'The drill of the future’

With 34 years’ experience as a contractor, Alfie’s business revolves around tillage and forage contracting where he handles the full range of farming operations. We caught up with him sowing the last of the spring barley.
“The reason we bought the new drill was because the first minute I saw it, I was very impressed with the build quality and the whole setup of the drill,” says Alfie.
The Kverneland u-drill is a universal seed drill for all crop-establishment systems, planting a wide range of crops, including cereals, oilseeds, and legumes. It uses a unique drilling system that delivers the seed precisely and consistently, resulting in better crop emergence and more uniform plant growth. The focus in design has been given to high-speed operation (10-18km/h) with a low-pulling requirement while ensuring a perfect seed placement. 

Front wheel packer

Alfie says he particularly likes the levelling characteristics of the u-drill. “The front wheel packer is an absolutely super job and the big wheel, I think, is a major plus. With this drill the wheel is higher and wider, which makes it easier to pull and floats the ground better.” For the best possible preparation, the front tyre packer levels the soil, crushes large clods and paves the way for the optimum depth control of the following tools. The front tyre packer has a diameter of 800mm and when not needed can be lifted hydraulically, simply by pushing a button.
This system results in consistent seed-to-soil contact essential for optimal germination and plant growth. With the Kverneland CD-coulter, the narrow profile of the coulters with their slightly offset steel discs allow easy penetration into the soil so little pressure is required at this point with only little soil being displaced. The coulter pressure of 100kg can, therefore, be primarily used for the pressing by the integrated press wheels. The result is a uniform seeding depth even at high working speeds.
The ‘u’ in u-drill stands for ‘universal’ and this not only refers to crop systems but also soil conditions. Alfie explains: “Especially in wet conditions. It’s inclined to just float along the ground and it gets through the wet spot easier.” With soil compaction always a concern for farmers with heavy conditions, this is an important consideration. 

Automated headland management

Designed with a fully automated headland management system, using just one button, the driver can initiate a headland sequence with wheels, discs and coulter bar all capable of automatic operation in timed stages. As the headland sequence starts, the metering device stops automatically – avoiding double seeding while the seed hoses are empty at the headland, saving valuable seed.
User experience is always a key focus and means cab control of operations is an important feature of the u-drill. For farmers and contractors, flexibility and ease of operation are key as each field has its own soil structure and specific working conditions. For a busy contractor like Alfie less time out of the cab means more time getting the job completed. The-drill’s functionality allows all operations to be controlled from the tractor cab via either the tractor’s Isobus terminal or Kverneland’s Tellus terminal.
The u-drill is available in working widths of 3m, 4m and 6m folding to carry out seedbed preparation, levelling, reconsolidation, seeding and pressing in one pass. The drill is available as grain only or the grain and fertiliser application model, with split hopper functionality. Alfie is so impressed with the drill he says: “I’d definitely recommend the drill to others. I actually think it’s the drill of the future.”