Making the most of the few days of good weather at the latter part of last week was James English, who was sowing Bozuka hybrid winter barley. James farms 1,100 acres of mostly medium to light soils, much of which is around Ardfinnan, between the Knockmealdowns and the Galtee Mountains. Interestingly, James said that this time last year the weather had prevented him from setting any corn, whereas up to last weekend he had planted 800 acres.
James has been practising a min-till system for quite a few years. In 2017, he made the move from discing before sowing with a strip till drill to cultivating the top 7in to 8in of soil before sowing. This called for a change of drill. Previously running a 4m Vaderstad Spirit strip till drill, James had been contemplating moving to a larger drill for a number of years.
James uses IsoBus through the split screen function on his Fendt 10.4" ‘Vario-terminal’, with his drill functions on the top half and the GPS on the bottom.
Upon looking to the market, a 6m Kverneland U-drill became available for demonstration through a local dealer. This was the first U-drill to have entered the country. After spending some time operating the drill, James opted to make the jump.
He said: “At first, I was a little sceptical about making the jump to a 6m drill. However, when I saw at first hand the acreage I could cover and how easy it was to pull, I knew this was the way to go for me.” Four seasons later, James notes that the move has paid dividends. 
"The only issue I have with the drill is the track eradicators. They are a little on the soft side," noted James.
The workings
With a modular design, the U-drill is set up to complete five tasks in one pass. It levels, compacts, places and presses the seeds in one single pass.
At the front, the tyre packer is designed to crush large clods and pave the way for depth control of the following tools. The front tyre packer has a diameter of 800mm and can be lifted hydraulically if not needed.
Behind the tyre packer sits the disc harrow, with two rows of discs. The conical disc shape and individual suspension is aimed at providing a uniform seedbed.
The hydraulic system allows the depth of the disc harrow to be adjusted on the move from the tractor cab, a feature which James said is very handy.
For accurate depth control of the coulters and creating optimum seed-to-soil contact, the loosened soil is then re-compacted by a large tyre packer.
Kverneland says the large tyre diameter of 900mm reduces the required tractive power of the tractor. James backed up this statement, noting that although he uses a Fendt 828 (287hp max), he has successfully pulled the drill with as low as 200hp. 
James explained that calibration is very simple and takes approximately three to four minutes to calibrate each unit.
Sowing
The machine is equipped with double disc coulters. The narrow profile of the coulters with the slightly offset steel discs is designed for easy penetration into the soil.
It also means little pressure is required, with minimal soil being displaced. The coulter pressure of 100kg can be primarily used for the pressing by the integrated press wheels. Similar to the disc harrow, the seeding depth and the coulter pressure can be controlled from the tractor cab.
At 12.5cm, James’s drill features the narrower row spacing. He explained: “It comes down to personal preference, really. For me, I like the narrow row spacings. I think it’s easier to keep the crop clean, there’s less room for weeds to establish.”
The trailing harrows cover the seeds to complete the seeding process. The working intensity can be adjusted by the stepless pressure adjustment and at three different angles. 
James English.
The U-drill comes with an automated headland management system. By pressing one button, the operator can initiate a headland sequence. This will automatically raise the wheels, discs and coulter bar in timed stages. The lifting sequence starting with the disc section, will ensure a constant depth control until the headland. As the headland sequence starts, the metering device stops automatically. This avoids double seeding and empties the seed hoses at the headlands.
As the drill has two metering units, both need to be calibrated separately. James said calibration is very simple and takes approximately three to four minutes for each unit.
A remote control allows the driver to operate the calibration process at the metering device. No gear has to be adjusted. The driver enters the desired values into the terminal, presses one button to start at the metering device and that’s it. The drill records the time, so all the operator has to do is hold the bag while metering and then weigh it.
The 6m u-drill has a hopper capacity of 4,350l.
Technology
The demonstration drill James bought was fully Isobus compatible, but also came with its own touchscreen control terminal.
James used the control terminal for two years before he upgraded tractors to the Fendt 828 Profi-Plus. The switch to the Fendt saw James ditch the terminal and make the move to Isobus.
James said it was as simple as plug and play, noting that it removed the clutter of a terminal and wires in the cab, making operation even simpler. He now uses the split-screen function on the 10.4in Vario-terminal, with his drill functions on the top half and the GPS on the bottom. 
The drill is on the harrower 12.5cm row spacing.
James runs RTX GPS which offers a theoretical accuracy down to 4cm. He said: “I only made the move to GPS and auto steer in recent years. I’d say it’s accounted for at least a 10% saving across all inputs.”
The drill offers GeoControl, which controls the application rate. The drill also features half-width shut-off (two 3m sections). One of the big design focuses for Kverneland with the U-drill was high-speed operation.
James said he typically operates the drill at around 11km/h, allowing him to plant up to 12 acres per hour. The drill partners well with his Fendt 828. Fuel consumption varies, but for the most part in good going James claims he’s sowing 120 acres with 200l of fuel. That breaks down to sowing one acre with just 1.66l of diesel. 
The U-dill is available either as a standard drill (U-drill) or as a grain and fertiliser version (U-drill plus). James said that for the most part he is a one-man operation and that grain-only works for him. The 6m U-drill has a hopper capacity of 4,350l. However, simply down to weight, James explains that he never loads any more than 1.5t of seed at a time. 
Despite being sceptical of moving to such a large drill, the first of which to be sold in the country, roll the clock forward four years and over 4,000 acres later and James is more than satisfied with his move.
He said: “I’m really happy with the drill. As I’m a one-man band for the most part. I wanted to improve the efficiency of my operation and the drill has been key. I can go out by myself and sow up to 120 acres in a day, whereas with my previous 4m drill, my output was limited to 60 acres per day. The big thing I like is that the drill works even in tough conditions. It really suits our soil.”
When asked about running costs, James noted that all he had to replace was a seal in a ram and a few sets of track eradicators.
He added: “With over 4,000 acres planted, the only issue I have with the drill is the track eradicators. They are a little on the soft side and stones will break them. Other than that, I can’t fault it. It’s on all original discs and I think they’ll last at least another 1,000 acres. My original plan was to run the drill for 10 years. Based on its performance to date, I can’t see myself parting with it in the near future.”
The spec
Model: U-drill 6000.
Working width: 6.0m.
Row spacings: 12.5cm/16.7cm.
No of double disc coulters: 36 with 16.7cm or 48 with 12.5cm.
Hopper capacity: 4,350l.
Transport width: 3.0m.
Number of metering devices: two.
Required oil volume: >90l/min.
Weight: 8,120kg.
Min power requirement: 190hp.
List price: €111,155.
Making the most of the few days of good weather at the latter part of last week was James English, who was sowing Bozuka hybrid winter barley. James farms 1,100 acres of mostly medium to light soils, much of which is around Ardfinnan, between the Knockmealdowns and the Galtee Mountains. Interestingly, James said that this time last year the weather had prevented him from setting any corn, whereas up to last weekend he had planted 800 acres.
James has been practising a min-till system for quite a few years. In 2017, he made the move from discing before sowing with a strip till drill to cultivating the top 7in to 8in of soil before sowing. This called for a change of drill. Previously running a 4m Vaderstad Spirit strip till drill, James had been contemplating moving to a larger drill for a number of years.
James uses IsoBus through the split screen function on his Fendt 10.4" ‘Vario-terminal’, with his drill functions on the top half and the GPS on the bottom.
Upon looking to the market, a 6m Kverneland U-drill became available for demonstration through a local dealer. This was the first U-drill to have entered the country. After spending some time operating the drill, James opted to make the jump.
He said: “At first, I was a little sceptical about making the jump to a 6m drill. However, when I saw at first hand the acreage I could cover and how easy it was to pull, I knew this was the way to go for me.” Four seasons later, James notes that the move has paid dividends.
"The only issue I have with the drill is the track eradicators. They are a little on the soft side," noted James.
The workings
With a modular design, the U-drill is set up to complete five tasks in one pass. It levels, compacts, places and presses the seeds in one single pass.
At the front, the tyre packer is designed to crush large clods and pave the way for depth control of the following tools. The front tyre packer has a diameter of 800mm and can be lifted hydraulically if not needed.
Behind the tyre packer sits the disc harrow, with two rows of discs. The conical disc shape and individual suspension is aimed at providing a uniform seedbed.
The hydraulic system allows the depth of the disc harrow to be adjusted on the move from the tractor cab, a feature which James said is very handy.
For accurate depth control of the coulters and creating optimum seed-to-soil contact, the loosened soil is then re-compacted by a large tyre packer.
Kverneland says the large tyre diameter of 900mm reduces the required tractive power of the tractor. James backed up this statement, noting that although he uses a Fendt 828 (287hp max), he has successfully pulled the drill with as low as 200hp.
James explained that calibration is very simple and takes approximately three to four minutes to calibrate each unit.
Sowing
The machine is equipped with double disc coulters. The narrow profile of the coulters with the slightly offset steel discs is designed for easy penetration into the soil.
It also means little pressure is required, with minimal soil being displaced. The coulter pressure of 100kg can be primarily used for the pressing by the integrated press wheels. Similar to the disc harrow, the seeding depth and the coulter pressure can be controlled from the tractor cab.
At 12.5cm, James’s drill features the narrower row spacing. He explained: “It comes down to personal preference, really. For me, I like the narrow row spacings. I think it’s easier to keep the crop clean, there’s less room for weeds to establish.”
The trailing harrows cover the seeds to complete the seeding process. The working intensity can be adjusted by the stepless pressure adjustment and at three different angles.
James English.
The U-drill comes with an automated headland management system. By pressing one button, the operator can initiate a headland sequence. This will automatically raise the wheels, discs and coulter bar in timed stages. The lifting sequence starting with the disc section, will ensure a constant depth control until the headland. As the headland sequence starts, the metering device stops automatically. This avoids double seeding and empties the seed hoses at the headlands.
As the drill has two metering units, both need to be calibrated separately. James said calibration is very simple and takes approximately three to four minutes for each unit.
A remote control allows the driver to operate the calibration process at the metering device. No gear has to be adjusted. The driver enters the desired values into the terminal, presses one button to start at the metering device and that’s it. The drill records the time, so all the operator has to do is hold the bag while metering and then weigh it.
The 6m u-drill has a hopper capacity of 4,350l.
Technology
The demonstration drill James bought was fully Isobus compatible, but also came with its own touchscreen control terminal.
James used the control terminal for two years before he upgraded tractors to the Fendt 828 Profi-Plus. The switch to the Fendt saw James ditch the terminal and make the move to Isobus.
James said it was as simple as plug and play, noting that it removed the clutter of a terminal and wires in the cab, making operation even simpler. He now uses the split-screen function on the 10.4in Vario-terminal, with his drill functions on the top half and the GPS on the bottom.
The drill is on the harrower 12.5cm row spacing.
James runs RTX GPS which offers a theoretical accuracy down to 4cm. He said: “I only made the move to GPS and auto steer in recent years. I’d say it’s accounted for at least a 10% saving across all inputs.”
The drill offers GeoControl, which controls the application rate. The drill also features half-width shut-off (two 3m sections). One of the big design focuses for Kverneland with the U-drill was high-speed operation.
James said he typically operates the drill at around 11km/h, allowing him to plant up to 12 acres per hour. The drill partners well with his Fendt 828. Fuel consumption varies, but for the most part in good going James claims he’s sowing 120 acres with 200l of fuel. That breaks down to sowing one acre with just 1.66l of diesel.
The U-dill is available either as a standard drill (U-drill) or as a grain and fertiliser version (U-drill plus). James said that for the most part he is a one-man operation and that grain-only works for him. The 6m U-drill has a hopper capacity of 4,350l. However, simply down to weight, James explains that he never loads any more than 1.5t of seed at a time.
Despite being sceptical of moving to such a large drill, the first of which to be sold in the country, roll the clock forward four years and over 4,000 acres later and James is more than satisfied with his move.
He said: “I’m really happy with the drill. As I’m a one-man band for the most part. I wanted to improve the efficiency of my operation and the drill has been key. I can go out by myself and sow up to 120 acres in a day, whereas with my previous 4m drill, my output was limited to 60 acres per day. The big thing I like is that the drill works even in tough conditions. It really suits our soil.”
When asked about running costs, James noted that all he had to replace was a seal in a ram and a few sets of track eradicators.
He added: “With over 4,000 acres planted, the only issue I have with the drill is the track eradicators. They are a little on the soft side and stones will break them. Other than that, I can’t fault it. It’s on all original discs and I think they’ll last at least another 1,000 acres. My original plan was to run the drill for 10 years. Based on its performance to date, I can’t see myself parting with it in the near future.”
The spec
Model: U-drill 6000.
Working width: 6.0m.
Row spacings: 12.5cm/16.7cm.
No of double disc coulters: 36 with 16.7cm or 48 with 12.5cm.
Hopper capacity: 4,350l.
Transport width: 3.0m.
Number of metering devices: two.
Required oil volume: >90l/min.
Weight: 8,120kg.
Min power requirement: 190hp.
List price: €111,155.
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