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More and more farmers are replacing the openers provided by manufacturers for modification and replacement to reduce soil disturbance and improve seed colonization.
Switching to aftermarket corkscrews is not a new concept. However, since the establishment cost and related weed management are the primary issues in the dialogue of arable agriculture, more and more growers are finding it easy to prove that the wear is suitable for their particular The additional economic expenditure for soil-type metals is reasonable. Cultivation system.
Most people choose slender legs—usually each cost about £100—to reduce soil movement and subsequent weed seed germination. These are also easier to pull, usually reducing the horsepower requirements of the farm and the chain cost of fuel.
In addition, buyers who plan to fix the opener on a brand new drill bit can now order bare metal. Given that Horsch’s Duett corkscrew costs approximately £140 per leg, compared to sticking to the manufacturer’s standard settings, taking the aftermarket route can actually save costs.
There are three main players in the market-Dutch Openers and Bourgault from Canada, and the British company JJ Metcalfe. All of their openers can be used directly for stubble and cover crops, which will help reduce the cost of switching to reduced tillage or zero tillage systems.
See also: How to choose the best metal-wearing cultivator
The Canadian company Dutch Openers is probably the most well-known manufacturer of modified legs and has signed UK distribution agreements with Pan Anglia (2015) and later Spaldings.
The Dutch series includes a variety of options suitable for British conditions and soil types, but the company found that there is the highest demand for devices to replace Duett coulters on Horsch CO and Sprinter rigs.
Early interest came from farmers who wanted to reduce weed germination and reduce the cost of establishment by upgrading the soil working components on the old rig. However, buyers of new Horsch planters are increasingly choosing to purchase only the drill body and hopper, allowing Pan Anglia to provide a set of Dutch-style outriggers and openers.
Dutch corkscrew Horsch leg assembly
The legs are bolted to the existing holes on the Horsch drill bit, although those with larger 16 mm mounting points are equipped with 12 mm reduction bushings. The modular design means that once the outriggers are in place, various points and fertilizer tube arrangements can be added according to the amount of soil movement required.
The most common spot sizes in the UK include a double-row 127 mm (5 inch) setting for grains and canola, and a 25 mm (1 inch) setting for growing beans such as beans and peas.
Pan Anglia South Regional Manager Jason Smith said that a pleasant medium between the two is 50 mm (2 inches) or 76 mm (3 inches) points, which is becoming a popular choice.
"The type of soil does determine which points are most suitable. Buying two sets for different crops can provide maximum flexibility, but some growers have chosen a medium-sized device-especially because it is difficult to completely shut down in hard clay soils5 Inches behind the boot."
These points are fixed in place by heavy-duty spiral needles, with tungsten tiles on the front edge.
“Those who operate split hoppers can use double rows to pass fertilizer through one row while the other row contains crops,” Mr. Smith said.
In addition to single-row and double-row options, the company also offers 50 mm (2 inches), 76 mm (3 inches), and 127 mm (5 inches) width expansion board systems. It is installed at the bottom of the conveying pipe to disperse the seeds across the width of the point to form a wider crop belt.
Mr. Smith said the low drag associated with the narrowest point means that some customers have managed to increase the width of their rigs without upgrading their tractors.
Conversion kits usually start at £100 and include legs, bushes and corkscrews. Horsch also decided to start offering customers the option to install a Dutch corkscrew from the factory as standard equipment at the same price as Duetts.
Ever since Martin Lishman imported the first cutter head and tool holder kit for Suffolk's Porters Farms in 2015, Bourgault's multi-function opener system (VOS) has been appearing on UK Horsch rigs.
In the past few years, as farmers have become more and more interested in reducing soil disturbance and related benefits, as well as reducing production costs, the company's conversion orders have steadily increased.
It provides four seed conveying arrangements, from a single seed trough to a variety of double-row combinations, and the starting fertilizer can be placed under the seed in the channel formed by the tillage nose in the front of the opener.
Bourgault leg and 4 inch corkscrew set
The earliest iteration had a 100 mm double row for seeding and fertilization. They are placed at 300 mm intervals to reduce weed competition by encouraging the formation of canopies on open rows, covering bare soil and allowing plants to get more sunlight.
The shallow-angled wing minimizes interference when drilling grains, rapeseed, and beans. More advanced versions place a pair of seed rows side by side with fertilizer in the middle.
Martin Lishmann's Burgau expert Stuart Aldworth said the company also offers a tillage head option that can break a tunnel in the soil in front of the wings.
"This creates a 19 mm deep groove for the fertilizer, which is located under the seeds, thereby reducing the possibility of scorching.
"The tungsten is attached to the underside of the wing, not the leading edge, so it will become sharp over time. There is a second small tungsten plate at the rear to hold the platform before putting the seeds in."
There are also several single-line seed versions, ranging from 19mm to 100mm. Mr. Aldworth said that people's interest in these is growing because they reduce distractions, help keep hydrated and last longer. Some farmers use the 100mm option to drill holes for all crop types instead of buying two sets of openers.
Like Dutch Openers, Bourgault's legs use the same mounting holes as the original Horsch device.
However, unlike its competitors, Bourgault uses stainless steel flat-head screws and square nuts hidden in grooves to connect the tip to the legs, minimizing the risk of metal wear and the attendant challenge of replacing worn parts. .
Coulter components start at £95 per leg, which includes legs and openers for seed setting only. Growers can also choose to use 2.5-degree angled outriggers instead of standard straight outriggers.
For growers who are keen on more soil movement and narrower row spacing, the company has just released a wider 150 mm (6 inch) opener specifically designed for the UK and European markets.
North Yorkshire parts manufacturer JJ Metcalfe has an ultra-thin 12mm coulter with a tungsten carbide blade that allows growers to penetrate uncultivated stubble with minimal soil movement, where perennial grass is a particular problem.
The seed tube is located above the ground, just behind the coulter, so this point is the only metal part in contact with the ground. This means that the groove can be kept only 12 mm wide, and with additional tungsten tiles on its side, the groove can be kept long enough for the seed to be put in.
It can be used as a replacement for the standard accessories of Horsch CO and Sprinters as well as Kockerling Ultima, Amazone Cayena and Condor, and recently Virkar made in Spain.
JJ Metcalfe Horsch duet conversion
Other drilling rigs can be used to carry the legs, but the limiting factor is often the strength of the spring, which may only be designed to work on softer farmland.
Wider spacing can also be provided to help higher cover crops flow through the rig without gathering or clogging.
"For those with serious black grass problems, we still recommend the narrow 12mm coulter. Compared to the 275mm wide standard Horsch Duett coulter, it’s clear that our tines interfere with much less soil. "Mike Metcalfe said.
"We recently launched a 100mm coulter, which moves more soil than the narrow 12mm tip, but it also means that we can provide a wider row of holes than a single outlet cannot achieve."
The winged spreader coulter allows rig users to use a crop pitch of 250 mm, and the wing design has a longer outer edge that allows seeds to fall behind the point before the soil falls back into place.
Mr. Metcalfe said that as the forward speed increases, standard V-shaped coulters tend to leave gaps around the seeds, but he believes his design can prevent any voids from forming.
You can also choose to use any coulter to apply liquid and granular fertilizers.
A single 12mm outlet is £79/leg, while the winged spreader version is £100.99.
All modified coulters are bolted to the position of the existing device, and JJ Metcalfe has also built points for companies such as Dale, Mzuri and Simtech.
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