Grain Drills

Overall functional performance of the Massey Ferguson 63 was good. Penetration and seed placement were good in a wide range of soil and trash conditions, providing the seedbed had been properly prepared. Performance of the press wheels was good, plugging occurred only in extremely wet soil. The optional rock guard attachment reduced the number of stones lodging between the press wheels.

Accuracy of the seed metering system was very good in barley, wheat and oats and fair in rapeseed. The minimum seeding rate in rapeseed was 3.0 kg/ha (2.7 lb/ac) and only a limited number of settings were within the common rapeseed seeding range. The rapeseed seeding rate was very sensitive to slight movements of the selection lever. Variation in seeding rates among seed runs was high when seeding small seeds such as rapeseed and insignificant when seeding large seeds such as wheat, oats and barley. Seeding rates in all crops were unaffected by field slope, ground speed or the level of grain in the seed box.

Performance of the grass seeding attachment was fair for small seeds. As is common with such attachments, it was not suited for large, light seeds, such as bromegrass or Russian wild ryegrass. Such crops are usually seeded through the main grain box using an agitator attachment. An agitator was not available with the MF 63. The grass seed attachment was unsuitable for seeding rapeseed as the seed was ground up considerably at the normal seeding rates.

Adjustment of the seed drive and the grass seed attachment was convenient. The seed box and the Melroe fertilizer box was convenient to fill as an adequate walkway was provided. The large grain box lid was flimsy but opened wide for easy filling. Only eight lubrication fittings required greasing.

About 21.0 kW (28 hp) of tractor power should be available for each 2440 mm (8 ft) section of drill. An 85 kW (115 hp) tractor should have sufficient power reserve to operate a multiple hookup of four drills in most soils at speeds up to 10 km/h (6 mph).

The operator's manual was good. It contained useful information on adjustment, repair and maintenance.

The Massey Ferguson 63 was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were followed.

No major mechanical problems occurred during functional evaluation.

Summary of John Deere 9350 Grain and Fertilizer Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.27 MB)

Overall functional performance of the John Deere 9350 was very good. Penetration and seed placement were good in a wide range of soil and trash conditions, providing that the seedbed had been properly prepared. Performance of the press wheels was good, plugging occurred only in extremely wet soil. The optional rock guard attachment reduced the lodging of stones between the press wheels.

Accuracy of the seed metering system was very good in barley, wheat and oats, but was poor in rapeseed. When seeding small seeds, such as rapeseed, seeding accuracy was affected by field roughness. Bouncing of the drill caused the seed flutes to move, resulting in large variations among the seed runs. The minimum seeding rate in rapeseed was 2.0 kg/ha (1.8 lbs/acre) and only a limited number of settings were within the common rapeseed seeding range. Variation in seeding rates among seed runs was insignificant when seeding large seeds such as wheat, oats and barley. Seeding rates in all crops were unaffected by field slope, ground speed or level of grain in the seed box.

Overall performance of the fertilizer attachment was good. Variation of the application rates among runs was insignificant and the application rate was not affected by field roughness, ground speed or level in the fertilizer box. The application rate was affected by field slope and increased 44% when seeding down a 15° slope.

Performance of the grass seeding attachment was good for small seeds. As is common with such attachments, it was not suited for large, light seeds, such as bromegrass or Russian wild ryegrass. An agitator attachment (not evaluated) is available for seeding such crops through the grain box. The grass seed attachment performed well with rapeseed, however, it broadcasted the seed on the soil surface rather than within the furrow. Cutting the feed tubes and positioning them into the front of the grain feed cups would enable seeding rapeseed into the opener furrow with the grass seed attachment.

Both the seed and fertilizer drive were convenient to adjust. The seed and the fertilizer boxes were convenient to fill as an adequate walkway was provided. The fertilizer box was simple to clean, but was not adequately sealed to prevent water entering the box in heavy rains. Only six lubrication fittings required greasing.

About 18.5 kW (25 hp) of tractor power should be available for each 2440 mm (8 ft) section of drill. A 75 kW (100 hp) tractor should have sufficient power reserve to operate a multiple hookup of four drills in most soils at speeds up to 10 km/h (6 mph).

The operator's manual was very good. It contained comprehensive instructions on adjustment, repair and maintenance.

The John Deere 9350 was safe to operate if normal safety procedures were followed.

No mechanical problems occurred during functional evaluation.

Summary of International Harvester 620 Grain and Fertilizer Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.20 MB)

Overall functional performance of the International Harvester 620 was very good. Penetration and seed placement were good in a wide range of soil and trash conditions, providing the seedbed had been properly prepared. Performance of the press wheels was good, plugging occurred only in extremely wet soil. The optional rock guard attachment reduced the lodging of stones between the press wheels.

Accuracy of the seed metering system was very good in barley, wheat and oats and was fair in rapeseed. The minimum seeding rate in rapeseed was 2.6 kg/ha (2.3 lb/acre) and only a limited number of settings were within the common rapeseed seeding range. Variation in seeding rates among seed runs was insignificant when seeding large seeds such as wheat, oats and barley. The variation among the seed runs was high and slightly beyond the suggested limit when seeding rapeseed. The seeding rates in all crops were unaffected by field slope, ground speed or the level of grain in the seed box.

Overall performance of the fertilizer attachment was good. Variation of the application rates among runs was low and the application rate was not affected by field roughness, ground speed or the level in the fertilizer box. The application rate was affected by field slope and increased 34% when seeding down a 15° slope.

Performance of the grass seed attachment was fair for small seeds. As is common with such attachments, it was not suited for large, light seeds, such as bromegrass or Russian wild ryegrass. Such crops are usually seeded through the grain box using an agitator attachment. An agitator was not available for the International Harvester 620. The grass seed attachment performed well with rapeseed, however, it broadcasted the seed on the soil surface rather than within the furrow. Cutting the feed tubes and positioning them into the front of the optional grain seed viewing cups would enable seeding rapeseed into the opener furrow with the grass seed attachment.

Both the seed and fertilizer drive were convenient to adjust. The seed and fertilizer boxes were convenient to fill as an adequate walkway was provided. The fertilizer box was very easy to clean, but was not adequately sealed to prevent water entering the box in heavy rains. Twelve lubrication fittings required greasing.

About 22.5 kW (30 hp) of tractor power should be available for each 2440 mm (8 ft) section of drill. A 90 kW (120 hp) tractor should have sufficient power reserve to operate a multiple hookup of four drills in most soils at speeds up to 10 km/h (6 mph).

The operator's manual was very good. It contained detailed instructions on adjustment, repair and maintenance.

The International Harvester 620 was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were followed.

No serious mechanical problems occurred during functional evaluation.

Summary of John Deere 1500 Power-Till Seeder (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.28 MB)

Overall functional performance of the John Deere 1500 Powr-Till seeder was very good. Its performance in rough, stony native rangeland was also very good.

Performance of the defoliant spraying attachment was not evaluated.

Nominal power requirements ranged from 30 to 40 kW (40 to 53 hp) when seeding at a speed of 10 km/h (6 mph).

Cutter wheel performance was very good in all soils provided that the existing crop was closely grazed or clipped before seeding. When attempting to seed in unclipped fields, wrapping of grass around the cutter wheels was a problem.

Firming wheel performance was very good. The firming wheels effectively placed a shallow layer of soil over the seed in most field conditions.

Accuracy of the grain metering system was good in barley, wheat and oats, but was fair for seeding small seeds such as alfalfa. When seeding small seeds with the grain box, seeding accuracy was affected by field roughness. Bouncing of the drill caused the feed rolls to move on the seed shaft. This did not cause significant variations among seed runs but did result in significant reductions in overall seeding rates. Variations in seeding rates among seed runs was negligible when seeding larger grains such as wheat, oats or barley. Seeding rates, in all crops were not significantly affected by field slope, ground speed or the level of grain in the grain box.

Performance with the grass seeding attachment was good when seeding small seeds such as alfalfa, timothy or reed canary grass. As is common with such attachments, it was not suited for large light seeds such as bromegrass, orchard grass or Russian wild ryegrass. An agitator attachment (not evaluated) is available for seeding such crops through the grain box.

Both grain and grass seeding systems were convenient to adjust. Servicing was convenient. Drive unit chain tension was difficult to check. Planting depth was fairly easy to adjust.

The operator's manual was very good. It contained comprehensive instructions on adjustment, repair, maintenance and safety. The John Deere 1500 was safe to operate if normal safety procedures were followed.

Few mechanical problems occurred despite the fact that the seeder was operated predominantly in rough native pastures, which were often too stony for other agricultural use, for much of the evaluation. The cutter wheel teeth wore quickly in abrasive sandy soils.

Summary of Haybuster 1206 Grain and Fertilizer Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.59 MB)

Overall functional performance of the Haybuster 1206 grain drill was good. Penetration was good when seeding into a prepared seedbed or directly into stubble but was poor when seeding directly into pastureland. The ability of the Haybuster to cut through residue was fair. Plugging of the openers occurred frequently in soft, trashy fields. In soft soils, the openers pushed the straw to the bottom of the furrow and in hard soils, large quantities of trash reduced penetration. Seed placement and seed coverage were good. Packer wheels, attached to the openers, maintained a uniform seeding depth and an even, compacted seed cover. Lodging of rocks between adjacent openers was a problem in stony fields. The double disk and packer wheel scrapers performed well except in very wet clay soils.

The accuracy of the seed metering system was very good in barley, wheat, oats and rapeseed. The minimum seeding rate in rapeseed was 5.6 kg/ha (5.0 lb/ac). The variation in seeding rates among seed runs was insignificant when seeding large seeds such as wheat, oats and barley or when seeding small seeds such as rapeseed. The seeding rates in all crops were unaffected by field roughness, field slope, ground speed or level of grain in the seed box.

Overall performance of the fertilizer attachment was good. Variation of the application rates among runs was low and the application rate was not affected by field roughness, ground speed or level of fertilizer in the fertilizer box. The application rate was affected by field slope and decreased 58% when seeding up a 15° slope.

A separate grass seed attachment was not available for the Haybuster 1206. Small grass seeds such as alfalfa could be seeded through the main grain box by activating an optional speed reduction unit on the grain drive. Large light seeds, such as bromegrass could not be seeded through the main box as they bridged over the seedcups. These seeds usually require an agitator to prevent bridging. An agitator was not available for the Haybuster 1206.

Both the seed and fertilizer rates were difficult to change. The seed and fertilizer boxes were convenient to refill as an adequate walkway was provided. The fertilizer box was easy to clean, but was not adequately sealed to prevent water entering the box in heavy rains. Forty-eight lubrication fittings required greasing.

About 38.8 kW (52 hp) of tractor power should be available for each 3.7 m (12 ft) section of drill. A 78 kW (105 hp) tractor should have sufficient power reserve to operate a two drill hookup in most soils at 8.0 km/hr (5 mph).

The operator's manual was fair. The manual was brief and poorly illustrated but well written. The Haybuster 1206 was safe to operate if normal safety procedures were followed.

No serious mechanical problems occurred during functional evaluation.

Summary of Melroe 702-3D Grain and Fertilizer Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.37 MB)

Overall functional performance of the Melroe 702 grain drill was fair. Penetration was good when seeding into a prepared seedbed or directly into stubble or pastureland. The ability of the Melroe to cut through residue was good when equipped with the large 305 mm (12 in) diameter cutting coulters. Plugging occurred readily when using the 254 mm (10 in) diameter cutting coulters in soft, trashy fields. In soft soils, straw was pushed to the bottom of the furrow and in hard soils, large quantities of trash reduced penetration. Seed placement and seed coverage were fair. Packer wheels were not available and in some moist fields the seed was left uncovered and in dry fields moisture loss from the loose soil was substantial. Lodging of rocks between openers was a frequent problem in stony fields. The double disk scrapers were inadequate for operation in wet clay soils.

The accuracy of the seed metering system was very good in barley, wheat, oats and rapeseed. The minimum seeding rate in rapeseed was 4.3 kg/ha (3.8 lb/ac). The variation in seeding rates among seed runs was insignificant when seeding large seeds such as wheat, oats and barley or small seeds such as mustard and rapeseed. The seeding rates in all crops were unaffected by field roughness, field slope, ground speed or level of grain in the grain box.

Overall performance of the fertilizer attachment was good. Variation of the application rates among runs was slightly above the suggested limit, but the application rate was not affected by field roughness, field slope, ground speed or level of fertilizer in the fertilizer box.

A separate grass seed attachment was not available for the Melroe 702. Small grass seeds such as alfalfa could be seeded through the main box with the low range grain drive. Large light seeds, such as bromegrass could not be seeded through the main box as they bridged over the feed rolls. These seeds usually require an agitator to prevent bridging. An agitator was not available for the Melroe 702.

Both the seed and fertilizer rates were easy to change. The seed and fertilizer boxes were convenient to fill from the high central walkway provided a "filling auger" was used. The fertilizer box was easy to clean but was not adequately sealed to prevent water entering in heavy rains. Two lubrication fittings required greasing.

About 42.0 kW (56 hp) of tractor power should be available for each 4.1 m (13.4 ft) section of drill. An 84 kW (112 hp) tractor should have sufficient power reserve to operate a two drill hookup at 8.0 km/hr (5 mph) in most soils.

The operator's manual was good. It contained detailed instructions on adjustment, repair and maintenance. The Melroe 702 was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were followed.

Failure of the buffer cables occurred frequently. No other serious mechanical problems occurred during testing.

Summary of Melroe 282-147 Grain and Fertilizer Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.21 MB)

Overall functional performance of the Melroe 282-147 was very good. Penetration and seed placement were good in a wide range of soil and trash conditions providing the seedbed had been properly prepared. Press wheel performance, trash clearance, and performance in stony fields were good.

The seed metering system was fairly accurate in wheat, oats, barley and rapeseed. Variation in seed rates among seed runs was insignificant. The minimum seeding rate in rapeseed was 3 kg/ha (2.7 lb/ac). Seeding rate was not affected by level of grain in the grain box or field bounce. Forward speed and slope had a slight effect on seeding rate.

Overall performance of the fertilizer attachment was fair. Its performance was reduced by large variation in application rate with changes in field slope and variation in distribution across the seeding width. The manufacturer's calibration chart was fairly accurate. Level of fertilizer in the fertilizer box and field vibration had no effect on fertilizing rate, but forward speed affected rate slightly.

A grass seeding attachment was available as optional equipment but was not evaluated. Seeds such as alfalfa and ryegrass could be seeded through the grain box, but large light seeds such as bromegrass bridged over the seed cups.

Both the seed and fertilizer rates were convenient to adjust. Seed and fertilizer boxes were convenient to fill and an adequate walkway was provided. Cleaning was easy and only one lubrication fitting required greasing.

Tractor size needed depended on field preparation and soil. Tractor size needed to pull one 2.5 m (8.2 ft) section of Melroe 282-147 at 8 km/h (5 mph) ranged from 27 kW (36 hp) in fine sandy loam to 32 kW (43 hp) in clay loam.

The operator's manual contained comprehensive instructions on adjustment, maintenance and operation. No detailed parts list was provided. The calibration charts provided in the operator's manual were different than those provided on the grain drill box lid, which was confusing when calibrating the drill.

Minor mechanical problems occurring during functional evaluation included failure of an opener shank weld, wearing out of a grain tube clip hole, and breaking of two of the plastic fertilizer drop tubes when attempting to remove the tubes.

Summary of Morris 80-14 Seed Rite Hoe Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.28 MB)

Overall functional performance of the Morris 80-14 Seed Rite Hoe Drill was very good on fields that were not tilled immediately prior to seeding. Functional performance was fair on fields which were tilled immediately prior to seeding. Penetration was very good when seeding into summerfallow or directly into most stubble fields. Trash clearance was good on firm fields but the openers and ground rod plugged in pre-tilled soft trashy fields. Seed placement, coverage and seed emergence were good on firm fields that had not been pre-tilled. Poor seed placement on pre-tilled, loose, dry fields resulted in patchy emergence. Performance in stony fields was good and weed kill was very good.

The seed metering system was fairly accurate in barley, wheat and oats. The manufacturer's calibration for rapeseed indicated three times the actual seeding rate. Uniform seed distribution across the seeding width occurred with wheat, oats and barley, and with rapeseed at rates above 5 kg/ha (4.5 lb/ac). Shimming to obtain equal flute exposure in each seed cup improved seeding uniformity at lower rates of rapeseed. The minimum seeding rate in rapeseed was 3.1 kg/ha (2.8 lb/ac). Seeding rate was not affected by level of grain in the grain box, ground speed or side slope. Fore and aft slope and field bounce caused slight changes in seeding rate. Wheel slippage on soft fields caused the seeding rate to decrease slightly.

A grass seeding attachment was not available for the Morris 80-14 Seed Rite. Small grass seed such as alfalfa could be seeded through the grain box by using an optional slow speed drive. Large light seed such as bromegrass bridged over the seed cups.

Seeding rate was easy to change but installing the optional slow speed drive kit for rapeseed was time consuming. The walkway provided was located at the front of the drill, making it necessary to fill the seed box from the end of the drill. This would be inconvenient in a multiple unit hook-up. The grain box lid was awkward and heavy to lift. Cleaning was easy. Forty-eight lubrication fittings required greasing.

Tractor size needed depended on soil condition, weeds and seeding depth. Tractor size needed to pull the Morris 80-14 at 8 km/h (5 mph) ranged from 45 kW (60 hp) in loose summerfallow fields to 90 kW (125 hp) when seeding directly into hard stubble fields. A 70 kW (95 hp) tractor would be adequate in most fields.

The operator's manual contained much useful information on adjustments, maintenance and operation. A detailed parts list was also included.

Mechanical problems occurring during the test were breakage of a rate setting lever pivot, flexible grain tubes coming out of the rear opener tubes, failure of the depth gauge and damage to the drive chain due to flax stubble wrapping in the rod drive.

Summary of Noble DK5 Grain Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.22 MB)

Overall functional performance of the Noble DK5 was very good. Penetration and seed placement were good in a wide range of soil and trash conditions providing the seedbed had been properly prepared. Press wheel performance, trash clearance, and performance in stony fields were good.

The seed metering system was fairly accurate in barley, wheat and oats, but the manufacturer's calibration for rapeseed was 40% high at low application rates and 20% low at higher rates. The variation in the seeding rates among seed runs was insignificant when seeding large seeds such as wheat, oats and barley, or when seeding small seeds such as rapeseed at rates above 5 kg/ha (4.5 lb/ac). Lower rapeseed rates resulted in non-uniform seeding rates across the machine width. The minimum seeding rate in rapeseed was 3.6 kg/ha (3.2 lb/ac). Seeding rate was not affected by level of grain in the grain box, ground speed, field bounce or side slope. Fore-and-aft slope caused slight changes in seeding rate.

A grass seeding attachment was available for the Noble DK5 but was not evaluated. Grass seed such as alfalfa or ryegrass could be seeded through the grain box by using the optional slow speed drive. Large light seed such as bromegrass bridged over the seed cups.

Seeding rate was easily changed using wrenches. Changing to the optional slow speed drive for small seeds such as rapeseed was tedious. Filling the grain box was convenient and an adequate walkway was provided. Transporting using the optional transport package was convenient. Cleaning was easy and only nine lubrication fittings required greasing.

Tractor size needed depended on field preparation and soil. Tractor size needed to pull one 2.1 m (6.6 ft) section of Noble DK5 at 8 km/h (5 mph) ranged from 28 kW (36 hp) in fine sandy loam to 32 kW (43 hp) in clay loam.

The operator's manual contained much useful information on adjustments, maintenance and operation. A detailed parts list was also included.

Mechanical problems occurring during the test were seizing of the grain shaft bearing and shifting of the grain box calibration.

Summary of Morris M-10 Press Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.23 MB)

Overall functional performance of the Morris M-10 was very good. Penetration and seed placement were good in a wide range of soil and trash conditions, providing the seedbed had been properly prepared. Performance of the press wheels was good, plugging did not occur. The rock guards reduced the lodging of stones between press wheels.

Accuracy of the seed metering system was very good in large and small seeds once the variable speed drive was properly zeroed. However, difficulty in correctly zeroing the drive resulted in considerable variation of the seeding rate between grain drill units. Alfalfa, brome-grass and Russian wild rye-grass were successfully metered through the grain box. A 50/50 mixture of rapeseed and Furadan could not be accurately metered through the grain box. The minimum seeding rate for rapeseed was 1.2 kg/ha (1.1 lb/ac). Variation in seeding rates among runs was very low for all seeds. Seeding rates were unaffected by ground speed, level of grain in the box, or field vibrations but were slightly affected by field slope.

Fertilizer metering system performance was very good. Accuracy in 11-51-0 fertilizer was good. Variation in application rates among individual runs was insignificant. Fertilizer rates were unaffected by ground speed, level of fertilizer in the box, or field vibrations, but were slightly affected by field slope.

Both the seed and fertilizer rates were convenient to adjust. The initial adjustment of the flap clearance in the feed cups and zeroing of the variable speed drive were difficult. Seed and fertilizer boxes were convenient to fill as an adequate walkway was provided. Cleaning both boxes was fairly easy. The boxes were well sealed against moisture. Plugging occurred only in 23-23-0 fertilizer when moisture condensed in the cups and downspouts. Transporting, using the optional transport system was safe and convenient. Eleven pressure grease fittings and two oil levels required daily servicing on each unit.

About 28 kW (37 hp) of tractor power should be available for each 3 m (10 ft) drill unit. An 84 kW (110 hp) tractor should have sufficient power reserve to operate a multiple hookup of three units in most soil conditions at speeds up to 10 km/h (6 mph).

The operator's manual was very well written and contained a detailed parts list and much useful information on safety, operation, adjustment and specifications. The Morris M-10 was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were followed.

Only a few minor mechanical problems occurred during functional evaluation.

Summary of Versatile Noble 2000 Seed Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.63 MB)

Overall Performance: Performance of the Versatile Noble 2000 seed drill was very good when seeding into seed beds that had been tilled prior to seeding. Performance was good when seeding directly into stubble.

Seed Placement and Emergence: Seed and fertilizer were normally placed in a 1.3 in (32 mm) wide band, with most seeds within 0.55 in (14 mm) of the average seed depth in uniform soil conditions. Each press wheel followed directly behind an opener, exerting a packing force of 259 lbs (1154 N), which effectively packed the soil around the seed. Seeding into soft conditions resulted in increased seed depth due to the press wheels sinking into the soft soil.

Trash Clearance: Trash clearance was good with some plugging occurring in heavy trash conditions. The spring cushioned hoe opener assemblies provided adequate protection to the hoe openers with only slight damage to the pivot bushing resulting from excessive opener tripping.

Grain Metering System: Metering calibrations in wheat, oats and barley were accurate. Differences between the manufacturer's and PAMI's metering calibrations could probably be attributed to the difference in seed size and density used for the respective calibrations. The manufacturer's calibration was low when seeding canola using the fast speed grain drive. It was desirable to use the slow speed grain drive, when seeding canola, to obtain the required low seeding rates.

Variation in seeding rates among seed runs across the width of the machine was insignificant when seeding large seeds such as wheat, oats and barley. Variation among seed runs was within the acceptable range when seeding canola. The seeding rates in all crops were unaffected by level of seed in the box, variations in ground speed and field roughness. Travelling up a 15° slope caused a 6% increase while travelling down a 15° slope caused a 3% decrease in seeding rate. Seeding on a side slope caused a 4% change in seeding rate.

Fertilizer Metering System: Fertilizer metering calibration was accurate when density and particle size differences were considered. Variation in application rate among runs across the width of the machine was low. The application rate was not significantly affected by level of fertilizer in the box, ground speed or by field vibrations. The application rate was, however, affected by field slope. For example, when applying 11-51-00 fertilizer at a setting of 22, travelling up a 15° slope caused an 18% decrease while travelling down a 15° slope caused a 25% increase in application rate. Seeding on a side slope caused a 5% increase in application rate.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Hitching in field position was convenient. Two people were needed for hitching in transport position since the hitch was not supported. The optional transport package enabled the drill to be placed in transport position in 5 to 10 minutes for quick and easy transporting.

The seed and fertilizer rate were easy to adjust. Adjusting the seed rate became more difficult when the seed box was full. Seeding depth was adjusted with the hydraulic lift cylinder. The large metal walkway and wide hopper openings made filling the grain and fertilizer boxes safe and convenient. The partition in the grain box could be set in two positions to suit application rates. The fertilizer hopper bottom could swing downward to permit easy cleaning.

A single disc marker with an adjustable cutting angle was provided. The marker was fairly heavy, making it difficult to put in transport position. The area counter read 14% low.

Access to the clutch drive shaft grease fitting was poor. Access to all other lubrication points was good.

Power Requirements: Tractor size depended on field conditions, soil type, seeding depth, ground speed and drill width. In light soil, seeding at a normal seeding depth at 5 mph (8 km/h), a 43 hp (32 kW) tractor was needed to operate one 7 ft (2.1 m) wide section of the Versatile Noble 2000 drill. In heavy soil, at the same depth and speed, a 49 hp (37 kW) tractor was needed.

Operator Safety: The Versatile Noble 2000 seed drill was safe to operate provided normal safety precautions were observed. Operator care was required when transporting on public roads.

Operator's Manual: The operators manual was very good, containing useful information on adjustments, maintenance and operation as well as a complete parts list.

Mechanical Problems: Several mechanical problems occurred during the evaluation. The front transport wheel hub broke, welds on the caster wheel mounts cracked, two hoe opener pivot bushings were lost and two were broken, and a transport wheel caster mount broke.

Summary of International Harvester 7200 Stubble Mulch Press Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.61 MB)

Overall Performance: Performance of the International Harvester 7200 seed drill was very good when seeding into seed beds that had been tilled prior to seeding. Seeding into unprepared seed beds was usually not recommended.

Seed Placement and Emergence: With properly adjusted openers, seed and fertilizer were normally placed in a 1.4 in (35 mm) wide band, with most seeds within 0.6 in (16 mm) of the average seed depth in uniform soil conditions. Each press wheel followed directly behind an opener, exerting a packing force of 160 lb (709 N), which effectively packed the soil around the seed. Seeding into moist sticky fields resulted in soil build-up on the rubber packer wheels.

Trash Clearance: Trash clearance was very good. Plugging occurred only in very heavy, loose trash conditions. The spring trip release provided adequate furrow opener protection in stony conditions.

Grain Metering System: Metering calibrations in wheat, barley, oats and canola were accurate. Differences between the manufacturer's and PAMI's metering calibrations were attributed to the difference in seed size and density used for the respective calibrations. The minimum seeding rate in canola was about 5.8 lb/ac (6.5 kg/ha) and only a limited number of settings were within the common canola seeding range.

Variation in seeding rates among seed runs across the width of the machine was insignificant when seeding large seeds such as wheat, oats and barley. Variation among seed runs was within the acceptable range when seeding canola. The seeding rates in all crops were unaffected by level of seed in the box, variations in ground speed and field roughness. Travelling up a 15° slope caused a 3% increase while travelling down a 15° slope caused a 6% decrease in seeding rate. Seeding on a side slope caused a 6% decrease in seeding rate.

Fertilizer Metering System: Fertilizer metering calibration was accurate when density and particle size differences were considered. Variation in application rates among runs across the width of the machine was low. The application rate was not significantly affected by level of fertilizer in the box, ground speed or by field vibrations. The application rate was, however, affected by field slope. For example, when applying 11-51-00 fertilizer at a setting of 14.5, travelling up a 15° slope caused a 25% decrease while travelling down a 15° slope caused a 40% increase in application rate. Seeding on a side slope caused a 17% increase in application rate.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Hitching in field position was difficult for one man since the hitch tongue was not supported and was usually lower than the tractor drawbar. Hitching in transport position was very easy and the optional transport package enabled the drill to be placed in transport position in 5 to 10 minutes for quick and easy transporting.

The seeding rate was difficult to adjust when the seed box was full, resulting in bending of the rate selection lever. The fertilizer rate was easy to adjust. Seeding depth was adjusted with the hydraulic lift cylinder and the depth adjusting clip on each opener. The large metal walkway and wide hopper openings made filling with grain and fertilizer safe and convenient. The partition in the grain box could be set in two positions to suit application rates, thereby minimizing downtime for filling. The fertilizer hopper bottom could swing downward to permit easy cleaning. The feed gate on each seed cup could be opened fully to aid cleaning of the hopper bins.

The two single disc markers were raised and lowered using a double acting cylinder. The marker cutting angle was adjustable. The area counter was accurate to within 3%.

Access to all lubrication points was good.

Power Requirements: Tractor size depended on field conditions, soil type, seeding depth, ground speed and drill width. In light soil, seeding at a normal seeding depth at 5 mph (8 km/h), a 50 hp (37 kW) tractor was needed to operate one 14 ft (4.3 m) wide section of the International Harvester 7200 drill. In heavy soil, at the same depth and speed, a 61 hp (46 kW) tractor was needed.

Operator Safety: The International Harvester 7200 seed drill was safe to operate provided normal safety precautions were observed.

Operator Manual: The operator's manual was very good, containing useful information on adjustment, maintenance and operations.

Mechanical Problems: Several mechanical problems occurred during the evaluation. Both depth control lift cylinders bent, two fertilizer drive sprockets broke, the seeding rate selector lever bent, and one of the depth control rockshafts twisted.

Summary of Lilliston 9680 No-Till Grain Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.27 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration was very good when seeding directly into moist stubble fields and good when seeding into dry stubble fields and pastureland. The ability of the triple disk opener to cut through surface residue was good in firm soils and fair in soft moist soils. in very heavy trash seed placement was poor. Failure of the openers to cut through the surface residue results in seed being placed either in the residue or on the soil surface. The gauge press wheels provided adequate compaction in most soils encountered.

The accuracy of the seed metering system was very good in wheat and rapeseed. The minimum seeding rate in rapeseed was 3.5 lb/ac (3.9 kg/ha). The variation in seeding rates between seed runs was insignificant. The seeding rates of all crops were relatively unaffected by field roughness, ground speed or level of grain in the grain box. The seeding rate of wheat increased by as much as 15% when traveling up a 15° slope.

The accuracy of the fertilizer metering device was good. Variation in application rates between runs was insignificant. Application rates were not affected by field roughness, ground speed or level of fertilizer in the fertilizer box. The rate decreased by as much as 28% when travelling down a 15° slope.

A grass seeding attachment was made available as an option for the Lilliston 9680. The accuracy of the metering device was very good for small seeds such as alfalfa and good for large light seed such as rye grass.

Ease of Operation: Wet field conditions caused a buildup of mud on the outside of the openers and around the press wheels, eventually causing plugging. Exterior disk scrapers were not provided. Small rocks occasionally wedged between adjacent opener in stoney fields. Reversible lids made filling of the grain and fertilizer boxes convenient especially if a drill fill was used. Installation of the grass seeding attachment directly over the rear walkway made filling of the grain box awkward. The fertilizer box was very easy to clean but leaked a small amount of moisture in heavy rains. The drill was very easy to transport, however limited ground clearance resulted in dragging of the disks on high crowned roadways.

Ease of Adjustment: One grease fitting on the hitch required lubrication. Both the seed and fertilizer rates were easy to change. The depth adjustment was quick and simple, but there was no calibrated scale for reference.

Power Requirements: A 100 hp (75 kW) tractor should have sufficient power reserve to operate one section of the 11 ft (3.4 m) drill in all field conditions and speeds.

Operator Safety: The Lilliston 9680 was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were observed.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was very well written and clearly illustrated. It contained detailed information on safety, operation, service, assembly and warranty.

Mechanical History: One fertilizer metering gear broke early in testing and a cylinder lug broke after 83 hours of field operation. Other mechanical problems occurred but were considered minor.

Summary of Amazone NT 375 No-Till Grain Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.27 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration was excellent when seeding directly into moist stubble fields and very good when seeding into dry stubble fields. The ability of the hoe opener to cut through surface residue was very good in all conditions. The press wheels provided adequate compaction in most soils encountered.

The accuracy of the seed metering system was very good in wheat and rapeseed with a wide range of settings. The variation in seeding rates between seed runs was insignificant. The seeding rates of all crops were relatively unaffected by field roughness, ground speed or level of grain in the grain box. The seeding rate of wheat increased by about 7% when travelling down a 15° slope. A grass seeding attachment was not available for the Amazone NT 375. Small seed could be metered with very good accuracy through the main seed box.

The accuracy of the fertilizer metering device was very good. Variation in application rates between runs was insignificant. Application rates were not affected by field roughness, ground speed or level of fertilizer in the fertilizer box. The rate increased by as much as 8.1% when travelling up a 15° slope.

Ease of Operation: The Amazone NT 375 worked well under wet field conditions. However, in extremely sticky conditions, mud build-up would prevent the press wheels from turning even though the press wheels were equipped with scrapers. The large space between adjacent openers allowed very good trash and stone clearance. In very heavy trash, the drill left clumps of straw. The overall height of the machine made filling of the seed and fertilizer boxes difficult if bagged seed and fertilizer were piled at ground level or if a short drill fill was used. A small amount of moisture collected on the lid edge during heavy rains and would fall into the box when opened. The boxes were easy to clean out. The drill was very easy to transport and had ample ground clearance.

Ease of Adjustment: The 22 grease fittings required daily lubrication. Seed and fertilizer rates were easy to change. The depth adjustment was fast and simple and had a calibrated scale for reference when moving from field to field.

Power Requirements: A 110 hp (80 kW) tractor should have sufficient power reserve to operate one section of the 12 ft (3.8 m) drill in all field conditions and speeds.

Operator Safety: The Amazone NT 375 was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were observed.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual lacked detailed information, especially on safety and warranty. The calibration charts for both seed and fertilizer were incomplete.

Mechanical History: There were a number of failures of feed shaft connections due to poor initial bearing adjustment. Four openers were bent in stony land, the hitch bent and a hole wore into one feed hose due to rubbing on a tire.

Summary of Haybuster 8000 No-Till Grain Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.29 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration was excellent when seeding directly into moist or dry stubble fields. The ability of the hoe opener to pass through surface residue was very good in firm soils and fair in soft moist soils. The press wheels provided adequate compaction in most soils encountered.

The accuracy of the seed metering system was good in wheat and rapeseed with a wide range of settings. The variation in seeding rates between seed runs was insignificant. The seeding rates of all crops were relatively unaffected by field roughness or level of grain in the grain box. The seeding rate of wheat decreased by as much as 25% when travelling up a 15° slope. Ground speed also had a significant effect on the seeding rate.

The accuracy of the fertilizer metering device was good. Variation in application rates between runs was insignificant. Application rates were not affected by field roughness, or level of fertilizer in the fertilizer box. The rate decreased by as much as 25% when travelling down a 15° slope. Ground speed also had a significant effect on the rate.

Ease of Operation: Wet field conditions caused a build-up of mud around the sides of the openers and between the press wheels, eventually causing plugging. The large space between adjacent openers allowed excellent trash and stone clearance.

The overall height of the machine made filling of the seed and fertilizer boxes difficult if bagged seed and fertilizer were piled at ground level or if a short drill fill was used.

The seed and fertilizer boxes were easy to clean but leaked a small amount of moisture in heavy driving rains. The drill was very easy to transport with adequate ground clearance.

Ease of Adjustment: The 77 grease fittings on the drill required regular lubrication. Both the seed and fertilizer rates were very easy to adjust. The depth adjustment was fast and simple.

Power Requirements: A 120 hp (89 kW) tractor should have sufficient power reserve to operate one section of the 8.1 ft (2.5 m) drill in all field conditions and speeds.

Operator Safety: The Haybuster 8000 was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were observed.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual lacked detailed information, especially on assembly, operation and optional equipment.

Mechanical History: The corners of four sealer plates were broken off after 50 ac (20 ha) of stoney land and a total of 315 ac (127 ha) of all soil types.

Summary of Haybuster 107 No-Till Grain Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.41 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration was very good when seeding directly into moist stubble fields and good when seeding into dry stubble fields. The ability of the offset double disk opener to cut through surface residue was good in firm soils and fair in soft moist soils. Failure of the openers to cut through the surface residue results in seed being placed either in the residue or on the soil surface. The gauge-press wheels provided adequate compaction in most soils encountered.

The accuracy of the seed metering system was good in wheat and rapeseed with a wide range of settings. The variation in seeding rates between seed runs was insignificant. The seeding rates of all crops were relatively unaffected by field roughness or level of grain in the grain box. The seeding rate of wheat decreased by as much as 23% when travelling up a 15° slope. Ground speed also had a significant effect on the seeding rate.

The accuracy of the fertilizer metering devices was good. Variation in application rates between runs was insignificant. Application rates were not affected by field roughness, or level of fertilizer in the fertilizer box. The application rate decreased by as much as 30% when travelling down a 15° slope. Ground speed also had a significant effect on the rate.

Ease of Operation: Wet field conditions caused a build-up of mud around the opener frame, the outside of the openers and around the press wheels, eventually causing plugging. Exterior disk scrapers were not provided. Large openings in the seed and fertilizer box made filling easy. A lack of steps made the operator platforms somewhat inaccessible. The seed and fertilizer boxes were easy to clean but leaked a small amount of moisture in heavy driving rains. The drill was very easy to transport.

Ease of Adjustment: Twenty-eight grease fittings on the drill required regular lubrication. Both the seed and fertilizer rates were very easy to adjust. The depth adjustment was straight forward, but time consuming.

Power Requirements: A 110 hp (82 kW) tractor should have sufficient power reserve to operate one section of the 10.5 ft (3.2 m) drill with side bander in all field conditions and speeds.

Operator Safety: The Haybuster 107 was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were observed.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual lacked detailed information, especially on assembly, operation and optional equipment.

Mechanical History: No mechanical problems occurred during the 140 hours of field testing.

Summary of Morris MH-310 Hoe Press Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.53 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration was good in tilled field conditions and in stubble conditions provided the stubble soil contained adequate moisture.

Seed and fertilizer were normally placed in a 1.5 in (38 mm) wide band with most seeds within 0.5 in (13 mm) of the average seed depth in uniform soil conditions. Each press wheel exerted a packing force of at least 208 lb (926 N), which effectively packed the soil around the seed and fertilizer.

Trash clearance was adequate in all test conditions except long wheat straw on summerfallow in which case occasional plugging occurred.

The trip system in conjunction with the compression spring provided adequate protection in stony conditions. Maximum lift height of the shank was 9.25 in (235 mm).

Grain Metering System: Metering calibrations in wheat, barley and canola were accurate. Differences between the manufacturer's and PAMI's metering calibrations were attributed to the difference in seed size and density.

Variation in seeding rates among seed runs across the width of the machine was insignificant when seeding wheat, barley and canola. The seeding rates in all crops were unaffected by level of seed in the box, variations in ground speed and field roughness. Travelling up a 15° slope caused a 11% decrease, while travelling down a 15° slope caused a 5% increase in seeding rate. Seeding on a side slope did not affect seeding rate.

Fertilizer Metering System: The fertilizer metering calibration was accurate when density and particle size differences were considered. Variation in application rate among runs across the width of the machine was low. The application rate was unaffected by level of fertilizer in the box, ground speed or by field vibrations. Travelling up a 15° slope caused a 7% increase while travelling down a 15° slope caused a 10% decrease in fertilizer application rate. Seeding on a side slope did not affect the fertilizer application rate.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Hitching in transport position was convenient and the optional transport package enabled the drill to be placed in transport position in a couple of minutes. Dual wheel tractors interfered with the transport hitch when turning corners.

The seed and fertilizer rates were easy to adjust. Seeding depth was adjusted with the hydraulic lift cylinder and the spring length of the individual openers. The large metal walkway made filling with grain and fertilizer safe and convenient. A partition between the grain and fertilizer compartments could be easily opened to permit filling both compartments with seed. The seed and fertilizer box openings permitted cleaning with a small pail only. The feed gates could be easily opened to allow grain and fertilizer to fall through the cups.

The area counter was very accurate. Lubrication was easy with good access to all grease fittings.

Power Requirements: Tractor size depended on field conditions, soil type, seeding depth, ground speed and drill width. In silt loam soil, seeding at a normal seeding depth at 5 mph (8 km/h), a 45 hp (34 kW) tractor was needed to operate one 10 ft (3 m) section of the Morris MH-310.

Operator Safety: The Morris MH-310 seed drill was safe to operate provided normal safety precautions were observed.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual contained useful information on adjustments, maintenance, and operation as well as a complete parts list.

Mechanical History: One shank bent and another broke while turning a corner in hard soil. Each hoe point was still useable after seeding 28 ac (11 ha).

Summary of Massey Ferguson 426 Hoe Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.50 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration was good in a wide vareity of field conditions provided adequate preseeding tillage had been performed. Seeding directly into stubble was possible with adequate soil moisture.

Seed and fertilizer were normally placed in a 1.7 in (43 mm) wide band with most seeds within 0.5 in (13 mm) of the average seed depth in uniform soil conditions. Each press wheel exerted a packing force of at least 142 lb (632 N), which effectively packed the soil around the seed and fertilizer.

Trash clearance was adequate in all test conditions except wet wheat stubble in which case occasional plugging occurred.

The spring cushion trip provided adequate protection in stony conditions. Maximum lift height of the shank was 18.5 in (470 mm).

Grain Metering System: Metering calibrations in wheat, barley and canola were accurate. Differences between the manufacturer's and PAMI's metering calibrations were attributed to the difference in seed size and density.

Variation in seeding rates among seed runs across the width of the machine was within the acceptable range when seeding wheat, barley and canola. The rates in all crops were unaffected by level of seed in the box, variations in ground speed and field roughness. Travelling up a 15° slope caused a 10% decrease, while travelling down a 15° slope caused a 5% increase in seeding rate. Seeding on a side slope caused a 5% decrease in seeding rate.

Fertilizer Metering System: The fertilizer metering calibration was accurate when density and particle size differences were considered. Variation in application rate among runs across the width of the machine was very low. The application rate was unaffected by level of fertilizer in the box, ground speed or by field vibrations. The application rate was affected by field slope. When applying 11-51-00 fertilizer at a gear setting of A1 using the 42 tooth feed gear, travelling up a 15° slope caused a 14% increase while travelling down a 15° slope caused a 56% decrease in application rate. Seeding on a side slope had no affect on application rate.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: One-man hitching was difficult in both transport and field positions since the hitches were not supported. The optional drill transport package did not perform adequately throughout the test. When the transport wheels were locked, excessive tire wear resulted.

The grain and fertilizer box lids and the 11 in (279 mm) wide metal walkway made filling and cleaning difficult and unsafe. Dropout bottoms on the fertilizer box made thorough cleaning easy.

Seeding and fertilizing rates were easily adjusted by changing a gear box setting and a gear set arrangement. Feed wheels were changed by moving a cover over whichever wheel was not in use.

Seeding depth was adjusted with the hydraulic lift cylinders. The depth of each opener was controlled by a two position adjustment for the pressure rod.

The area counter was accurate. Lubrication was easy with good access to all grease fittings.

Power Requirements: Tractor size depended on field conditions, soil type, seeding depth, ground speed and drill width. In silt loam soil, seeding at a normal seeding depth at 5 mph (8 km/h), a 55 power take-off hp (41 kW) tractor was needed to operate one 12 ft (3.7 m) section of the Massey Ferguson 426.

Operator Safety: The Massey Ferguson 426 seed drill was fairly safe to operate if normal safety precautions were observed. The narrow metal walkway and the transport system hydraulic hoses were safety hazards. No slow moving vehicle sign was supplied.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual contained some useful information on adjustments, maintenance, operation and assembly but requires updating.

Mechanical History: The packer rock guards shifted and rubbed on the packers throughout the test. The packer gang shaft nuts had to be tightened throughout the test. Several rear seed tubes bent and separated. Several connectors between the front seed tubes and the shanks failed. The hoe points were still useable after seeding 28 ac (11 ha) per point.

Summary of Versatile (1985 Model) 2200 Seed Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.55 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration of the Versatile hoe opener was very good in a wide variety of field conditions including stubble fields. Penetration of the Versatile double disc opener was good in all field conditions including stubble fields.

The hoe opener normally placed seed and fertilizer within a 1.1 in (28 mm) wide band with most seeds within 0.4 in (10 mm) of the average seed depth in uniform soil conditions. The double disc opener normally placed seed and fertilizer within a 1.3 in (33 mm) wide band with most seeds within 0.5 in (13 mm) of the average seed depth.

The optional banding attachments were field tested at the 1.25 in (32 mm) depth setting, at 5 mph (8 km/h) and in silt loam soil. Actual depth between the seed and fertilizer was 0.7 in (18 mm) at an average seeding depth of 1.3 in (33 mm). In very moist soil the banding attachments would occasionally plug.

Each press wheel exerted a packing force of at least 253 lb (1126 N), which effectively packed the soil around the seed and fertilizer. In moist packed soils, such as tire tracks, the double disc openers tended to rip and throw lumps of soil leaving little soil for packing.

Trash clearance with the hoe openers was adequate in all test conditions except in summerfallow with long wheat straw where occasional plugging occurred and in wet wheat stubble where the drill easily plugged. The double disc openers tended to hairpin the straw into the furrow in tough straw conditions.

The spring cushion hoe assemblies provided adequate protection from stones in normal field conditions but in excessively stony conditions damage did occur to the hoe assemblies. Maximum lift height of the hoe opener was 5.75 in (146 mm).

The spring trip double disc assemblies provided adequate protection from stones in all conditions. Maximum lift height of the double disc opener was 6.25 in (159 mm).

Grain Metering System: Metering calibrations in wheat and barley were accurate. Differences between the manufacturer's and PAMI's metering calibrations were attributed to the difference in seed size and density. The manufacturer's calibration was low when seeding canola using the fast speed drive but was accurate when using the slow speed drive at rates below 5 lb/ac (5.6 kg/ha).

Variation in seeding rates among seed runs across the width of the machine was insignificant when seeding wheat and barley. Variation among seed runs when seeding canola was high at low seeding rates. The seed cups should be zeroed to their respective fluted rollers before seeding canola. The seeding rates in all crops were unaffected by level of seed in the box, variations in ground speed and field roughness. Travelling up a 15° slope caused a 13% increase, while travelling down a 15° slope caused a 7% decrease in seeding rate. Seeding on a side slope did not affect seeding rate.

Fertilizer Metering System: Fertilizer metering calibration was accurate when density and particle size differences were considered. Variation in application rate among runs across the width of the machine was low. The application rate was not significantly affected by level of fertilizer in the box, ground speed or by field vibrations. The application rate was, however, affected by field slope. For example, when applying 11-51-00 fertilizer at a setting of 22, travelling up a 15° slope caused a 25% decrease while travelling down a 15° slope caused a 28% increase in application rate. Seeding on a side slope caused a 7% change in application rate.

The split seed cup adaptor allowed a certain percentage of fertilizer to be placed with the seed when using the banding attachment. PAMI calibrations showed the split seed cup adaptor to be inaccurate at two of the settings.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Hitching in transport and field position was convenient and the optional transport package enabled the drill to be placed in transport position in 5 to 10 minutes for quick and easy transporting.

The seed and fertilizer rates were easy to adjust. Adjusting the seed rate became more difficult when the seed box was full. The fertilizer rate was difficult to increase when the boxes were full. Changing to the slow speed kit was time consuming and difficult.

Seeding depth was adjusted with the hydraulic lift cylinder. The large rear walkway and wide box openings made filling the grain and fertilizer boxes safe and convenient. The partition in the grain box could be set in two positions to suit application rates but was difficult to move. The fertilizer hopper bottom could swing downward to permit easy cleaning.

The area counter read 12% low. Lubrication was easy with good access to most grease fittings.

Power Requirements: Tractor size depended on field conditions, soil type, seeding depth, ground speed and drill width. In silt loam soil, seeding at a normal seeding depth at 5 mph (8 km/h), a 50 hp (38 kW) tractor was needed to operate one 7 ft (2.1 m) hoe opener section and a 30 hp (23 kW) tractor was needed to operate one 7 ft (2.1 m) double disc opener section.

Operator Safety: The Versatile 2200 seed drill was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were observed. A slow moving vehicle sign was provided.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was very good, containing useful information on adjustments, maintenance, operation and assembly, as well as a complete parts list.

Mechanical History: Due to poor penetration the hoe points were replaced after seeding 21 ac (8 ha) each. Replacement of the points was difficult. The adjusting nuts on the double disc openers loosened throughout the test.

Summary of Connor Shea Coil Tyne Coulter Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.39 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration of the hoe openers and coulters was very good in all field conditions, with a minimum amount of surface disturbance.

The accuracy of the seed and fertilizer metering system was good.

Plant emergence was very good when proper seeding depth was maintained.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: All adjustments for seeding rate, fertilizer rate and depth adjustment were easy. Filling and cleaning of the seed and fertilizer boxes was also easy.

Wet field conditions did not cause plugging of the openers.

Power Requirements: A 60 hp (45 kW) tractor with front ballast is necessary to lift the drill. Average drawbar power was 27 hp (20 kW) when seeding at 1" (25 mm) at 4 mph (6.7 km/h).

Operator Safety: The drill was safe to operate and maintain if normal precautions were observed.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was well written and illustrated and included a parts manual.

Mechanical History: The hoes were replaced after 215 acres (88 ha),

Summary of GT Versa Drill 1006 No-Till Grain Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.43 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration was excellent when seeding directly into moist stubble fields and very good when seeding into dry stubble fields and pastureland. The ability of the single disk opener to pass through surface residue was very good in firm soils and good in soft, moist soils. In very heavy trash seed placement was fair. The press wheels provided adequate compaction in most soils encountered.

The accuracy of the seed metering system was good in wheat and rapeseed with a wide range of settings. After considerable adjustment, the variation between runs was acceptable. The seeding rates of most crops were relatively unaffected by field roughness or level of grain in the grain box. The seeding rate of wheat increased as much as 7.1% when travelling down a 15° slope. Increasing field speed from 3 to 7 mph (5 to 11 km/h) decreased the seeding rate of wheat as much as 8.8%.

The accuracy of the fertilizer metering device was good. Variation in application rates between runs was insignificant. Application rates were not affected by field roughness, or level of fertilizer in the fertilizer box. The application rate decreased by as much as 8.6% when travelling down a 15° slope. Increasing the field speed from 3 to 7 mph (5 to 11 km/h) decreased the fertilizer application rate as much as 30%.

A grass seeding attachment was made available as optional equipment on the GT. The accuracy of the metering device was very good for small seeds such as alfalfa and good for large light seeds such as rye grass.

Ease of Operation: Wet field conditions caused a buildup of mud between the press wheels and often plugged the entire drill. Small rocks occasionally wedged between adjacent press wheels. Filling the seed and fertilizer boxes was convenient especially if a drill fill was used. The boxes were easy to clean and the lids did not leak moisture. The drill was very easy to transport behind a tractor but had a large hitch weight for a light truck.

Ease of Adjustment: One grease fitting on the depth screw adjustment required occasional lubrication. The depth adjustment was fast and simple but had no calibrated scale for reference. Both the seed and fertilizer rates were easy to change.

Since the applicator towed in between the tractor and air drill, visibility of the middle section was obstructed by the tanks.

The Great Plains air drill could be placed into transport position in less than five minutes.

Rate of Work: The rate of work usually ranged from 24.5 to 30 ac/hr (9.9 to 12.1 ha/hr). About 140 ac (56.7 ha) could be seeded before refilling both tanks when seeding wheat at a. normal seeding rate. Using only the larger rear tank, 80 ac (32 ha) could be seeded before refilling.

Power Requirements: Tractor size depended on soil conditions, seeding depth, ground speed and soil finishing attachments. In light soil, seeding at a normal seeding depth and 5.5 mph (9 km/h), a 214 hp (160 kW) tractor was needed to operate the Great Plains 45 ft (13.7 m) air drill. In heavier soil conditions, at the same depth and speed, a 227 hp (170 kW) tractor was needed.

Safety: The Great Plains 45 ft (13.7 m) air drill was safe to operate provided normal safety procedures were observed.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was good, containing useful information on adjustment, maintenance and operations. A detailed parts list was also included.

Mechanical Problems: A few mechanical problems occurred during the evaluation. The right cart wheel hub failed twice during the evaluation and an opener was bent and replaced.

Summary of Tye Series V114-5360 No-Till Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.34 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration was very good when seeding directly into moist stubble fields and good when seeding into dry stubble fields. The ability of the double disk opener to cut through surface residue was good in firm soils and fair in soft moist soils when used with the No-Till attachment. In very heavy, poorly spread trash, seed placement was poor. The gauge-press wheels provided adequate compaction in most soils encountered.

The accuracy of the seed metering system was good in wheat with a wide range of rates available. The variation in seeding rates between seed runs was insignificant. The seeding rates of all crops were relatively unaffected by field roughness or level of grain in the grain box. The seeding rate of wheat increased as much as 8% when travelling up a 15° slope. Increasing field speed from 3 to 7 mph (5 to 11 km/h) decreased the seeding rate of wheat as much as 5%.

The accuracy of the fertilizer metering devices was good. Variation in application rates between runs was acceptable. Application rates were not affected by field roughness, or level of fertilizer in the fertilizer box. The application rate increased by as much as 80% when travelling up a 15° slope. Increasing field speed from 3 to 7 mph (5 to 11 km/h) decreased the fertilizer application rate as much as 40%.

Ease of Operation: Wet field conditions occasionally caused the openers to plug with mud. Internal scrapers were provided with the drill and external scrapers were available as optional equipment. Large openings in the seed and fertilizer boxes were easy to clean, but leaked a small amount of moisture in heavy driving rains. The drill was easy to transport, but caution was required due to the large width of the machine.

Ease of Adjustment: Sixty grease fittings on the No-Till caddy required regular lubrication. Both the seed and fertilizer rates were easy to adjust. The depth adjustment was straight forward, but time consuming.

Power Requirements: At 10 hp (82 kW) tractor should have sufficient power reserve to operate the 15 ft (4.6 m) drill and No-Till attachment in all field conditions and speeds.

Operator Safety: The Tye Series V114- 5360 was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were observed.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual contained useful information, especially on operation, adjustments, safety and optional equipment.

Mechanical History: One drive chain fell off after 435 ac (176 ha).

Summary of Edwards HD 812 Hoe Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.48 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration was very good in a wide variety of field conditions including stubble fields.

Seed and fertilizer were normally placed in a 1.6 in (41 mm) wide band with most seeds within 0.4 in (10 mm) of the average seed depth in uniform soil conditions. Uneven soil conditions, such as gulleys, did not significantly affect seed placement. Each press wheel exerted a packing force of at least 239 lbs (1064 N), which effectively packed the soil around the seed and fertilizer.

Trash clearance was very good in all test conditions. The four rows of openers allowed trash to be effectively cleared through the drill.

The spring trip shanks provided very good protection in stony conditions. Maximum lift height of the shank was 8.25 in (210 mm).

Metering calibrations in wheat, barley and canola were very good. Differences between the manufacturer's and PAMI's metering calibrations were attributed to the difference in seed size and density.

Variation in seeding rates among seed runs across the width of the machine was well within the acceptable range when seeding wheat, barley and canola. The seeding rates in all crops were unaffected by level of seed in the box, variations in ground speed and field roughness. Travelling up a 15° slope caused a 9% decrease while travelling down a 15° slope caused a 4% increase in seeding rate. Seeding on a 15° side slope caused a 4% decrease in seeding rate.

The fertilizer metering calibration was very good when density and particle size differences were considered. Variation in application rate among runs across the width of the machine was low when metering in the recommended setting between 3 and 6. The fertilizer rate could not be changed with the slow speed kit mounted.

The fertilizer application rate was unaffected by the level in the box, variations in ground speed or by field roughness. The fertilizer application rate was affected by field slope. Travelling up a 15° slope decreased the rate by 47% and travelling down a 10° slope increased the rate by 20%. Travelling on a 15° left side slope caused a 14% increase in rate and travelling on a 15° right side slope caused a 24% decrease in rate.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Lubrication was easy with good access to most grease fittings.

The large rear walkway and wide box openings made filling the grain and fertilizer boxes safe and convenient. The rear transport wheels did hinder filling with a truck. The feed gates could be fully opened for thorough cup cleanings. The grain box partition leaked during field operation.

The fertilizer cups were open and susceptible to rain and moisture.

The seed rate was easy to adjust. Adjusting the fertilizer rate and mounting the slow speed kit involved mounting and changing various gears which was time consuming. Seeding depth was adjusted with the hydraulic lift cylinders.

The area counter did not read acres directly and no calibration factors were given in the operator's manual.

Maneuverability of the unit tested was good but was hindered by the long drawbar hitch and the poor visibility of the far right shank.

Power Requirements: Tractor size depended on field conditions, soil type, seeding depth, ground speed and drill width. In silt loam soil, seeding at a normal depth at 5 mph (8 km/h), a 120 hp (90 kW) tractor was needed to operate the 14 ft (4.3 m) test unit.

Operator Safety: The Edwards HD 812 hoe drill was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were observed. A slow moving vehicle sign was not provided.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual contained a parts list and assembly instructions but lacked detailed information on the operation and adjustment.

Mechanical History: The packer lift assemblies on both drills were replaced during the test.

Summary of John Deere 752 Grain Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.57 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration of the John Deere 752 Grain drill was good. Penetration was more uniform across the entire width of the drill when seeding into soils with adequate moisture or at shallow depths.

Seed and fertilizer placement was good. Variation in seed and fertilizer depth was small when seeding in firm untilled soil or at shallow seed depths. Variation in seed and fertilizer depth was large when seeding in tilled or light untilled soils at deep seed depths.

Soil finishing was good. After seeding into untilled stubble fields some stubble remained standing and the majority of the straw was left on the surface. An uneven soil surface was usually left after seeding into previously tilled fields.

Trash clearance was very good. The opener systems allowed trash to flow with no plugging. Operation in stony conditions was very good. The lift height of the openers was adequate to clear large rocks.

Metering accuracy was good. Differences between the manufacturer's and Alberta Farm Machinery Research Centre's (AFMRC) metering calibrations were attributed to the difference in seed size, density and moisture content. Uphill and downhill slopes caused a 16% decrease and a 13% increase in the metering rate of 11-51-0 fertilizer.

The distribution uniformity of the application rate was very good. The seeding rate across the width of the drill was very uniform for wheat, barley, canola, peas and 11-51-0 fertilizer.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of performing routine maintenance was fair. Access to the grease fittings on the front row of openers was difficult. Total time required to service all 137 grease fittings was 45 minutes for one person.

Ease of filling and cleaning was good. The seed and fertilizer boxes emptied unevenly during the test due to the position of the box supports. The seed cups were not adequately protected from moisture by a heavy rain or water running down the front of the box. Fertilizer would eventually cake in the corrugation of the hoses, fall down and plug the seed boots if not cleaned after applying fertilizer.

Ease of transporting was very good. Five minutes were required to place the unit in transport position. Operation in the field was hampered by the lack of a field marker.

Monitoring was good. A four digit acre meter with reset was supplied with the unit. The seed cups could be viewed from the tractor during field operation to monitor the seed flow to the openers. No motion indicator was provided for the metering shafts.

Ease of changing the seed and fertilizer rates was very good, The seed rate was set by sliding the fluted feed rolls using a lever for each side of the drill. The fertilizer feed shaft speed was set using drive sprocket combinations and a gear case.

Ease of setting the seeding depth was fair. The opener down pressure was set by changing the depth stop for the hydraulic cylinder. Few various adjustments were required on each opener to set the seeding depth.

Power Requirements: Average tractor size needed varied from 66 pto hp (50 pto kW) to 87 pto hp (65 pto kW). Maximum tractor size needed was 139 pto hp (104 pto kw).

Operator Safety: The John Deere 752 Grain Drill was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were observed. A safety chain and warning lights were not provided with the test unit but were available. A slow moving vehicle sign was provided.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was very good. The manual was clearly written, with many photographs for explanations,

Mechanical History: Several of the rubber delivery hoses were damaged on the front row of openers due to interference with the drill frame. Average wear for each disk blade opener was 0.3 in (8 mm) after seeding 34 ac (14 ha),

Summary of Great Plains Solid Stand No-Till Drill (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.70 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration of the Great Plains Solid Stand No-Till drill was good, The coulters occasionally tripped when seeding into hard untilled soils. The trip-out force of each coulter was 210 lb (935 N).

Seed and fertilizer placement was very good, Variation in seed and fertilizer depth was uniform in all seeding conditions.

Soil finishing was good. The majority of the stubble was left on the surface with some standing after seeding into untilled stubble fields. Soil attached to the coulters and left the surface with soil lumps covering the stubble after operation in wet and heavy soil conditions.

Residue clearance was very good. The opener systems allowed residue to flow with no plugging. Operation in stony conditions was very good. The lift clearance of the double disk openers was adequate to clear large rocks.

Metering accuracy was good. The manufacturer's calibration curves were consistently lower for wheat and barley and consistently higher for alfalfa than the curves obtained by AFMRC. Changes in ground speed and up and downhill slopes significantly affected the metering rate of 11-51-0 fertilizer.

The distribution uniformity of the application rate was very good. The coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 3 to 6.5% for canola, 3 to 8.5%, for 11-51-0 fertilizer and 1.5 to 4% for wheat, barley, peas and alfalfa.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of performing routine maintenance was good. One person required 15 minutes to service all 41 lubrication points.

Ease of filling and cleaning the drill was fair. The narrow walkway made filling and cleaning the seed and fertilizer boxes difficult. The small seeds attachment was difficult to fill because seeds usually fell between the box and lid. The seed and fertilizer boxes were adequately sealed from moisture. The fertilizer feed roll and slide were exposed to moisture during a rain.

Ease of transporting was very good. Two minutes were required to place the unit in transport position. The metering drive chains were disengaged by the lockout hub located on the drive wheel. The manufacturer did not supply a field marker.

Ease of changing the seed and fertilizer rates was good. The meter settings were difficult to set due to the small numbers on the numerical scales. Access to the knob for setting the fertilizer rate was poor due to the proximity of the small seeds attachment.

Ease of setting the seeding depth was very good. The operating depth of the coulters was set by a depth stop on the right hydraulic cylinder. The seeding depth of the double disk openers was controlled by the depth of the individual packers.

Power Requirements: Average tractor size needed varied from 45 to 55 pto hp (34 to 41 pto kW). Maximum tractor size needed was 70 pto hp (53 pto kW).

Operator Safety: The Great Plains No-Till drill was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were observed. A safety chain and stow moving vehicle sign were provided with the test unit. The lever for setting the small seeds attachment protruded over the walkway making filling and cleaning very dangerous. The lever was removed whenthe small aeeds attachment was not.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was good. The manual was clearly written with many drawings for explanations but did not include detailed information on the operation of the opener system or application rate charts in SI units.

Mechanical History: Three of the fasteners used to hold the press wheel arm to the disk arm failed during the test because permanently mounted nuts failed. Average wear on each coulter was 0.5 in (13 mm) after seeding 47 ac (19 ha).