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Pöttinger knows the drill

This month, Noel Dunne introduces a brand-new feature to his machinery-news offering. The monthly field report will focus on machinery and equipment that farmers and contractors are operating across the country. To kick off this first report James Moloney of Co. Laois tells us wjy he decided to purchase Pöttinger's 3M seed and fertilisers drill, The Terrasem 3000

James Maloney pictured calibrating the drill pre-sowing on the farm of Michael Fennelly (right), Bawn House, Stradbally, Co. Laois. James sows a range of crops such as winter wheat, winter barley, winter oilseed rape, beans, spring barley and spring oats.

Generally, 90 per cent of crops are now established using min-till. James decided to move away from the traditional ploughing operation for two main reasons – to save time and to improve soil health.

The drill connects straight to the tractor’s Isobus system. The coulter pressure, tramline rhythm, disc height, and calibration are all functions on the screen. There are many options but they are easy enough to navigate. James says he only has two tractors, so for drilling spring barley it eliminates the chopping and changing between the fertiliser spreader and the sowing tractor. He can now follow with the deep leg cultivator and disc, as soon as conditions allow.

James says build quality is really good on the machine. The X-shaped pattern disc naturally allows the drill to keep a straight line behind the tractor.  The drill moves a lot of soil, creating a good tilth, and is followed by the double disc sowing coulters and press wheels.

For James’s future farming plans, the Terrasem 3000, is ideal.  There is an option to place the fertiliser in dedicated discs in bands just below the seed, or to put the fertiliser in the same coulter as the seed.

For James’s future farming plans, the Terrasem 3000, is ideal.  There is an option to place the fertiliser in dedicated discs in bands just below the seed, or to put the fertiliser in the same coulter as the seed.

The drill has two pressurised hoppers, which allow higher seeding rates if needed. James said he experienced very little trouble using the fertiliser but there is a necessity to clean it down each night. “This sounds like a pain but it’s actually not,” says James. “You simply slide out the roller and give it a quick blow-down from the airline on the tractor, and you are good to go the next morning.” He highlighted the importance of funding available under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS). This funding made the machine affordable, he says, adding that it would not have been an option on this farm without it.

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