Direct Drills — Types, Manufacturers and Comparisons

Overview of direct drill categories, key manufacturers, and practical experience from UK and international farmers.

Drill Categories

Type Disturbance Key characteristic
Single disc Ultra-low Angled disc cuts slot; minimal soil throw
Double disc Low Two discs form V-slot; good seed placement
Tine / strip-till Moderate Tine opens strip; more disturbance but works in difficult conditions
Cross-slot Ultra-low Inverted T-slot; places seed and fertiliser separately
Aqua-till (concept) Near-zero UHP water jet replaces disc opener

Key Drills Mentioned in Issue 1

John Deere 750A (Single Disc)

  • Widely used UK/global benchmark for direct drilling
  • Single disc opener: angled to minimise disturbance
  • Tyred press wheel closes slot
  • Clive Bailye’s primary drill: 6m, used exclusively 3–4 seasons
  • Simple, low draft, suits most conditions
  • Available second-hand from ~£8–15k for 3m models
  • Clive Bailye’s 3m: acquired ~1999; refurbished; Güttler wheels; Surefire liquid fert system; 750 litre tank; rates from 30 l/ha

[Source: dd-issue-01, 2026-04-11]

Weaving GD (Double Disc)

  • “The biggest advance in conservation agriculture for the past three generations” — Tony Reynolds
  • Sharply angled double disc opener: cuts through straw and surface material
  • Less soil disturbance than observed with other drills
  • Slot closed with tyred press wheel at 25-degree angle — downward draught force
  • Depth easy to adjust; accurate seed placement
  • 4.8m (GD 4800T) on 24m tramlines; 6m version on 30m tramlines
  • Price: sub-£30k for 3m (as of 2018); low parts cost
  • Concern: disc smear in very wet ground (unresolved vs JD 750A)

[Source: dd-issue-01, 2026-04-11]

Horsch CO6 (Tine Drill — Adapted)

  • Clive Bailye bought second-hand from German farmer for under £5,000
  • Higher-spec than UK market models: wider seed dart tyres, blockage monitors, front packers, liquid fert system
  • Modified by Clive: replaced standard Horsch tines/coulters with narrow custom design using Ferobide wear tiles (harder than tungsten)
  • 25cm spacing; 12mm wide slot (useful for OSR and 2nd crop cereals; less suited to beans)
  • Used primarily for OSR and 2nd crop cereals drilled into chopped straw
  • Total cost after modifications: under £8,000

[Source: dd-issue-01, 2026-04-11]

Horsch Avatar SD (Single Disc — New)

  • New product as of 2018: direct seeding single disc
  • 480mm diameter disc (large — to cut through trash)
  • Small working angle to minimise soil disturbance
  • 400mm x 115mm gauge wheel (wide for depth control in both worked soil and post-harvest stubble)
  • 65mm bearing diameter, oil bath, twin taper roller bearings
  • Hydraulically adjustable penetration pressure from cab — up to 200 kg/coulter
  • Integrated sweep tine at front (aids establishment through straw/rape)
  • Two hoppers: grain + fertiliser in same groove (solid fert initially)
  • Retractable press wheel (removable in wet conditions)
  • Groove closed by side wheel (3 adjustable pressure positions)
  • Development: prototyped 2013; first full prototype 2014 (Haute-Marne, France); trialled 2015 in France, Denmark, Germany

[Source: dd-issue-01, 2026-04-11]

Primewest Cross-Slot (Cross-Slot)

  • Technology from New Zealand, ~30 years development
  • University-researched in NZ and USA; proven in 17+ countries
  • UK company Primewest (Limited) building drills since 2012
  • Available in 3m, 4m, 5m grain-only and with optional liquid fert / microgranular hoppers
  • Opener: 22-inch steel disc + two cast iron blades pressed against disc by rubber pads
  • Blades are hollow — seed/fertiliser blown to base of blade
  • Small wing creates inverted T-slot horizontally — places seed and fertiliser in separate layers
  • Depth controlled by two rubber tyre negative-pressure press wheels
  • Each opener lifted by hydraulic ram (memory valve — same pressure every time)
  • ADF (Auto Depth Function) and memory valve electronics standard

[Source: dd-issue-01, 2026-04-11]

Sumo DTS (Strip-Till)

  • British manufacturer
  • 3m DTS used by Alex Shutes, 200ha Essex farm (purchased summer 2015, ~£25k–£40k)
  • Strong in difficult conditions and heavy land — can drill into any seedbed type
  • Issue: blocks up in large amounts of straw (especially freshly cut)
  • Fix: cut stubbles shorter; wait for stubble to become brittle; Sumo provided progressive modifications
  • After modifications: zero blockages from Autumn 2016
  • Fuel: 11–12 l/ha (vs ~45–50 l/ha for plough + power harrow)
  • Establishment cost saving: ~£60/ha vs plough/powerharrow/drill system

Available sizes include 8m (DTS 8m, 2013 model)

[Source: dd-issue-01, 2026-04-11]

Simtech T-Sem 300AP

  • 3m no-till drill
  • 16 tines and cutting discs
  • Tractor-mounted; low HP requirement
  • Sulky electronic metering + radar
  • Very simple calibration
  • Rear roller and chain drag to cover slits
  • 340ha example machine “almost new condition”

[Source: dd-issue-01, 2026-04-11]

Additional Drills — Issue 2

Simtech T-Sem (Full Range)

Heritage: inverted T-slot coulter originally developed in New Zealand for establishing seed into living grass. European T-Sem evolved from this, progressing from a 3m machine to a comprehensive range.

Unique T-slot coulter (10mm wide at leading edge):

  • Preceded by vertical cutting disc (cuts path through surface trash)
  • T-slot places seed on firm base; vibrating tine creates tilth to cover it
  • In soil held together with root material: creates a “mini greenhouse” void
  • Generates humidity for germination; allows sunlight penetration
  • This scientifically proven feature allows small seeds to be placed deeper than normally viable

Positioning: Ideal for early conversion stages — versatile enough for min-till and conventional seedbeds, but a dedicated and powerful direct drill capable of handling large amounts of surface trash and hard/wet ground.

Bean drilling: Heavy-duty 30mm square double coil tines can direct drill beans to 10cm depth.

Cover crop capability: Handles high residue levels at time of year when soil can be hard to penetrate; also drills cash crop into living cover crop vegetation.

Range (as of 2018):

  • Arable: 3, 3.5, 4m fixed frame; 4.8m and 6m mounted folding; 6m+ trailed
  • 4 Vineyard models: 1.1–1.8m
  • 2 Pasture rejuvenating models: 2.4m and 3m
  • All available with liquid and granular fertiliser options
  • Base 3m available with pneumatic or gravity metering; optional second “micro” hopper for slug pellets or micro fertiliser
  • Pneumatic models can meter 2 additional products into main airstream, or 1 product into individual rows

[Source: dd-issue-02, 2026-04-11]

Ma/Ag SSP (Disc Drill)

UK manufacturer distributed by Ryetec.

Key design features:

  • Serrated main disc operates below sowing depth — extra penetration shears straw pushed into ground (eliminates hairpinning concern with discs)
  • Self-sharpening plain disc at angle to open ground for seed
  • Optional star wheel clears path of coulter from lying straw
  • Independent floating coulters — each row follows soil contours for consistent depth
  • Adjustable press wheel controls sowing depth
  • Parallel floating arm design achieves even depth across uneven fields
  • Minimum 240 kg per coulter penetration pressure — even in hardest ground
  • Wide rubber press wheel (hard sides, soft centre): firms from outside to centre over seed, discouraging soil pests
  • Coulters mounted on two toolbars (front + rear): clearance = double the row spacing (176mm/7″) — ideal in cover crops
  • Centrally mounted hopper: even weight distribution across all coulters
  • Transport wheels between front and rear toolbars: excellent manoeuvrability, minimised headland wheelings
  • Optional fertiliser system: separate delivery below seed; air drier stops pipes clogging in damp conditions; mechanical land-wheel or touchscreen electronic metering with VRA and push-button calibration

Versatility: Works well in min-till and conventional as well as direct drilling; preserves sterile seedbeds without germinating weed seeds.

Available: 3–6m trailed, pneumatic or box drill, up to 250kg per coulter.

Contact: Ryetec 01944 728186 / [email protected]

[Source: dd-issue-02, 2026-04-11]

Weaving GD 8m (GD8000T)

New model debuting at Groundswell 2018 — Weaving Machinery’s 20th anniversary product.

Specifications:

  • 8m working width; 3m transport width
  • Proven Weaving GD coulter design
  • Row spacing: 16.7cm
  • Row clearance: 130cm
  • 4-tonne hopper
  • Linkage-mounted drawbar
  • 800/45 R26.5 Mitras Agriterra 02 low ground pressure flotation tyres
  • 3-section unique compact folding toolbar
  • Hydraulic fan; oil cooler
  • Double metering units and distribution head
  • iSOCAN controls; full tramlining kit; work and road lights
  • HP requirement: 250HP+

Target market: larger farms that take soil health seriously but have not previously found a drill large enough for their system.

First demo: Groundswell 2018, Roadshott Field, 27 June 2018 at 1pm.

[Source: dd-issue-02, 2026-04-11]

Horsch Avatar SD (Single Disc — Updated Spec)

Available in 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12m working widths.

Due to high tare weight, the single disc coulter is designed for direct seeding conditions:

  • 4m: 5,800kg; 6m: 9,300kg; 12m: 19,160kg
  • Despite high weight, HP requirement is low — SingleDisc coulters arranged in two bars
  • Coulter pressure: up to 310 kg per coulter — guarantees penetration
  • Rubber suspension depth control (stronger version of Pronto DC system)
  • Strong coulter frame eliminates sideways movement — maintains set sowing depth on uneven soils
  • Press wheel closes seed furrow and consolidates seed row
  • Hopper: 2,800 litres standard; double hopper (3,800 litres for grain + fertiliser) available; 200-litre micro-granular unit available with either hopper
  • ISOBUS terminal control/monitoring

[Source: dd-issue-02, 2026-04-11]

Dale Drills Eco-XL (Tine Drill)

Dale Drills founded by John ‘Edward’ Dale (Lincolnshire farmer); now run by sons Tom and James, who farm 3,500 acres (No-Till + CTF) in North Lincolnshire.

Eco drilling assembly (the core innovation):

  • Two 12mm wide, low-disturbance tines
  • Quickly adjusted to 5″ (12.5cm) or 10″ (25cm) row spacings
  • Parallel linkage mounting + depth-setting press wheel
  • Independent contour-following: very accurate seeding depth even at widest working widths
  • Hydraulic ram pressurises each assembly into work (adjustable hydraulic pressure for conditions)

Tine advantages cited by Dale:

  • Additional weight of disc drills for penetration avoided → less compaction
  • Lighter tractor usable OR wider drill for less ground trafficked
  • No bearings → less downtime for repairs
  • Avoids hairpinning of residues → positive seed-soil contact
  • Narrow forward-facing point preserves moisture in dry period; avoids smearing in wet soils

Eco-XL specifications (new wider model, spring 2018):

  • 8,500-litre (6t) hopper
  • New toolbar layout with proven Eco drilling assemblies
  • Low-ground-pressure 710mm wide land wheels (front of toolbar) remove surface compaction before drilling
  • Two rows of drilling assemblies follow
  • Wing stabilising wheels at same axis as main land wheels (avoids expensive caster wheels)
  • Available: 9–13.5m width; all fold hydraulically to <3m wide and <4m high for road transport

[Source: dd-issue-02, 2026-04-11]

Claydon (Strip-Till Hybrid)

16 years of direct seeding development in 30+ countries. Key principle: front tine provides “optimum tillage” — a strip of working limited to what the drill’s tine cuts, leaving the interrow untouched.

Bulgarian case study (Ivan’s 6,000 ha farm, visited by Claydon team):

  • Uses 2 × Claydon T8 machines for wheat and OSR establishment
  • Wheat after maize with Claydon straw harrow + Tempo planter for maize direct
  • Farm breaking previous yield records since Claydon introduction
  • Soil inspection showed: better texture, better smell, worm activity, good moisture, much better root development vs min-till or no-till comparisons on same soil type
  • Min-till comparison: tight soil at depth of tillage, no activity below, poor rooting, dead appearance, no worms
  • No-till comparison: more activity but lack of tilth on surface, baking out in high temperatures, crop performing poorly

Claydon’s argument: min-till creates shallow compaction pans; no-till (without optimum surface preparation) lacks tilth for germination. The Claydon front tine provides a targeted solution.

[Source: dd-issue-02, 2026-04-11]

Aqua-Till Concept (Water Jet Drill — Future)

Greg Butler / SANTFA (South Australian No-Till Farmers Association) — UHP water jet replaces disc opener:

  • Tested at Flow International’s facility, Jeffersonville, Indiana (March 2011)
  • 15 km/hr test speed; liquid volume: 22–80 l/ha
  • Benefits: no hairpinning of residues; no smearing; reduces pulling power; eliminates mechanical wear at opener
  • Fertiliser-capable: N fertilisers possible; phosphoric acid requires further testing
  • Power demand: 3.5–11 hp per row depending on conditions
  • Nozzle wear: key challenge (smallest nozzles most susceptible)
  • Status (2018): concept/feasibility stage; tests planned in South Australia

[Source: dd-issue-01, 2026-04-11]

Practical Drill Selection Notes

  • Heavy/trashy conditions: tine drills (Sumo DTS, Horsch CO) or large-disc single disc (Avatar SD)
  • Ultra-low disturbance priority: Cross-Slot, JD 750A, Weaving GD
  • Budget entry: second-hand JD 750A or Horsch CO (under £8k with modifications)
  • Straw rake benefit: Alex Shutes found trailing a Weaving 6m stubble rake significantly improved trash flow and reduced chaff/slug issues
  • Liquid fertiliser: available on JD 750A (Surefire system), Horsch Avatar SD, Sumo DTS (S&K kit), CO6 (fitted to Bailye’s German machine)

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