configuration (45cm or 50cm spacing).
Each row has a 70-litre seed hopper feeding its own seed metering device and has 300kg coulter pressure, which is adjustable on the move from the cab.
The metering system uses a metering disc with open slots that face outwards. An electronic brushless motor drives each unit and requires only one amp per row unit so standard tractor electrics can power even 12-row drills.
An integrated grain sensor registers the number of grains sown and their distance apart with placement accuracy shown on the screen in tractor cab. The driver can react to different conditions and the driving speed is adapted as required.
A front-mounted Partner 1600-litre tank is an ideal complement. Its pressurised tank gives a straightforward way to apply fertiliser. The drill can be used with or without a front tank.
Horsch’s Express KR is now available as a grain and fertiliser version with pressurised grain and fertiliser tanks. The hopper capacity is increased to 2000 litres, enabling one tonne of seed and one tonne of fertiliser to be carried. This makes Horsch the only brand in the UK to offer grain and fertiliser application on all of its drill models.
The mounted harrow and drill combination, is available in 3m, 3.5m and 4m working widths and features the proven components of the Pronto model along with a 10-rotor Kredo power harrow.
It uses the contour-following TurboDisc 2 seed coulters and with four rubber dampers per coulter, it has coulter pressure of up to 120 kg. These can be lifted out of work allowing the harrow to work on its own.
It needs tractors from 150hp to handle it and a range of packer options is available.

Claydon’s new Hybrid
A new 3m Hybrid T3 trailed drill will be on show from Claydon with a kit also available to enable farmers who have a 3m mounted drill to convert it to the new trailed specification.
The T3 extends the company’s range of Hybrid trailed drills to four models – the 3m T3, 4m T4, 6m T6 and 8m T8. It is also currently developing a new 4.8m T4.8 model, which will be launched during 2017.
Like others in the range, the Hybrid T3 can be used to deliver seed only or a combination of seed and fertiliser for sowing directly into stubble, or it can used in min-till situations or on ploughed/cultivated land.
It has nine individually adjustable tungsten carbide leading tines with following seeding tines to create additional tilth and place seed at the optimum depth. Various configurations, though, can be specified.
Expect to sow 20ha per day with the drill, which has a 2455-litre hopper.

New from JC Machinery
Machinery importer, JC Machinery, will be displaying the latest Imants Culter 3.0 subsoiler and Vredo overseeders.
The six-tine Culter is mounted close to the tractor, with a ‘spader’ type machine coupled closely to it and it is designed so that the tines will not make contact with the spade shaft when bolts shear. It can also be combined with other tools such as a loose roller, power harrow, rotovator or disc harrow.
The revamped Vredo overseeder range has new curved edges to encourage the seed towards the cam wheel and the gear box, which sets the seed rate, has a new spindle adjustment, making calibration easier.

Amazone’s Cayros ploughs
With its takeover of the plough factory from Vogel and Noot, Amazone has further expanded its range of ploughs.
The new Cayros mounted reversible ploughs, in green-orange livery, will be shown for the first time at LAMMA, meaning five new models of mounted reversibles carry the colours.
The smallest Cayros M series includes three and four-furrow ploughs for tractors up to 120 hp. These have a beam clearance of 78 cm and interbody clearances of 95 and 102 cm.
The Cayros XM, XMS and XS ranges, is for tractors of up to 140 hp, 200 hp and 260 hp, respectively, while the Cayros XS pro, with interbody clearance of up to 105 cm and a beam clearance of up to 90 cm, comes in three body types with four to six furrows. For stone protection, there’s a mechanical, a half-automatic coil spring or a fully automatic hydraulic versions on five plough bodies.
 
Versatility from Monosem
Monosem’s new Monoshox coulter damping system will enable more accurate sowing of a wide range of crops to be sown and at much higher drilling speeds.
This uses an automotive style shock absorber to supplement the springs currently used.
Steve Twist, from Toucan Farm Machinery, Monosem’s UK importer, said: “We asked drill owners what they wanted from their next machine and their top request was to be able to plant their wide range of crops at higher speed, without detriment to the planting accuracy. This new design will do that.”