While there are more precision planters creeping up in certain parts of the country for the sowing of maize in the open, sowing under degradable film remains the most popular for reasons including the retention of heat and moisture as well as frost protection. For those reasons, the Irish-built Samco System continues to dominate the market when it comes to maize planters.
Before seed is placed, the seedbed is consolidated using the front rubber roller and soil compaction within the seed rows is alleviated using the track eradicators.
Pre emergence herbicide is also sprayed on the exposed soil between the film rows. \ Odhran Ducie
Background
Ahead of the 2023 spring planting season, Tipperary-based contractors, Pat and Damien Dunne responded to a growing desire among local livestock farmers to grow maize as a high energy feed source, and so decided to purchase a maize drill to expand their services.
An older 2004 Samco four-row drill was bought to initially test the water so to speak and see what acreage would come their way. With just over 250 acres planted the first year, the lads quickly realised it was a six-row machine they needed in order to get through work quickly before silage season would kick off each year.
A 2013 Samco 7100 six-row model was bought and worked for the following two seasons, sowing over 800 acres before being upgraded for a new 7100 model and 2,000l front tank this year.
Last week we caught up with Cathal Boyle, a long-standing team member at Dunne Agri and the man responsible for all maize sowing, to find out more about the operation and Samco 7100 planter. As of 12 May, roughly 320 acres had been planted with roughly 120 acres left to be planted this week.
Spring tensioned wheels hold the film in place on each metering unit.
The 2,000l front tank has allowed a considerable daily time saving, Cathal noted.
“With the acreage planted creeping up each year, minimising downtime was the main reason behind upgrading the drill this year. Aside from the fact that the existing drill was going to need to be fully overhauled for the current season, the move away from the 1,200l front spray tank to the larger 2,000l tank was a major attraction,” Cathal outlined.
Samco system
The world-renowned Samco system is the brainchild of Limerick man, Sam Shine. In 1996, Sam developed the world’s first three-in-one precision planter, designed to sow seed, spray pre-emergence herbicide and finally, and most importantly, lay a thin layer of degradable film over the seedbed, all in one pass.
Since then, Samco has become an Irish manufacturing success story, with markets all over the globe. France is the firm’s current largest export market, followed by the UK and Canada.
The rear discs are set so that soil is kicked onto the film to secure it.
Dunne Agri sowing maize last year with a Massey Ferguson 7726 and 2013 Samco 7100 drill. \ Odhran Ducie
Meanwhile, markets experiencing notable growth include Chile, Poland and Japan.
In more recent years, Samco has diversified its manufacturing business which now offers a range of land levellers, silage forks, subsoilers alongside a unique self-loading round bale chaser.
On top of all that, Samco produces its own degradable mulch film in-house in Adare, Co Limerick. The Shine family also runs a machinery retail business; Samco Agri Sales and are main agents for Case IH, Kverneland, McConnel and Redrock.
Mulch film and drill range
The degradable films produced by Samco are largely derived from natural starches: the films are dotted with pinholes which serve two functions. Firstly, these holes allow trapped air to escape leaving the film to sit tight to the soil, retaining moisture and heat for an ambient environment.
Secondly, the pinholes are designed to weaken the film, allowing the maize plant to easily emerge through. Different types of film have been developed to suit different needs and markets, where climates and crops differ.
Up to 20 rolls of film can be stored on the front.
The Muller Precimat terminal is responsible for seeding units.
Today, Samco offers a range of planters from single row to eight-row. The more common machines here on the Irish market are the 4800 four-row (3.2m) model and the larger 7100 six-row (4.5m) model which has become increasingly popular, especially among large contractors where workload has increased and working windows are getting tighter.
The six-row machine is divided into three independent two row units allowing the drill to fold to a width of 3.2m.
The drill
Dunne’s new 7100 drill is largely unchanged from its previous machines. However, Cathal noted some subtle improvements have been made throughout. With the exception of the Kverneland Accord seed box and Hardi spray pump, all other elements of the Samco drill are designed and manufactured in-house in Adare, Co Limerick.
Looking closer at the drill and its workings, the process begins with a rubber consolidation roller, designed to leave behind a firm seed bed. The roller is then followed by six track eradicators which alleviate deep compaction within the seed rows which will later make it easier for the plants’ roots to grow down through the soil. These eradicators are sprung, offering break back protection from objects such as stones.
Next up is the seeding process, taken care of by six Kverneland Optima pneumatic precision sowing units. In a nutshell, seed is singled and placed on the rotating seeding disc using vacuum, with two mechanical selectors present to remove any doubled seeds. Each seed is individually ejected where it passes down the seed coulter and is evenly placed into the seedbed at the set depth. Each row is then re-consolidated to ensure good soil seed contact. Cathal noted that the typical seeding rate works out to 40,000 seeds/acre.
Cathal Boyle, Dunne Agri, Nenagh Co Tipperary. \ Odhran Ducie
Once the seed is sowed, it is then sprayed with pre-emergence herbicide. This is generally done at a rate of 100l/acre, hence the large front tank. Spray rate is variable meaning that the application rate is automatically adjusted relative to the tractor’s forward speed. Spraying starts and stops automatically when the drill is lowered and raised too. Not only are the seed rows under the film sprayed but another row of nozzles directed between each row of film spray the uncovered ground afterwards too.
Dunne’s previous drill was paired up with a 1,200l front tank, capable of spraying 12 acres before having to return to the yard to refill. This time around, they opted for the larger 2,000l tank which has proved a game changer.
Now able to spray 20 acres, without having to stop, saves up to an hour each day, Cathal said. The front tank unit has a built in 200l rinse tank and a small 15l hand wash tank along with a 40l induction hopper, front lighting kit and storage for 20 rolls of film. The tank also has a self-filling valve which allows it to fill using the onboard Hardi pump.
The Hardi spray pump is PTO driven and is therefore mounted behind the headstock at the rear where analogue pressure clocks can be monitored in addition to the in-cab spray terminal.
All spray related information and controls are displayed via the latest GeoSystem GS 260 control terminal which is separate to the Precimat seeding terminal.
The previous drill featured an older sprayer terminal which Cathal pointed out, was not near as intuitive as the latest terminal. Everything from tank volume to application rate, forward speed and spray pressure can be monitored through the terminal.
The Muller Precimat terminal monitors the seeding rate, area per hour, total number of hectares done etc while sensors fitted to each box alert when blockages or low seed levels occur.
Film application
Next up is the unique film application process. On the 7100 six-row machine there is three film metering units, each covering two seed rows. Each film unit can be lifted and lowered independently.
Spring-loaded roll holder units hold the rolls in the correct position. Meanwhile, rubber-covered spring-tensioned wheels catch each side of the film and feed it into position.
Cathal is sowing using full GPS and autosteer.
There are single discs on either side of each film metering unit.
These discs are adjustable and open a channel 10cm deep in the soil. When the channel is opened the film metering unit is lowered, engaging the cut and bury plate or what’s known as the ‘spade’ covering the film upon starting the pass and then again upon reaching the headland as the drill is raised.
Four single discs at the rear of the drill channel soil in on top of the films outer edges to secure it and prevent wind damage.
Verdict
Set to have the best part of 500 acres sown now in the coming week with the new drill, both Cathal and the Dunnes are delighted with how it has performed.
“It really hasn’t missed a beat all spring and neither did the previous machine to be fair. While nothing major has changed, you can see how Samco has really perfected the concept over the years and tweaked certain areas. In terms of accuracy and reliability, the machine cannot be faulted.”
“We’re averaging somewhere in the region of 30ac/day at the moment which is steady going. The larger front tank is a super job, meaning 20 acres can be sown and sprayed non-stop instead of the previous 12 acres.”
“This year we’re drilling with a new John Deere 6M 230 Autopowr and running full GPS and autosteer which is a super job. Depending on the ground, forward speed is generally between 4km/h and 6km/h. Having the correct seed bed is important if output is to be maximised. After ploughing, most ground receives two runs of the power harrow ahead of sowing. In 90% of situations we take care of the full job from ploughing through to sowing and harvesting”, Cathal noted.
“Harvesting maize and now whole crop in recent years has allowed the lads to really extend the working season for the forager, naturally leaving a machine of such investment more justified,” he added.
Likes
Performance and reliability.Time-saving due to larger 2,000l front tank.Specs
Model: 7100. Number of rows: six. Working width: 4.5m.Front tank capacity: 2,000l.Weight: 3,300kg. Seed row width: 75cm.
While there are more precision planters creeping up in certain parts of the country for the sowing of maize in the open, sowing under degradable film remains the most popular for reasons including the retention of heat and moisture as well as frost protection. For those reasons, the Irish-built Samco System continues to dominate the market when it comes to maize planters.
Before seed is placed, the seedbed is consolidated using the front rubber roller and soil compaction within the seed rows is alleviated using the track eradicators.
Pre emergence herbicide is also sprayed on the exposed soil between the film rows. \ Odhran Ducie
Background
Ahead of the 2023 spring planting season, Tipperary-based contractors, Pat and Damien Dunne responded to a growing desire among local livestock farmers to grow maize as a high energy feed source, and so decided to purchase a maize drill to expand their services.
An older 2004 Samco four-row drill was bought to initially test the water so to speak and see what acreage would come their way. With just over 250 acres planted the first year, the lads quickly realised it was a six-row machine they needed in order to get through work quickly before silage season would kick off each year.
A 2013 Samco 7100 six-row model was bought and worked for the following two seasons, sowing over 800 acres before being upgraded for a new 7100 model and 2,000l front tank this year.
Last week we caught up with Cathal Boyle, a long-standing team member at Dunne Agri and the man responsible for all maize sowing, to find out more about the operation and Samco 7100 planter. As of 12 May, roughly 320 acres had been planted with roughly 120 acres left to be planted this week.
Spring tensioned wheels hold the film in place on each metering unit.
The 2,000l front tank has allowed a considerable daily time saving, Cathal noted.
“With the acreage planted creeping up each year, minimising downtime was the main reason behind upgrading the drill this year. Aside from the fact that the existing drill was going to need to be fully overhauled for the current season, the move away from the 1,200l front spray tank to the larger 2,000l tank was a major attraction,” Cathal outlined.
Samco system
The world-renowned Samco system is the brainchild of Limerick man, Sam Shine. In 1996, Sam developed the world’s first three-in-one precision planter, designed to sow seed, spray pre-emergence herbicide and finally, and most importantly, lay a thin layer of degradable film over the seedbed, all in one pass.
Since then, Samco has become an Irish manufacturing success story, with markets all over the globe. France is the firm’s current largest export market, followed by the UK and Canada.
The rear discs are set so that soil is kicked onto the film to secure it.
Dunne Agri sowing maize last year with a Massey Ferguson 7726 and 2013 Samco 7100 drill. \ Odhran Ducie
Meanwhile, markets experiencing notable growth include Chile, Poland and Japan.
In more recent years, Samco has diversified its manufacturing business which now offers a range of land levellers, silage forks, subsoilers alongside a unique self-loading round bale chaser.
On top of all that, Samco produces its own degradable mulch film in-house in Adare, Co Limerick. The Shine family also runs a machinery retail business; Samco Agri Sales and are main agents for Case IH, Kverneland, McConnel and Redrock.
Mulch film and drill range
The degradable films produced by Samco are largely derived from natural starches: the films are dotted with pinholes which serve two functions. Firstly, these holes allow trapped air to escape leaving the film to sit tight to the soil, retaining moisture and heat for an ambient environment.
Secondly, the pinholes are designed to weaken the film, allowing the maize plant to easily emerge through. Different types of film have been developed to suit different needs and markets, where climates and crops differ.
Up to 20 rolls of film can be stored on the front.
The Muller Precimat terminal is responsible for seeding units.
Today, Samco offers a range of planters from single row to eight-row. The more common machines here on the Irish market are the 4800 four-row (3.2m) model and the larger 7100 six-row (4.5m) model which has become increasingly popular, especially among large contractors where workload has increased and working windows are getting tighter.
The six-row machine is divided into three independent two row units allowing the drill to fold to a width of 3.2m.
The drill
Dunne’s new 7100 drill is largely unchanged from its previous machines. However, Cathal noted some subtle improvements have been made throughout. With the exception of the Kverneland Accord seed box and Hardi spray pump, all other elements of the Samco drill are designed and manufactured in-house in Adare, Co Limerick.
Looking closer at the drill and its workings, the process begins with a rubber consolidation roller, designed to leave behind a firm seed bed. The roller is then followed by six track eradicators which alleviate deep compaction within the seed rows which will later make it easier for the plants’ roots to grow down through the soil. These eradicators are sprung, offering break back protection from objects such as stones.
Next up is the seeding process, taken care of by six Kverneland Optima pneumatic precision sowing units. In a nutshell, seed is singled and placed on the rotating seeding disc using vacuum, with two mechanical selectors present to remove any doubled seeds. Each seed is individually ejected where it passes down the seed coulter and is evenly placed into the seedbed at the set depth. Each row is then re-consolidated to ensure good soil seed contact. Cathal noted that the typical seeding rate works out to 40,000 seeds/acre.
Cathal Boyle, Dunne Agri, Nenagh Co Tipperary. \ Odhran Ducie
Once the seed is sowed, it is then sprayed with pre-emergence herbicide. This is generally done at a rate of 100l/acre, hence the large front tank. Spray rate is variable meaning that the application rate is automatically adjusted relative to the tractor’s forward speed. Spraying starts and stops automatically when the drill is lowered and raised too. Not only are the seed rows under the film sprayed but another row of nozzles directed between each row of film spray the uncovered ground afterwards too.
Dunne’s previous drill was paired up with a 1,200l front tank, capable of spraying 12 acres before having to return to the yard to refill. This time around, they opted for the larger 2,000l tank which has proved a game changer.
Now able to spray 20 acres, without having to stop, saves up to an hour each day, Cathal said. The front tank unit has a built in 200l rinse tank and a small 15l hand wash tank along with a 40l induction hopper, front lighting kit and storage for 20 rolls of film. The tank also has a self-filling valve which allows it to fill using the onboard Hardi pump.
The Hardi spray pump is PTO driven and is therefore mounted behind the headstock at the rear where analogue pressure clocks can be monitored in addition to the in-cab spray terminal.
All spray related information and controls are displayed via the latest GeoSystem GS 260 control terminal which is separate to the Precimat seeding terminal.
The previous drill featured an older sprayer terminal which Cathal pointed out, was not near as intuitive as the latest terminal. Everything from tank volume to application rate, forward speed and spray pressure can be monitored through the terminal.
The Muller Precimat terminal monitors the seeding rate, area per hour, total number of hectares done etc while sensors fitted to each box alert when blockages or low seed levels occur.
Film application
Next up is the unique film application process. On the 7100 six-row machine there is three film metering units, each covering two seed rows. Each film unit can be lifted and lowered independently.
Spring-loaded roll holder units hold the rolls in the correct position. Meanwhile, rubber-covered spring-tensioned wheels catch each side of the film and feed it into position.
Cathal is sowing using full GPS and autosteer.
There are single discs on either side of each film metering unit.
These discs are adjustable and open a channel 10cm deep in the soil. When the channel is opened the film metering unit is lowered, engaging the cut and bury plate or what’s known as the ‘spade’ covering the film upon starting the pass and then again upon reaching the headland as the drill is raised.
Four single discs at the rear of the drill channel soil in on top of the films outer edges to secure it and prevent wind damage.
Verdict
Set to have the best part of 500 acres sown now in the coming week with the new drill, both Cathal and the Dunnes are delighted with how it has performed.
“It really hasn’t missed a beat all spring and neither did the previous machine to be fair. While nothing major has changed, you can see how Samco has really perfected the concept over the years and tweaked certain areas. In terms of accuracy and reliability, the machine cannot be faulted.”
“We’re averaging somewhere in the region of 30ac/day at the moment which is steady going. The larger front tank is a super job, meaning 20 acres can be sown and sprayed non-stop instead of the previous 12 acres.”
“This year we’re drilling with a new John Deere 6M 230 Autopowr and running full GPS and autosteer which is a super job. Depending on the ground, forward speed is generally between 4km/h and 6km/h. Having the correct seed bed is important if output is to be maximised. After ploughing, most ground receives two runs of the power harrow ahead of sowing. In 90% of situations we take care of the full job from ploughing through to sowing and harvesting”, Cathal noted.
“Harvesting maize and now whole crop in recent years has allowed the lads to really extend the working season for the forager, naturally leaving a machine of such investment more justified,” he added.
Likes
Performance and reliability.Time-saving due to larger 2,000l front tank.Specs
Model: 7100. Number of rows: six. Working width: 4.5m.Front tank capacity: 2,000l.Weight: 3,300kg. Seed row width: 75cm. 
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